should t.v. dramas get political?

[PuffnScruff]

i noticed this on newsbusters.org

NBC Drama Includes Shot at "War Founded on Lies"
Posted by Rich Noyes on November 4, 2005 - 04:13.
We interrupt our regular programming for a left-wing blast at American foreign policy.

About three-fourths of the way through last night’s ER on NBC, a character giving a dinner table blessing began her prayer with rhetoric that could have been lifted from MoveOn.org's Web site: “Thank you, Lord, for the blessings we are about to receive. Look over those now who cannot be with us, including the countrymen who fight to protect us in an overseas war founded on lies told to us by our government.”

Up to that point, there had been no discussion of the war or politics at all (the main plot line was about a sick baby monkey being treated secretly by the ER docs). After the anti-war protest, the story resumed without any further political references.

The long-running NBC medical drama has a history of salting its script with left-wing talking points. Last year, two characters were discussing what to name their baby when the father suggested “George.” His girlfriend declared the name unsuitable because it belonged to “the current occupant of the White House.”

That episode also included gratuitous gushing over liberal columnist Molly Ivins. For details see the May 13, 2004 CyberAlert



so i guess what i'm wondering, is this fair? the writers of the show are trying to influence peoples opinions. wouldn't it be fair if a character on the show said something along the lines of "there were 3 independent investigation done that cleared the bush adminstration of any lies or wrong doing leading up to the war"?

 

[Jokerman]

And then she said, "And Israel should be wiped off the face of the map."

 

[Devious]

How is having a character on a tv show say a line of dialogue trying to influence people's opinion? The line may have been out of place, but it's only a line of dialogue for a character. I seriously doubt anyone watching this episode was influenced in any way by that line. If anything, it's just the writers trying to echo the public sentiment about Bush and the war.

 

[S O F I]

i noticed this on newsbusters.org

NBC Drama Includes Shot at "War Founded on Lies"
Posted by Rich Noyes on November 4, 2005 - 04:13.
We interrupt our regular programming for a left-wing blast at American foreign policy.

About three-fourths of the way through last night’s ER on NBC, a character giving a dinner table blessing began her prayer with rhetoric that could have been lifted from MoveOn.org's Web site: “Thank you, Lord, for the blessings we are about to receive. Look over those now who cannot be with us, including the countrymen who fight to protect us in an overseas war founded on lies told to us by our government.”

Up to that point, there had been no discussion of the war or politics at all (the main plot line was about a sick baby monkey being treated secretly by the ER docs). After the anti-war protest, the story resumed without any further political references.

The long-running NBC medical drama has a history of salting its script with left-wing talking points. Last year, two characters were discussing what to name their baby when the father suggested “George.” His girlfriend declared the name unsuitable because it belonged to “the current occupant of the White House.”

That episode also included gratuitous gushing over liberal columnist Molly Ivins. For details see the May 13, 2004 CyberAlert



so i guess what i'm wondering, is this fair? the writers of the show are trying to influence peoples opinions. wouldn't it be fair if a character on the show said something along the lines of "there were 3 independent investigation done that cleared the bush adminstration of any lies or wrong doing leading up to the war"?

LOL. The funny thing is, you're only frustrated by this because it puts down Bush, and you're a Bush supporter. I don't see threads mentioned when TV dramas constantly diss other foreign governments and leaders. My point is, if it was something political, but not putting down Bush, would you care?

 

[PuffnScruff]

I would care. I am really not a bush supporter even though I come across it sometimes.

What pissed me off is its a cheap shot. One that had no real place in the overall episode. Its almost subliminal messeging to me.

The west wing is my favorite show . But at the same time I hate it because it unfairly portrays rebulicans and bashes the right in almost every episode. That's not fair is it? That's the left pushing their idead and opinions which is what ER did.

Look at that new show on abc with the woman president. Former members of senator hillary clintons staff work on that show.

I don't think the writers at nbc and ER are expressing the thoughts and feelings of the american public at all. A very small portion maybe. The majority of those are young and dumb. I have met more people (adults over 30)in person and had conversations with, that don't feel the same as the media portrays americans opinions on the war.

 

[Illuminattile]

No, it's not fair. Every character on every show should be completely and utterly nonpartisan. Absolutely objective. None of them should have any view on any issue. None of them should possess any semblance of an opinion. They should all be middle-of-the-road, sitting-on-the-fence passionless automatons.

 

[PuffnScruff]

^i see your point. but in the case of ER, here is a show that has nothing to do with politics, getting political even if it is for 30 seconds. should we have political bias in entertainment shows? there are so many people out there that think fictional dramas are real. they seriously get their own views and opinions from character that really dont exist.

 

[Freedom Froggy]

anyone who takes somethign that isnt based on a true story serious to the point where it changes there oppinion... deserves no TV

 

[S O F I]

^i see your point. but in the case of ER, here is a show that has nothing to do with politics, getting political even if it is for 30 seconds. should we have political bias in entertainment shows? there are so many people out there that think fictional dramas are real. they seriously get their own views and opinions from character that really dont exist.

I find it cool. If I was a writer for a show, I'd include a little subliminal line here and there, to express my opinion without appearing so, like shakespeare.

 

[HitEmUp21]

I have no problem with it as long as it is from the Left.

 

[PuffnScruff]

I have no problem with it as long as it is from the Left.

do you watch south park, family guy, the simpsons, or american dad by any chance?

 

[HitEmUp21]

do you watch south park, family guy, the simpsons, or american dad by any chance?

I used to watch the first three, but all have descended beyond mediocrity (American Dad was not even that good).

I was joking, but I'm sure there is at least some truth behind it. I do enjoy hearing Leftist rhetoric on television, especially on shows that are not known for satirical comedy and political views are somewhat out of place. I mean, the Right's opinions are embedded in show after show (look at representations of Middle Eastern people throughout time for an example), it feels good for the Left to have a voice in certain arenas, however I admit that in the shows you mentioned it is absolutely saturated and the Left is becoming a caricature of a joke of itself.

Whether we face it or not, political opinions are underlying all the stuff we watch, they are only noticed when they are contrary to the status quo and when they are blatantly stated as what happened in E.R.

 

[PuffnScruff]

I used to watch the first three, but all have descended beyond mediocrity (American Dad was not even that good).

I was joking, but I'm sure there is at least some truth behind it. I do enjoy hearing Leftist rhetoric on television, especially on shows that are not known for satirical comedy and political views are somewhat out of place. I mean, the Right's opinions are embedded in show after show (look at representations of Middle Eastern people throughout time for an example), it feels good for the Left to have a voice in certain arenas, however I admit that in the shows you mentioned it is absolutely saturated and the Left is becoming a caricature of a joke of itself.

Whether we face it or not, political opinions are underlying all the stuff we watch, they are only noticed when they are contrary to the status quo and when they are blatantly stated as what happened in E.R.

i knew you were joking, i was just waiting for someone to come on here and say "well what about south park? that show is actually pretty right winged most of the time". see i feel different about the rights opinions being in show after show. i think its more of the left that you see in most shows.