Some TV talk
Simpsons
On Sunday, the Simpsons did the second show in a row that contained blatant criticism of the war in Iraq. I'm not naive. I know that the people behind the Simpsons, and most other shows, have a liberal bent. There have been criticisms of the government before. And of Bush. Then again, there was an episode (2F02 "Sideshow Bob Roberts") where Homer was interested in a Rush Limbaugh-alike. Or when Homer joined the NRA (5F01 "The Cartridge Family). So what Homer really wants is kind of obscured. But I don't feel like the condemnation was ever so specific. Nor has it carried over from one week to the next. I respect the right of the writers to express any view they see fit. But their view is very much not my own. I feel that I may have to stop watching the show. We'll see how the next episode goes. The bottom line is that I'm not going to support a show that is being used to promote an agenda that is counter to my own. I suspect that I won't see anything so political in the next episode and all this will be for nothing. I would really hate to have to take my claim to having seen every episode off my resumé.
Studio 60
Here's a show that I thought was quite good but is apparently on the skids. Apparently nobody is interested in the goings ons behind the scenes of an SNL-like show. Interestingly, one of the major conflicts is between former lovers. One who is the head writer and a co-producer who is an unabashed liberal atheist. The other is the most popular performer on the show and is an unabashed born again Christian. They've milked this for all its worth. Possibly just to generate controversy, and, in turn, ratings. I get the impression that the writers think they are being somewhat balanced. I don't think they have. Or maybe they aren't really trying to. The show crossed a line of some sort when the liberal character, instead of saying the usual, "The problem is we're right and you're wrong," said that the other side was stupid. Not in a general pejorative sense, but in a literal "lacking intelligence" sense. I kind of admire them for admitting that. Rush Limbaugh has for years referred to the liberal elite. And said they think they are better and smarter than everyone else. I think he was right. But it would be very unpopular to come right out and say so. But now somebody has. Other than Limbaugh. Which is not to say that this doesn't go the other way. There are some people of every mind-set who chalk up differences of opinion to their opposites being brain dead.
Simpsons quote of the day: "KBBL talk radio. And now Springfield's favorite conservative and author of the well-selling book, 'Only Turkeys Have Left Wings. Ladies and gentlemen, Birch Barlow."
On Sunday, the Simpsons did the second show in a row that contained blatant criticism of the war in Iraq. I'm not naive. I know that the people behind the Simpsons, and most other shows, have a liberal bent. There have been criticisms of the government before. And of Bush. Then again, there was an episode (2F02 "Sideshow Bob Roberts") where Homer was interested in a Rush Limbaugh-alike. Or when Homer joined the NRA (5F01 "The Cartridge Family). So what Homer really wants is kind of obscured. But I don't feel like the condemnation was ever so specific. Nor has it carried over from one week to the next. I respect the right of the writers to express any view they see fit. But their view is very much not my own. I feel that I may have to stop watching the show. We'll see how the next episode goes. The bottom line is that I'm not going to support a show that is being used to promote an agenda that is counter to my own. I suspect that I won't see anything so political in the next episode and all this will be for nothing. I would really hate to have to take my claim to having seen every episode off my resumé.
Studio 60
Here's a show that I thought was quite good but is apparently on the skids. Apparently nobody is interested in the goings ons behind the scenes of an SNL-like show. Interestingly, one of the major conflicts is between former lovers. One who is the head writer and a co-producer who is an unabashed liberal atheist. The other is the most popular performer on the show and is an unabashed born again Christian. They've milked this for all its worth. Possibly just to generate controversy, and, in turn, ratings. I get the impression that the writers think they are being somewhat balanced. I don't think they have. Or maybe they aren't really trying to. The show crossed a line of some sort when the liberal character, instead of saying the usual, "The problem is we're right and you're wrong," said that the other side was stupid. Not in a general pejorative sense, but in a literal "lacking intelligence" sense. I kind of admire them for admitting that. Rush Limbaugh has for years referred to the liberal elite. And said they think they are better and smarter than everyone else. I think he was right. But it would be very unpopular to come right out and say so. But now somebody has. Other than Limbaugh. Which is not to say that this doesn't go the other way. There are some people of every mind-set who chalk up differences of opinion to their opposites being brain dead.
Simpsons quote of the day: "KBBL talk radio. And now Springfield's favorite conservative and author of the well-selling book, 'Only Turkeys Have Left Wings. Ladies and gentlemen, Birch Barlow."