NYT, p. 1: TV Shows Take on Bush, and Pull Few Punches

[DeepModem Mom]

TV Shows Take on Bush, and Pull Few Punches
By JIM RUTENBERG

Published: April 2, 2004


WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif., March 31 — Galvanized politically in ways they have not been since the early 1990's, Hollywood's more liberal producers and writers are increasingly expressing their displeasure with President Bush with not only their wallets, but also their scripts.

In recent weeks, characters in prime time have progressed beyond the typical Hollywood knocks against Washington politicians to calling out the president directly or questioning his policies, including the decision to go to war in Iraq, the support of the antiterrorism law and the backing of a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage....

***

Network executives and some producers said these (examples from "Whoopi," "Law and Order," and "Curb Your Enthusiasm") were isolated cases, reflecting the political debate dividing the country and coming at a time when television has never had a greater diversity of viewpoints on a wider array of channels. They added that these examples should not be seen as reflective of a supposed liberal agenda in the entertainment industry, an argument they said was undercut by shows with patriotic streaks like "J.A.G." on CBS. These network executives declined to be quoted by name because, they said, it would be tantamount to engaging publicly in a debate traditionally thorny for them.

Still, many in the creative community are not shy about their anger and distress with the administration, and some acknowledge channeling those emotions into their productions....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/02/politics/campaign/02TUBE.html

[joeunderdog]

1. I'm still waiting for the apology to Tim Robbins and Susan S...

If not, I'd just like another one of Tim's speeches. I'd pay to see him.

[0007]

2. The Dave Letterman took junior and CNN to the wood shed

last night.

Don't miss it tonight, the controversy over the kid that stood behind junior while giving a speech, looking bored, yawning every 30 seconds, looking at his watch and just about falling a sleep on his feet will be on tonight as Dave's, guest.

Get the skinny about the White House lying and CNN going along with the lie and then lying a second time with a different story. Dave will tell it again tonight.

[bushisanidiot]

4. I've been trying to find a pic of that kid yawning, but can't find

one on the web..

[0007]

5. Ask CNN

[Tuttle]

6. Get 'em while they're hot...

http://brendanl.net/video/gwbyouth/

Watch them in order -- very funny stuff!

Tut-tut

[bushisanidiot]

9. CNN Caught Carrying President Moron's Water!!

as if we didn't know it already.

CNN knew the white house was lying to them, but they passed the lie on anyway!

idiots..

[Merlin]

10. Help!

How do you use this? All I get are more directory listings.

[Tuttle]

17. Merlin:

You need to click on the file name links -- if you're using a PC (not sure about platforms, help from others) you will get a real media player showing the clips from Letterman's show.

Good Luck,
Tut-tut

[rocktivity]

11. The kid is supposed to be on Letterman's show tonight

Get a video of that, too, somebody! He'll go down in history with the kid who Dan Quayle misspelled "potato" on.

And I think Dave makes an excellent point--why would you want to vote for a guy who go out of his way to make a late-night comedian look like a dope?

:headbang:
rocknation

[Zynx]

8. That incident shows CNN's bias.

[shockingelk]

3. ARRRRRRRAAAAGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!

'They added that these examples should not be seen as reflective of a supposed liberal agenda in the entertainment industry, an argument they said was undercut by shows with patriotic streaks like "J.A.G." on CBS.'

Shorter: We're not liberal because we have patriotic shows too!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. L&O fans

laughed over this, as on discussion boards, we've been talking about the right wing slant that show has taken recently.....

[readmylips]

12. Letterman's body found inside trunk of rental car...

Dave kept repeating how he did not want a fight with the White House, because he did not want his body found inside the trunk of a rental car. That was quite a statement!

[Gin]

13. Whoopi's show is tough on *.....every week there is a new comment..

U go girl!

[DeepModem Mom]

14. I think Dave may have been only half joking --

[readmylips]

15. Cry...cry...cry...

The repigs cry over everything, yet they have O'reilly, limballs, hannity, Ann the man, bret humes, ugly Novak, small boy kkkarson, the religious crazies, etc. etc. 24/7 on radio and TV. They give huge campaign contribution to small man bush and the whole GOP, contributions not declared...free contributions. They call it 'free speech.' Hitler must be laughing in hell.

I loved the Law & Order episode, the Practice was very moving. Did not see Whoopi's.

[David__77]

16. Let us hope so!

We need all the voices where we can find them. The creative community absolutely should speak up.

I only wish we did have hegemony in the entertainment realm. It's something to work on, that's for sure!

[kwolf68]

18. Hold ON

When I ask about the right-wing slant of Faux News, MSNBC, AM Radio and others Conservatives always opine about "its the ratings...its what the people want"....

I wonder if that is how they would/will respond to a TV show coming from a more Liberal perspective?

[happyending]

19. amazed

I am ceaslessly amazed that the lie that America's
media is "liberal" lives on. I mean, does the
right wing REALLY believe that? How could they?

Sometimes I watch the news on TV and really try to
look for that elusive "liberal bias". I rarely
see anything that might be interpreted that way.

It's just a lie. The media has swung to the right
and everyone who is paying attention knows it.

I am going to hope for better days and I am going
to vote for John Kerry.

[DeepModem Mom]

20. Hi, happyending, and welcome to DU!

I hope your DU name is a portent of things to come --