L.A. Times media critic describes ABC's reputation as "a smoking ruin"

[DeepModem Mom]

Editor&Publisher: 'L.A. Times' Media Critic Hits 'Irresponsiiblity' of ABC On 9/11 Film
By E&P Staff
Published: September 10, 2006 9:30 AM ET

NEW YORK -- Tim Rutten of the Los Angeles Times joined many of his media and TV critic colleagues on Sunday in raising serious questions about "The Path to 9/11" TV movie, scheduled to start a two-day run tonight, but went further in judging its home network, ABC....

***

Rutten described ABC's reputation as a "smoking ruin" and ripped its "irresponsibility" to history. He observed that "it's hard to know whether you're looking at the consequence of unadulterated folly or of a calculated strategy that turned out to be too clever by half.

"At the end of the day, it probably doesn't make much difference because, either way, the lacerating controversy surrounding the network's docu-dramatic re-creation of events leading to Sept. 11 is an entirely self-inflicted wound. For most of the week, ABC rather haughtily attempted to characterize itself as the victim of philistines, or self-righteously as a champion of free speech or, more pathetically, as just plain misunderstood by people who just don't understand how television is done.

"It is none of those things.

"It's an opportunistic and self-interested organization that somehow thought it could approach the most wrenching American tragedy since Pearl Harbor with the values that prevail among network television executives — the sort of ad hoc ethics that would make a streetwalker blush — and that nobody would mind."...

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003119671

[glitch]

1. Gasp! Now that is scathing. Love it. K & R

"It's an opportunistic and self-interested organization that somehow thought it could approach the most wrenching American tragedy since Pearl Harbor with the values that prevail among network television executives — the sort of ad hoc ethics that would make a streetwalker blush — and that nobody would mind."

[wryter2000]

4. OMG

I wish I'd written that.

[glitch]

10. I revised my review of this review.

He includes some gross misperceptions on the freedom of speech and the responsibilities of the privilege of broadcasting on our public airwaves at the end, see the link to his full review in the post below.

[countmyvote4real]

2. Cool. Here's a link to the original.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-rutten9sep09,1,4386536.column?ctrack=1&cset=true

[glitch]

7. Thanks for this. He blows his lead toward the end.

"One of the most unfortunate consequences of all this was that most of the news media completely overlook a stunning affront to 1st Amendment freedoms that occurred when the Democratic leadership of the U.S. Senate sent Iger a letter Thursday appearing to threaten the network's licenses unless "The Path to 9/11" was altered or killed:

"The Communications Act of 1934 provides your network with a free broadcast license predicated on the fundamental understanding of your principle obligation to act as a trustee of the public airwaves in serving the public interest … ," the lawmakers wrote. "We urge you, after full consideration of the facts, to uphold your responsibilities as a respected member of American society and as a beneficiary of the free use of the public airwaves to cancel this factually inaccurate and deeply misguided program."

We've all become accustomed to a Congress that behaves as if it's divided between Bloods and Crips rather than Republicans and Democrats — but this was a thuggish new low. If we were inclined to dramatic license, the guys with thick necks in "On the Waterfront" would come to mind, though it's doubtful even Harvey Keitel could plausibly play Harry Reid as threatening."

I wonder why E & P didn't pick up on these paragraphs?

Completely wrong to think freedom of speech includes free license to our public airwaves, otherwise we'd all have it. There is a responsibility with that privilege that ABC has breached. Furthermore there is no right to give unlimited campaign contributions with those lies on our public airwaves.

They can lie all they want, just find another venue.

[countmyvote4real]

15. Totally agree on that n/t

[dogday]

3. Now that is a review! nt

[Kurovski]

5. K&R.(nt)

[malaise]

6. Superb

Kick!

[Straight Shooter]

8. Irresponsibility and lack of accountability are the hallmarks of the GOP.

Can we puh-leeze put the adults in charge now before this country, like ABC, is also a total smoking ruin?

[Roland99]

9. Koppel gone. Jennings gone. Let the propaganda fly!

[tsuki]

11. Wow. So much for the Conservative's higher moral ground.

"the sort of ad hoc ethics that would make a streetwalker blush"

[ProgressiveEconomist]

12. Is ABC really that much worse than its competition?

Remember what the Chairman and CEO of CBS's parent company said a month before the last Presidential election?

From http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,995270,00.html :

"TIME.com: 10 QUESTIONS FOR SUMNER REDSTONE -- Posted Monday, Oct. 4, 2004

THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF VIACOM, THE AMERICAN MEDIA GIANT, WAS IN China last week ... Redstone spoke with TIME's Neil Gough in Guangzhou. ...

Redstone {CCEO of CBS parent company VIacom}: There has been comment upon my contribution to Democrats like Senator Kerry. Senator Kerry is a good man. I've known him for many years. But it happens that I vote for Viacom. Viacom is my life, and I do believe that a Republican Administration is better for media companies than a Democratic one."

[Cobalt-60]

16. It is not the function of the Government to be good to media companies

A corporation is a machine like an automobile or a shotgun. Citizens are supposed to be first and only priority.
Corporations are guided by men just like an auto or shotgun. And like those other devices they need to be tightly regulated for reasons which must now be all too obvious.

[annabanana]

13. At the bottom of the linked original, however..

It excoriates Reid et al for "threatening to pull the license".

[glitch]

14. Amazing the number of Americans who don't get the difference between the

right of freedom of speech and the privilege of broadcasting on the public's air waves.

[Stockholm]

17. Ouch

harsh but fitting.

L.A. Times is doing their job!

[Tsiyu]

18. He had me til he made his comments about Democrats

Rutton needs to understand that drastic times call for drastic measures. There IS a responsibility that goes along with having a licence to broadcast on our public airwaves.

We may not have the Fairness Doctrine anymore, but we DO still have a Constitution. The Bill of Rights guarantees us a free press. When that "press" acts in the interests of massive corporations and acts to harm and mislead the citizens of this nation, it must be held accountable. ABC, CBS and NBC should all have their licenses pulled. They should become cable networks if they want to continue to broadcast and we should give those channels back to The People.

Rutten's diatribe doesn't impress me much, even if he does skewer ABC. He's not interested in America or protecting and informing Americans but in the media and protecting the media.

Big difference.

[rosesaylavee]

19. Love the LAT

for their scathing, no holds barred reviews. This one is one of my favorites. WTG!

[EVDebs]

20. Not a 'smoking ruin' silly, it's a 'stinking pile' ! nt

[autorank]

21. "Mickey" goes off copyright; ABC loses license; ABC prosecuted for

fraud by claiming $40 million as a business expense. The naiton's honor has been assaulted in a new and inconceivable way...five years after the event. This needs to be done the minute we return to power, no matter when that is...immediately. Non stop rectification.

What a line, my God, "the sort of ad hoc ethics that would make a streetwalker blush" Damn, wish I'd thought of that.;)

K&R