Station Drops 'Book Of Daniel' After Anti-Gay Pressure

[sonicx]

(Terre Haute, Indiana) NBC affiliate WTWO has become the first station to announce that it will not carry the program "The Book of Daniel" following pressure from the American Family Association.

The Terre Haute station's Web site has a notice at the top saying "Due to emails and calls from viewers, WTWO will not be airing NBC's The Book of Daniel."

In a statement posted on the site, WTWO Station General Manager Duane Lammers noted that network affiliates can refuse to show specific programs.

"I am reaffirming that right to let them know I will not allow them to make unilateral decisions affecting our viewers.

...

The American Family Association has been calling for its members to complain to NBC affiliates about the show which features one of primetime's few openly gay male characters, has a lesbian supporting character and is written by a gay screenwriter. The series is planned to debut January 6 at 9:00 pm E/P time.

http://365gay.com/Newscon06/01/010406daniel.htm

[Doctor_J]

1. I am really fucking sick of a small group of loonies deciding

what gets on TV. Why can't they just change the fucking channel over to the 700 club?

[Christa]

4. Exactly

Nobody forces them to watch it - grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr :mad:

[Betsy Ross]

6. It is always a small group of loonies deciding what

is on TV. Sometimes they are producers and sometimes just the advertisers. But the populace doesn't get to decide. We just have the option to turn it off.

[marmar]

9. Amen and hallelujah...

I am SOOOO sick of these freaks, and even more sick of these TV stations and companies wilting the minute they start shouting outside their doors. Maybe those of us in the silent, sane majority need to start counter-protesting when companies yield to these psychos, and not just leave it to the LGBT community to do it on their own.

:argh:

[HuffleClaw]

74. i think its an excuse

what really happened was the station owner or manager PERSONALLY was offended so decided to act. they offered TWO excuses for this crap. but it boils down to ONE guy being offended.

[The Straight Story]

10. While I do agree on this, would we not be doing something similar

if it was a fundie show telling people how evil and bad gays are and that the kkk is right, etc? I for one would not want that trash on the airwaves - I would not try to stop them legally as it is a free speech issue, but I would hope that enough viewers would share my feelings in the area and get them to find something better to air instead.

[marmar]

14. I see the point...

but the KKK is a known hate group. I don't know that it's a valid comparison with a gay character on TV.

[ruggerson]

22. There is no moral equivalence between hate groups and gay people

This is exactly the lie the religious rightwing and the mainstream media perpetuate.

They want to be fair to show "both sides."

People have "deeply felt moral beliefs"

UTTER AND TOTAL LIES.

People are taught BIGOTRY disguised as "RELIGION." It is inculcated in them as young children.

The reality is, there is no "other side" to the biological and historical reality of gay people on this planet. There is no more of an "other side" to this biological fact than there is an "other side" to oak trees or grey squirrels or blue eyes.

Everytime there's a black person on a cable tv news panel, do they feel compelled to put David Duke on for "balance?"

Everytime there's a Jew on, do they feel compelled to put some aging Nazi on as balance?

Of course not.

But, they DO trot out Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson and Gary Bauer and ALan Keyes and Beverly LaHaye and the heads of the AFA and the Christian Coalition EVERY SINGLE TIME they discuss a gay issue. For "balance".

It's reprehensible.

The "religious" groups who push this constant garbage against gay folks are quite rightly classified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as HATE GROUPS themselves.

The problem is the media has to learn that their little religious rightwing darlings are actually bigoted monsters.

[TNOE]

33. wow

what a great post - 1st thread I've read this morning and it was like a shot of caffine. Very articulately said!!!!

[Marnieworld]

42. Brav-freakin-oh!

I read this bit of bullshit in a Tucker Carlson article today:

"Just because you oppose the practice of homosexuality (and most of the world's six billion people still do oppose to it) doesn't mean you're a bigot. Some people have principled religious objections. "

These same principled people ignore the parts of the bible of course that don't support their bigotry. Religion is the cover for so much hatred and evil. You can point to the Bible or the Quaran and find whatever justification you want.

The thing that slays me about this specific protest is how futile it is. WIll & Grace have been on for how long? The cat is out of the bag already you know? It's so bizarre that just the acknowlegement that gays just exist by creating gay characters is enough to freak them out. They'd love to go back to the good old days when we all just pretended they didn't exist or they were one dimensional objects of ridicule.

The funniest thing is I didn't want to watch the show because it seemed TOO religious. However I am not an asshole so it didn't even occur to me to try and get the show off of the air. NBC cater to my interests and my interests only dammit! Puh-leeze!

We shall overcome my friend. This is a last gasp of a dying point of view.

[myrna minx]

68. If I could nominate your post, I would.

:applause: :applause:

[uncle ray]

25. what if the show you proposed were a comedy?

[Bill McBlueState]

32. no, we wouldn't do something similar

Anti-gay hate speeech is broadcast on religious networks around the country. You don't see many people protesting that.

[CAcyclist]

45. The KKK is an illegal terrorist organization

according to Michael Moore in Bowling for Columbine.

And we would be on the side of fairness and equality, while they are on the side of hate and discrimination, so there is a difference. "The only thing we must not tolerate is intolerance.", as, I believe, Thomas Jefferson said.

[onefortheroad]

52. I agree...

Let everyone have there say (bitch or whatever) and then let the people who have to sell it decide.

[Jawja]

31. It's because they hate America

and the freedom America is supposed to stand for. These Christianists advocate a theocracy where their religion rules, you see.

Yes, they could just change the channel and let the rest of us make our own free decision about what we will and will not watch, but since they hate America and her liberties, they cannot allow this to happen.

[ruggerson]

2. What is wrong with these fucking people?

Why do they bow to the pressure of vile bigots?

Would they cancel the Cosby show because a whole mess of Klu Klux Klan fuckheads called their station?

Better not show Seinfeld! Might offend the anti semites!

[Wickerman]

3. I wonder why this show threatens them so much?

I see they show Will and Grace. This one must be worth watching!

[AntiCoup2K4]

24. The difference in the two shows

...is that the central character is a minister, and Jesus Christ often appears in person to talk to him. Therefore, the implication is that God, Jesus, and the church are cool with homosexuals.

This is what the WildMorons are going crazy about. It's more the positive portrayal of Christianity that offends them in this case than the positive portrayal of gays.

[Erika]

5. The intolerant Christian theocrats in action

We will see what they wish us to see. Bible belt extension evidently in Indiana.

[Lavender Brown]

7. They haven't even had a chance to see it

:wtf: What's so "family-oriented" about whipping up all this hysteria and hate?

[msongs]

8. Indiana and the christian KKK - who says it is dead? nt

[AlCzervik]

11. Who funds AFA?? is it possible they got $$ from Abramoff and they will

also be indicted?

[shenmue]

12. I, in turn, would like to pressure the AFA...

to kiss my ass.

:mad:

:dunce:

:rant:

[roger72645]

13. KARK in Little Rock

has also decided not to air the program. No specific reason cited.

[bigluckyfeet]

72. My Local NBC Station Also did not show it.

They belong to the samn company that owns the Indiana station.I called and emailed them when I found out today.

[asjr]

15. It is blackmail, pure and simple. And

it borders on extortion. The station should threaten a law suit. This crap is getting old. Anything they do not like must be removed. The station should counter attack. The program hasn't even aired yet and they are intimidating the station already. What country do I live in?

[Indykatie]

17. Motivation for Me to Never Miss the Show

I barely watch network TV but I will make it a point to never miss this show. I am sick to death of right wing lunatics and their efforts to control everything they don't approve of.

[Charlie Brown]

16. Who in hell ARE the AFA?

I never heard of them until the thing with Ford. They must have deep pockets if they can sway network stations and industrial giants like Ford.

There have been gay characters on television since Billy Cystal in Soap. Why is this such a big deal in this day and age?

[InaneAnanity]

18. Here is their website

Send them some mail. :)

http://www.wtwo.com/

They have a homeland security color-coded baner on their front page.

What a crappy station.

I believe a boycott is in order, for those who live there.

[Erika]

21. email sent

My sister lives in Elkhart. I told them I certainly would not be visiting their right wing Christian theocratic community when visiting Indiana.

[CatholicEdHead]

23. Statement from the boss

"WTWO Station General Manager Duane Lammers has issued a statement regarding WTWO`s decision to preempt the NBC show "The Book of Daniel".

"Our relationship with NBC always provided for the right to reject programming. I am reaffirming that right to let them know I will not allow them to make unilateral decisions affecting our viewers.

"Second, I want to draw attention to the worst offenders of indecency on television ... the cable industry, which faces no decency regulations, nor a license renewal.

"If my action causes people in our community to pay more attention to what they watch on television, I have accomplished my mission."

http://www.wtwo.com/news/default.asp?mode=shownews&id=6099
Notice the push for more control of Cable.

[trogdor]

51. Even better, you can use AFA's astroturf generator.

https://secure.afa.net/afa/afapetition/takeaction.asp?id=175

FARK is discussing this subject, and you should see some of the edits they've made to AFA's astroturf letter. Hilarious! http://forums.fark.com/cgi/fark/comments.pl?IDLink=1841785

[noamnety]

55. I sent an email also

To: [e-mail]


Subject: Sorry to hear you are censoring The Book of Daniel

Text: It's a shame that more of your viewers don't have access to a remote control so they can change the channel if a show doesn't appeal to them. Oh well, I guess I should just be grateful that you are there to make unilateral decisions affecting your viewers.

[BiggJawn]

19. Indiana. Congressman John Hostettler.

What more can you say? Terre Haute is in his district, I think.

[Bzzzz]

63. WTHR...

is standing up to the cry baby xtians and airing it! I APPLAUD them!!!

[Newsjock]

20. Terre Haute's proud heritage

Way back when, the ABC affiliate in Terre Haute refused to show the first season of "Soap" because of Billy Crystal's gay character. We had to crowd around a common TV with a giant antenna to watch it from Indianapolis.

(The station is still on the air, but it's now a Fox affiliate and is now owned by the same people who own WTWO.)

[Wabbajack]

26. Local affiliates should not have that right

[Charlie Brown]

28. I agree. If they represent NBC, they should relay all national broadcasts

otherwise, they are doing a disservice to NBC viewers and their community.

[LiberalFighter]

60. It's also a FCC reg preventing the broadcast of more than one affiliation

on cable and satellite. THAT is a disservice to viewers in the viewing area from national broadcasts.

Now when they permit a subscriber to determine the affiliate stations in their package then the permit locals to determine whether they deny transmission. Or better yet allow everyone to have direct access to the feed if locals refuse transmission or they interrupt with something else like insignificant breaking news.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

27. If they don't want to watch it, why can't they

just change their fucking channels?

I'm so tired of their bullshit.

[Dogmudgeon]

29. Make sure it can be downloaded at iTunes

They have a lot of TV shows for .99 an episode.

Put them on CDs or DVDs and give them to kids to take to school.

It might also be fun to picket the station -- and the local AFA Klavern in Terre Haute.

--p!

[CatholicEdHead]

56. Can't do that with iTunes AppleStore movies

You cannot put them on any external media excpet for your Computer or iPod. There are many other ways to download the episodes online (a bit on the illegal side) to be able to then burn a CD or DVD of the show.

[Dogmudgeon]

58. This need not be a major pirate effort

I didn't know how iTunes worked, but it's good to keep in mind. I've occasionally watched TV shows I missed that way, but I'm not a big TV watcher. The highlight of my TV season is when the new run of Battlestar Galactica shows comes out (tomorrow night, in fact), and SNL's season opener is enough for me to put on the popcorn.

The fact that its "piracy" will show up on the MPAA's radar will be enough. Two or three heavily-pirated episodes will turn The Book of Daniel into a high-paying commodity.

It would be like voting with KaZaA, in other words.

I'm not so sure Jack Valenti will be screaming for the police to haul the perps away in such a case.

--p!

[xchrom]

30. afa continues it's bigoted war on gay people

and offers itself as the censor for what people see on televiosion.

[plasticsundance]

34. They should take the show to HBO, Show Time ... etc.

They have more cutting edge shows anyways, and have programs that deal with what real modern viewers want. ABC, CBS, NBC, are going the way of the dinosaur.

[LeftHander]

35. Let them have thier putrid television....:::rant:::

Time to wean our culture away from the glass teat.

Let conservatives and fundies have thier precious corporate media, news, talk and TV. None of that crap lasts.

Mindless, transitory, masturbatory brainwash.

We'll take the art, music, literature and let them to fade into the dust bin of pop culture.

I say it is time for a ARTS REVOLUTION!

Lets shut the fundies and freeps out of the REAL CULTURE of this country.

If they want to dictate what people can and can't see on TV, then I say we....the artists can say who gets to view and listen.

They have no fucking taste anyway.

FUCK THEM!!!!

:::end rant::::

[Mr Rabble]

36. Well, they obviously hate Jesus. Keep repeating it.

If what they are objecting to is the religious aspects of this show, then they obviously hate Jesus.

Look, while we fully understand that anyone who complains about TV programming being against their god is a religious fanatic, there is a way to fight back. The way to do it is to publicly accuse them of hating Jesus. These freaks need to be accused of religious bigotry- leave out anything at all to do with the sexual aspect of this show.

Once they are accused of religious bigotry, their heads will explode.

[melm00se]

37. ok, so basically

it is legitimate protesting via the people's voice, when you agree with the stance, but it just a bunch of wacko's who have no right to voice their opinion if you don't agree.

As to the network/affiliate relationship:

Affiliate agreements allow a local affiliate to elect exactly what they wish to show from the network. The network can also choose to jettison an affiliate...

The impact of not carrying a show is that the local affiliates overall ratings can be affected which in turn can affect their advertising rates..

[Occulus]

38. wow, sounds like the "free" market in action in your reality

"can" choose... "Can" be... "can" affect....

Yes, all these things "can" happen. But once a station caves to the likes of the AFA et al, do they change? Ever?

Or is the message sent that the AFA et al makes the decisions and owns the show?

The problem with you free marketeers is, your reality never works the way you say it does. The "free" market, left to itself, only bows to the loudest voices and the deepest pockets, and everyone else can eat cake.

Edited to add: you have no clue, obviously, what it is like to be a target of these groups- as I am. Basically, if they could legally off me and people like me, they would, and gladly.

It sort of puts things into perspective when you look at it from the point of view of those directly targeted and directly affected.

[melm00se]

41. so a station affiliate

should blindly accept the programming fed to them...air it whether they want to or not...that sounds awfully like a dictatorship...

[Occulus]

44. no because

by your own definition the "free" market will have told the corporate owner what will play well/sell in that market.

Nice try, though.

[melm00se]

47. not necessarily...

the decision as to what the network will air is decided on a macro audience level...and the decision to air is decided on a micro audience level. the network makes the decision based upon a population of 280 million, were as the Terre Haute affliate's population is significantly less (far less than 1%).

Remember, broadcast stations were tasked to operate under PICON (public interest and convenience) and many broadcasters, especially in non-metro areas, still adhere to that standard. based upon that, if a section of your audience says "No way", under PICON, you would listen to them and factor their opinions into your prgramming decision...

you appear to have decided that what is correct for you is correct for everyone woe betide those whose opinions are different than yours...they obviously live in a differing reality than yours.

[truth2power]

39. No...it's that the stations cave

every time these wackos start whining about how "offended" they are about something. And they're terminally offended.

Cry-babies! :puke:

[melm00se]

40. anytime someone

protests they expect (or desire) the target of the protest to "cave"...

[Marnieworld]

46. Question for you

What is the equivalent protest where we agree with the stance? You state that there is a time when we agree with a major campaign to stop a program from airing when "we" agree with the stance as if we are clear hypocrites. Funny. I can't think of a single time when liberals have organized to censor something remove an entire program from the air let alone before it is even on the air. I can't think of any organizations that actively organize these letter writing campaigns and content protests.

I agree that an affiliate should control their own airwaves because it is up to their discretion as to what to broadcast. It's just unfortunate when it appears they have been successfullu bullied into it by a relatively small group of people.

[melm00se]

48. sorry, I wasn't clear...

I mean any protest, regardless of venue...not narrowly focused on a the specific broadcast of a specific program...

[boilinmad]

59. I know of one time......

We got rid of that heinous, hypocritical Dr.
Laura.................it still makes me smile:) :) 

[Marnieworld]

69. But in that case

She wasn't removed from stations in response to protests she
was removed because no one was watching. I know of no station
that just removed her and condemned her as out of the
mainstream or controversial etc. If you have a link to a
statement that would be helpful. However that is an example of
an effort by a leftist group to remove something off of the
air that I did forget about so thanks.

[Norquist Nemesis]

43. I wonder what they're running in that time slot

NBC has been running promos for this a few weeks now and I'm sure WTWO watchers had to have seen them. I wonder how thoroughly WTWO vetted the emails and calls from "viewers" to make certain they were within the area.

[Qanisqineq]

49. I was expecting it to be Colorado Springs

The religious loonies are quite plentiful here.

[brooklynite]

50. If these folks were smart...

they'd keep their mouths shut, and 9 times out of 10 the show would die of its own failings with nobody actually seeting it. Now, it'll probably still fail, but many more viewers will have watched it at the outset because of the controversy.

[KamaAina]

53. Say, isn't "Will and Grace" on NBC?

Don't these stations carry "Will and Grace"? Call me crazy, but I have had a sneaking suspicion for some time that a couple of the characters on the popular sitcom might possibly be gay. :-)

[AntiCoup2K4]

54. As I said above.....

While there's no doubt that the WildMorons probably hate Will & Grace as well, it's not a religious themed show. What these fanatical fuckheads are worried about is a show that portrays a Chrisitian minister, and even Jesus Himself (who often drops in to chat with the priest) as being positive towards gays.

And we can't have people thinking that Jesus is OK with queers, can we?

That's the WildMorons argument.

[StuckinKS]

57. KSNW

the NBC affiliate in Wichita, KS just announced that they would not air "Book of Daniel" either. I shot off a letter to them. I will do more if the counter protest grows.

[HuffleClaw]

61. two lousy excuses for what is ONE GUY'S decision.

that one asshole decides he's personally offended by it so he has two little excuses in hand to justify his narrow-minded actions. pretty lame.

[NanceGreggs]

62. If your local NBC station refuses to air ...

... the 'Book of Daniel', contact them (via letter, email or phone call) and tell them you'll be boycotting the products of whatever sponsor advertizes on the show that REPLACES the one you wanted to see.

The Fundies are being used as yet another 'consumer group' and they're too stupid to realize it -- but what do you expect from people too dumb to know how to work the remote control?

Let NBC know that if they want to cave when it comes to 'consumer groups', there are WAY MORE OF US than there are religious fanatics.

Money, as always, talks ...

[Maeve]

64. I hadn't planned to watch it before, but now....

:D

[Nickster]

65. Amen, I just put a season pass for it on my TIVO. Damn sure gonna

make that show a hit if it kills me!:-)

[WernhamHogg]

66. These people are such fucking idiots

If these people really didn't want anyone to see this program, they would simply ignore it. Sure, brainwashed people who believe the crap that AFA spews were not going to watch the show if it was on the air.

However, by banning something and making a big deal out of it, it gives the program a type of "forbidden" feeling and many sane people will find a way to check it out (DVD perhaps), curious to see what is so "bad" about it.

[Boomer]

75. They got me to watch it!

It usually takes me a few years to get around to watching a "new" show, but I tuned in to the premiere of The Book of Daniel because of all the hype about stations being pressured to drop it. So I'd say their campaign is designed to promote shows, not destroy them.

Funny how they can't just turn off the TV if they don't like a show. That's what I did after the first hour of Daniel. I tried it, didn't much like it, and I won't watch again. But I have no desire to keep other people from watching if that's their cup of tea.

[hippiechick]

67. From the same state that's got bills to outlaw abortion and

... put God on our lisence plates as part of this year's session ... (both posted in the Indiana forum).


I HAVE TO GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE !!!

[Newsjock]

70. Terre Haute cable company goes over WTWO's head, will air 'Daniel' anyway

http://www.tribstar.com/local/local_story_006181938.html?keyword=topstory

Time Warner Cable has received permission from NBC to air the controversial new series 'The Book of Daniel'. The show will air tonight (Friday) at 9 on channel 13 of the local cable menu. WTWO, the Terre Haute NBC affiliate, announced earlier this week it would not broadcast the series.

[StuckinKS]

76. This morning's newspaper

announced that Wichita's NBC affiliate has changed its mind and at least ran last evening's two hour premiere of the series. They said that they received such an outpouring of support for showing the series that they felt compelled to let it air.

So, they make their decisions based on whichever group makes the most noise. Sounds just like our state legislature.

[pro_blue_guy]

71. Confused!

I don't know what these anti-gay people think they are accomplishing. Gay people will always exist! It's not like we will just disappear or something.

[Jawja]

73. That's what their agenda is,

to make Gays return to the closet and become invisible again.

[TrogL]

77. I saw the show last night

and I've got my own set of objections to it:

• homophobia
  
• anime and manga mis-protrayed
  
• anti-Anglican
  
• anti-Catholic
  

even though the show attempted to show each of these issues in a good light, they failed miserably because of stereotyping.

[DemoTex]

78. WYFF-TV (Greenville,SC), the heart of BoJo Country, dropped it too.

Too many Bo-Jo (Bob Jones "University") mock-Christians around here. WYFF dropped the show after receiving a reported 1000+ calls against The Book of Daniel.