November 1, 2003

THE REAGANS: Cowardly, Cruel, and Where RNC Expects College Students to Learn History of Reagan Years

Yes, time for more wacky news about the CBS miniseries THE REAGANS, one of the most important events to ever effect our civilization.

First, as we mentioned before, Matt Drudge said that Nancy was asking close, personal friend Merv Griffen for help in fighting back this slander.  Merv suggested that she sue Atrios for letting people say bad things about her husband.  Ha ha, just kidding--at least, as far as I know. 

No, actually Merv told a few media outlets that Nancy's feelings are hurt, and that CBS is mean:

"It’s a cowardly act. Is that what the 'C’ stands for in CBS?. . .From what I’ve read, I have not seen the film, I have not read the script, but I have certainly seen enough excerpts from it in the promos.. . . How can it be so cruel?

Um, I have to say that as a child I had occasion to watch Merv's talk show when Grandma was babysitting us, and the cruelest thing that I ever heard was some of the guests trying to show they were multi-talented by singing "Sunrise, Sunset" or "People."  (Thanks to David for the cruel tip.)

And right-minded people have taken up the challenge to defend Nancy's honor.  A group promoting a boycott (a different one than the easy, 10-minute one we told you about earlier) said that their efforts have been so successful that two CBS sponsors who hadn't planned on advertising on THE REAGANS still aren't.  Here's their story: Group Aims to Stop CBS 'Hatchet Job' About Reagans From Airing

The Defend Reagan Committee, angry about what it claims is a "hatchet job," is urging viewers to boycott all CBS programming in order to get the network to scrap the miniseries or get advertisers to distance themselves from The Reagans , which is set to air on Nov. 16 and 18.

"We ... got a couple of calls from companies that we had sent in our original email that they were sponsoring or were considering sponsoring the program and we got two calls yesterday saying, 'No, we are not involved, we do not plan to be involved, and do not believe in it,'" [Teri Smith O'Rourke, communications director] said.

"And that is from Ericsson the phone company and Gillette. So they have been getting inundated with emails from our supporters asking them not to advertise," O'Rourke said.

Spry, Quisp cereal, and Lucky cigarettes also said that they hadn't planned on advertising during the miniseries, still weren't, and are also no longer is business.  However, Heinz Ketchup said while they hadn't planned on placing any ads in the CBS production, now that they know that it has Nancy declaring ketchup to be a vegetable (and part of a healthy school lunch plan), they are seriously considering buying some 30-second spots on the series, and possibly designing a new ad campaign around it.

And of course, CBS has already said that they will probably cut the stuff that seems to offend the Reaganites the most:

CBS Chairman Les Moonves, considered by many to be an ally of the political left, responded to the criticism in an interview with the New York Post .

"Well, number one - nobody's seen the film. So any criticism ... or a film that isn't finished, is rather odd we think," Moonves told the Post .

"We've looked at the rough cut, there are things we like ... there are things we don't like ... there are things we think go too far. So there are some edits being made trying to present a more fair picture of the Reagans," Moonves added.

However, the the Defend Reagan Committee "is not waiting for the movie to be televised" before threatening sponors, because if you wait until you know what you're talking about, the battle is already over. 

But I do have to wonder about those "many people" who consider the CBS Chairman to be "an ally of the political left."  Does his programming, such as "CSI," somehow offend them with its "liberal" message that "criminals are scum and deserve to be caught, no matter how much it costs or how unlikely the science we use to do it?"  Or are they irate because "JAG" portrays the military's criminal justice system as efficent and cool, and its members as all brave, loyal, and really hot?  Or is it "Joan of Arcadia" that has their knickers in twist, because it presents the leftist idea that God exists, cares about us, and works as a cafeteria lady.  Yeah, probably that last one.

But anyway, the big news is, as you've no doubt already heard, that RNC chairman Ed Gillespie (Better Living Through Evil) wants CBS to let "a team of historians to review the program for historical accuracy, and a panel of people who actually know the Reagans personally to review it for accuracy in its portrayal of them as individuals."  Either that, or "inform your viewers via a crawl every ten minutes that the program is a fictional portrayal of the Reagans and the Reagan Presidency, and they should not consider it to be historically accurate."

Personally, I think that this is a good demand, and that all TV channels should do it for all television programs.  I want a team of historians to review "Law & Order" for accuracy in its portrayal of Martha Stewart as a menopausal murderess, and a panel of her friends to review it for accuracy in its portrayal of her as a bitch.  While I'm pretty sure they'll find it accurate, if not, then there should be a constant crawl at the bottom of the screen informing viewers that this is a TV show, and Lucy Arnez is really not Martha Stewart. 

Oh, and I want "The O.C." reviewed for accuracy by a panel of Orange County high school students (like Merv, I've never watched the show or read a script, but the promos do portray a world where everyone is really rich and pretty evil, and people are always getting sent to mental institutions for falling in love with the puppy-eyed hero).  If this show is found to be inaccurate and Fox refuses to change it, then I want a crawl announcing that "Real teens in Orange County have to do homework for the most part, and often do not spend $5000 for one outfit." 

If this isn't done, then I see a real danger.  In factm the same danger that Gillespie Do-Right of the RNC warns of -- the possibility that people will think that TV is REAL!

But if your series contains omissions, exaggerations, distortions or scenes that are fiction masquerading as fact, the American people may come away with a misunderstanding of the Reagans and the Reagan Administrations. Those graduating from college this year were only about five years old when President Reagan left office, and this broadcast will have a significant impact on their understanding of his legacy.

Because as we all know, people graduating from college this year get all of their knowledge about history and stuff from TV miniseries.  And that's why we can NEVER let the network show "V" again -- these kids will freak out when they learn about of the RNC's secret plan for humanity!

Gillespie told some of the non-cowardly, uncruel media outlets (to include the Wash Times), that:

This miniseries is not covering the breakup of a band, or something similar.  This is important to the history of our country. And I think our requests are reasonable."

However, Yoko Ono disagreed with Mr. Gillespie's assessment of this TV movie being more important than a fair portrayal of a band breakup. 

And as to why a political party would think its request to censure TV was "reasonable," we can only say that when Karl Rove announces that the media has been "governmentized" to better bring you the good news from Iraq, don't be too surprised.

So, the Reagans.  Either boycott it or watch it with the idea of complaining about it later.  Or, do what Mr. Gellespie suggests, and have your "own 'Reagan viewing' parties on the nights the series airs, featuring 'counterprogramming' that is rooted in truth."  I was thinking of Bed Time for Bonzo, "Death Valley Days, or that old "Saturday Night Live" skit with Phil Hartman as Reagan.   But I am open to your suggestions.

1:09:34 AM