Skip to comments.
Hollywood: Shut Up and Listen! Americans are talking back - and boycotting - loopy Left movies
FrontPageMagazine.com ^
| Thursday, February 13, 2003
| By Paul Bond
Posted on 02/13/2003 4:56:58 AM PST by JohnHuang2
If the past few months are any guide, much of the chatter this Academy Awards season might have less to do with Oscar and more to do with political activism.
Especially the chatter on talk radio.
"I want to figure out a way to hurt these people," Dennis Prager said about the parade of liberal actors that have been speaking against the Bush administration.
"God knows, not physically," he added.
Prager threatened a weekly segment on his popular, nationally syndicated radio show whereby he'd update his listeners on the latest musings of the Hollywood Left.
"It's now a weekly event that someone in Hollywood says something foolish -- truly foolish -- about America," he said.
Prager's most recent Hollywood rant was set off by Dustin Hoffman, who said in London recently -- after receiving yet another award -- that President Bush's real reasons for threatening a war with Iraq are, of course, "hegemony, money, power and oil."
The Bush administration "has taken the events of 9/11 and has manipulated the grief of the country, and I think that's reprehensible," Hoffman said.
Prager went on about how such Hollywood anti-Americanism detracts from his ability to enjoy movies.
Prager might not know it, but he's not alone. According to a poll in The Hollywood Reporter, one of the two primary entertainment industry trade papers, 44 percent of Americans say they might not pay to see a movie that stars a politically active celebrity whom they disagree with.
Among the Hollywood Left, Jane Fonda, Alec Baldwin and Barbra Streisand have the most to worry about in regard to offending their audience, according to the poll, which was taken in May.
And, before Hollywood's activist celebrities dismiss talk radio as insignificant, they should understand just how large the medium's audience is: up to 47 million people over the age of 18 tune into talk radio each week, according to industry analysis.
That makes talk radio the No. 1 format among adults. Some of those adults even buy movie tickets.
Beyond Prager, others with national talk-radio shows are also seeking ways to counter Hollywood's endless, leftist babble.
"Any chance we have to ridicule them, we'll take it," Laura Ingraham said about the Hollywood Left, just before the industry's Academy Awards nominations were made public.
Oliver Stone, Madonna and Richard Gere might even make good "human shields" for Saddam Hussein, Ingraham joked on her show.
Stone earned the mention for his "wet kiss" to Fidel Castro via the new documentary film "Comandante"; Madonna for an upcoming music video that reportedly is an anti-war statement containing scenes of wounded Iraqi babies; and Gere for his anti-Bush diatribe in Germany recently.
"Bush's plans for war are a bizarre bad dream. There doesn't appear to be any sort of basis for any of this," Gere said at the 53rd Berlin Film Festival.
Like Prager, Ingraham was verbally searching on her show for a way to make the Hollywood Left "feel the pinch," as she put it.
The talk-radio circuit even has pet names for Hollywood's peaceniks. Oliver North calls them the "Susan Sarandon Left," while Michael Savage delights in the term "Hollywood Idiot."
Like the Hollywood Idiots who assert that oil is the real reason for a likely war with Iraq, Savage maintains that Gere, Hoffman, and others also have ulterior motives for bad-mouthing America in front of receptive European audiences.
They're simply suggesting that, "If you're going to boycott America, please don't boycott my movie," Savage says.
Larry Elder, the former host of TV's "Moral Court" and host of a newly syndicated national talk-radio program, has also been hammering the Hollywood Left on a regular basis.
"My favorite is Sheryl Crow's pronouncement at the American Music Awards that the best way to avoid conflicts is to not have enemies," Elder told me off the air recently. "Yeah, and the best way to avoid crime is to not have criminals!"
And it's not just the hosts. A caller to Michael Medved's radio show on Oscar-nomination day advocated boycotting the Academy Awards broadcast. "I would love to somehow punish Hollywood," the caller said.
If that poll from The Hollywood Reporter is accurate, many Americans are already engaging in a boycott of sorts, choosing to see movies that don't star Gere, Hoffman, Baldwin, Jessica Lange, Sean Penn, Woody Harrelson, Martin Sheen and too many more to mention who have been publicly bashing America since the terrorist attacks of 9/11.
Maybe, for the sake of their all-important box office "take," it's time the Hollywood Left stop talking and start listening to talk radio.
TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: academyawards; activistactors; antibushcrowd; boycott; films; filmthis; hollyweird; hollywood; hollywoodleft; movies; oscar; oscars; seanpennsucks; usefulidiots
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-80, 81-100, 101-120, 121-135 next last
To: JohnHuang2
These leftists are so pro-tax, how about an increase in tax to....oh.....90% on money made in the movies. Or better yet, how about making the salaries of stars non-deductable over $100,000.
To: ArGee
Unfortunately when high culture was available to the masses the musicians were paid crap. Now an ensemble like the Chicago Symphony consists of about 100 of the finest musicians in the world who are (and should be) very highly paid. This makes ticket prices high right off the bat.
That being said the residents of the Chicago area have a fine free concert in the park series every summer with the Grant Park Orchestra. Last summer they actually scheduled works the public wants to hear: the B-boys, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, etc. and the concerts were packed. GPO's musicians are paid well but not at the level of CSO for many are younger musicians starting their careers. Of course, the orchestra is funded through taxes via the Park District and some don't like that.
To: McGavin999
Yes! ;^)
103
posted on
02/13/2003 7:49:59 AM PST
by
JohnHuang2
(God Bless our brave men and women in uniform)
To: Just mythoughts
Who would you suggest be the star of the ad? You'd need somebody with name/face recognition, and probably somebody at the end of his career, since the threat that "You'll never work in this town again" would be all too real. Charlton Heston is, unfortunately, hors de combat; perhaps Clint Eastwood?
To: JohnHuang2
I am sick of the Hollyweird Leftists spewing their drek out of this country. IMO, they should be brought up on treason. If they don't love this country, cash in their return tickests and stay over there. We don't need them THAT badly. In the future, when they make a flick, they should not be allowed to use petroleum products in any form. There goes car chases, explosions, etc. They should not use firearms of any kind. There goes war, cop, gang, etc. movies. They should not use leather or fur products. there goes a lot of glamour flicks. And they should not use God's name. In short, the final product would be just long enough for a 30 minute prime-time viewing. They should make only PC-based movies then nobody would go see them. That won't ever happen. They need us suckers to feed their egos and line their pockets. I just can't wait for "The Passion" to come out. Mel Gibson has a winner with that. He's one of the few that's worth the effort to go see his products.
To: ArGee
I don't know.
To: Capt. Canuck
You wrote:
" I don't mind paying to see liberals act in a movie with a conservative message."
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
I'd be interested in seeing you name 4 or 5.
FWIW, I've generally not much time for fantasy...and generally that's what Hollywood gives us. I've really never understood the infatuation with actors.....But that's just me. HA!!
FRegards,
To: ArGee
How about Apollo 13. No real PC message there. It was a movie about a successful failure. Just get-'em-back-alive flick. Even though it had Ed Harris and Tom Hanks, it was still a good movie.
To: SternTrek
LOL - wouldn't it have been easier to list those NOT to avoid?
109
posted on
02/13/2003 8:09:39 AM PST
by
mombonn
To: white trash redneck
WHEN YOU WATCH A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE, YOU FUND ANTI-AMERICAN'S
To: JohnHuang2
much of the chatter this Academy Awards season might have less to do with Oscar and more to do with political activism. Just another reason to not watch the Oscars (aka. Hollyweirdos wallowing in their own glory and patting themselves on the backs).
I haven't watched that wretched "performance" in years.
111
posted on
02/13/2003 8:20:08 AM PST
by
al_c
To: mombonn; All
Submitted for your review, a list of REPUBLICAN celebs weened from another thread...
Shannen Doherty
Kim Alexis- model
Ashley Judd- hubba hubba hubba
Cheryl Ladd
Emma Caulfield- actress
Kathy Ireland- model
Heather Locklear
Martina McBride
India Allen- Producer, Actress, and former Playboy Playmate
Tracy Scoggins- actress
James Woods
Clint Eastwood
Mel Gibson
Kurt Russell (Libertarian who actually had his pic taken with Newt! That took guts!)
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Morgan Freeman (who stated publicly that he liked George Bush)
Dennis Miller
Bruce Willis
Tom Selleck
Ben Stein
Bo Derek
Charleton Heston
Vincent Gallo
Patricia Heaton
Johnny Ramone
Jane Russell
Ted Nugent
ZZ Top
Feel free to edit as needed.
Enjoy.
To: white trash redneck
Charlton Heston is, unfortunately, hors de combat; perhaps Clint Eastwood? I'm not familiar with your hors de combat reference. If it indicates that Heston is incapable of doing it, you may want to reconsider your assessment.
When I saw him recently on TV, he was quite sharp. Remember, he's in the very early stages of Alzheimers and probably has some number of productive years left.
113
posted on
02/13/2003 8:21:33 AM PST
by
Bob
To: ArGee
Is that the shirt that has on the back of it "Drill ANWR?" I don't know. But here is another shirt from the Viggo collection...
To: All
Selected Entertainment Industry Contributions
to George W. Bush, 1999-00*
2000 Presidential Race
Joe Bonsall Oak Ridge Boys $1,000
Pat Boone Musician $1,000
Edgar Bronfman Joseph E Seagram & Sons $1,000
James Burrows TV Director $1,000
Gary Chapman Musician $2,000
Lionel Chetwynd Screenwriter/Director $1,000
Gloria Carlin Chetwynd Actress $1,000
Van Cliburn Musician $1,000
Mike Curb Curb Records $1,000
Shera Danese Actress $2,000
Michael Eisner Walt Disney Co $1,000
Bob Gale Screenwriter $500
Larry Gatlin Musician $1,000
Morris Goldman Actor $1,000
Eric Gustavson Actor $1,000
Tom Joyner Radio Host $500
Edward Kerr Actor $1,000
Loretta Lynn Musician $2,000
Joe McSpadden Producer $1,000
Jim Nantz Sportscaster/CBS Sports $1,000
Chuck Norris Actor $2,000
Charles Perez Actor $1,000
Russell "Red" Steagall Musician/Producer $1,000
Craig Titley Screenwriter $1,000
Alessandro Uzielli Producer $2,000
Jack Valenti Motion Picture Assn of America $1,000
Kenneth Waissman Producer $250
Joanna Heimbold Welliver Actress $1,000
Donald Wrye Director $1,000
Warren Zide Producer $1,000
To: All
2000 Presidential Race
Selected Entertainment Industry Contributions
to Al Gore, 1999-00*
Jane Alexander Actress $1,000
Steve Allen Actor/Comedian $500
Julie Araskog Actress $1,150
Jon Avnet Film Director/Producer $1,000
Billy Baldwin Actor $1,000
Paris Barclay TV Producer $2,000
Warren Beatty Actor $2,000
Ed Begley, Jr Actor $1,000
Peter Berg Actor/Director $1,500
Candice Bergen Actress $1,000
Alan Bergman Writer/Composer $1,000
Gregory Bernstein Screenwriter $250
Stephen Bing Writer/Producer $1,000
Edgar Bronfman Joseph E Seagram & Sons $2,000
Roscoe Lee Brown Actor $250
Nicolas Cage Actor $2,000
Frank Capra III Producer $1,000
Kate Capshaw-Speilberg Actress $1,000
David Caruso Actor $1,000
Chevy Chase Actor $2,000
Tina Chen Actress $1,000
Bruce Cohen Producer $2,000
Michael S. Connolly Actor $750
Kevin Costner Actor $2,000
Sheryl Crow Musician $1,000
Lavinia Currier Director $2,000
Beverly D'Angelo Actress $1,000
Ted Danson Actor $1,000
Ossie Davis Actor $250
Robert De Niro Actor $1,000
Evans Donnell Actor $1,000
Neal Doughty REO Speedwagon $250
Michael Douglas Actor $1,000
Richard Dreyfuss Actor $1,000
Michael Eisner Walt Disney Co $1,000
Tovah Feldshuh Actress $1,000
Giselle Fernandez TV Host $1,000
Harrison Ford Actor $1,000
Glenn Frey Musician $1,000
Lilian Garcia Actress/Singer $1,000
James Garner Actor $1,000
David Geffen DreamWorks SKG $1,000
Jami Gertz Actress $2,000
Robert Getchell Screenwriter $1,000
Peri Gilpin Actress $1,000
Jonathan Glickman Producer $1,000
Berry Gordy Producer $1,000
Matt Groening Producer $1,000
Steve Guttenberg Actor $1,000
Ronald Guttman Actor $2,000
Larry Hagman Actor $250
John Hallum Actor $1,000
Herbie Hancock Musician $1,000
Rita Wilson Hanks Actress $2,000
Tom Hanks Actor $2,000
Mariel Hemingway Actress $500
Don Henley Musician $2,000
Dan Jinks Producer $1,000
Robert L. Johnson Black Entertainment Television ($2,000)
Quincy Jones Musician $2,000
Tommy Lee Jones Actor $2,000
Jeffrey Katzenberg DreamWorks SKG $1,000
Sherry Lansing Paramount Pictures $2,000
Norman Lear Director/Producer $2,000
Lisa Loeb Musician $1,000
Rue McClanahan Actress $1,000
Terrance McNally Playwright $1,000
Dennis Miller Actor/Comedian $1,000
Donna Mills Actress $250
Thelonious Monk Jr Musician $2,000
Rob Morrow Actor $1,000
Jack Nicholson Actor $250
Gwyneth Paltrow Actress $1,000
Jesse Peretz Director $2,000
Chynna Phillips Musician $1,000
Lou Diamond Phillips Actor $1,000
Dean Pitchford Writer/Composer $1,000
Brett Ratner Director $1,000
Sumner Redstone Viacom International $2,000
Michele Singer Reiner Actress $2,000
Rob Reiner Director $2,000
Daniella Rich Actress $1,000
Denise Rich Songwriter $2,000
David W. Rintels Screenwriter $1,000
Hilary Rosen Recording Industry Assn of America $1,000
Gary Ross Writer/Director $1,000
Carol Bayer Sager Songwriter $1,000
R. Max Samson Puppeteer $1,000
Cathy Sandrich Casting Director $250
Jay Sandrich Director $2,000
Jerry Seinfeld Actor/Comedian $1,000
Cynthia Sikes Actress $2,000
Nancy Sinatra Actress/Musician $3,000
Jimmy Smits Actor $750
Suzanne Somers Actress $1,000
Steven Spielberg DreamWorks SKG $1,000
Aaron Spelling TV Producer $3,000
Mary Steenburgen Actress $2,000
Nancy Stephens Actress $1,500
Bunny Stivers Circus of the Stars $250
Oliver Stone Director $1,000
Sharon Stone Actress $1,000
Barbra Streisand Actress/Musician $1,000
Lily Tomlin Actress $250
Jeane Trippelhorn Actress $1,000
Jack Valenti Motion Picture Assn of America $2,000
Bruce Vilanch Writer/"Hollywood Squares" regular $1,000
Ruth Warrick Actress $1,000
Lew Wasserman Universal Studios $2,000
Eric Briant Wells Actor $1,000
Tanya Wexler Director $1,000
Billy Dee Williams Actor $1,000
Norm Woodel Actor $250
Ahmet Zappa Actor/TV Host $1,250
Diva Zappa Actress $1,000
Dweezil Zappa Actor/Musician $1,000
Gail Zappa Producer $2,000
Amy Zimmerman Actress $1,000
Edward Zwick Producer/Director $1,000
To: justshutupandtakeit
Next year when I get my annual BlockBuster gift cards.
;O)
I don't give 'em much.
117
posted on
02/13/2003 9:15:01 AM PST
by
metesky
(My retirement fund is holding steady @ $.05 a can.)
To: justshutupandtakeit
Unfortunately when high culture was available to the masses the musicians were paid crap. There's a chicken and egg problem here. Once everyone is interested then the volume overcomes the low margins. But you can't get the attendees all at once so some program of ticket subsidy is required. I'd suggest a civic organization that raises and distributes funds for this purpose. I'd call it the CEA (Conservative Endowment for teh Arts). If it managed to put the NEA out of business at the same time...
I can dream, can't I?
Shalom.
118
posted on
02/13/2003 9:18:31 AM PST
by
ArGee
(I did not come through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a serving-man... - Gandalf)
To: new cruelty
Probably not, but a guy can hope.
Shalom.
119
posted on
02/13/2003 9:19:37 AM PST
by
ArGee
(I did not come through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a serving-man... - Gandalf)
To: NCC-1701
No real PC message there. Apollo 13 was a fantastic movie and it had a very un-PC message there - that people's lives are worth any sacrifice and that space is worth exploring.
Shalom.
120
posted on
02/13/2003 9:20:52 AM PST
by
ArGee
(I did not come through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a serving-man... - Gandalf)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-80, 81-100, 101-120, 121-135 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson