CBS Pulls Reagan Movie

[RobbO]

Posted: 11/4/03 at 4:53pm

what's next? its pretty obvious from reagan's record as president that no matter what you thought of him that he did NOTHING for AIDS during his two terms in office.

"The film continues through the White House years--and reportedly paints Ronnie as homophobic and unsympathetic to the AIDS epidemic.

"They that live in sin shall die in sin," Reagan reportedly says in a scene, indicating his belief that AIDS patients deserved their fate--however, there's no proof the real Reagan uttered those exact words. "


i don't look to a TV movie for 100% accuracy - yes, hopefully it should have some basis of truth but as a viewer you still need to be a critical thinker and make your own judgments.

i think it is appalling that CBS cancelled the showing of the mini-series.

http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,12846,00.html

Updated On: 11/4/03 at 04:53 PM

Posted: 11/4/03 at 6:21pm

Rumor has it Showtime might take it on?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/4/03 at 7:16pm

Imagine the uproar if a tele pic of Martin Luther King was deemed not acceptable. The same thing would have happened without all the uproar. What is good for one is good for all. If the party can defend himself , fine . If the party is dead or incapacitated & cannot defend himself & the portrayal is especially egregious , we should be wary . This goes for whoever is the subject be he on the left or right.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 11/4/03 at 7:21pm

it's what i've pointed out elsewhere...let the protests continue. It will only make more people want to see it, either on a pay cable channel or released privately. If the protesters want to balance out the view of Reagan, write an article counteracting the implications of the miniseries or write a vehicle and get it produced that shows another side.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/4/03 at 7:56pm

Just as one network bends to pressure from one side... Does anyone think the Jessica Lynch movie will be propaganda free? (Remember the Bush 9/11 movie?) Of course we're all moved/happy that she was saved and is thriving. But even the promos suggest a Rumsfeld-endorsed POV. It makes me ill to see the coverage of the dead from this past horrifically bloody weekend, and then a glossy promo about the Lynch rescue, with rah-rah music and waving flags in slo-mo. Look, I know we need to believe in heroes, but I don't think any film that clearly equates patriotism with full endorsment of this particular, controversial military action can be without bias. (Please, if any posters want to yell at me how brave she is, know that I agree. Her courage and dedication to country isn't my point. It's not about this woman, it's about the calculated use of the medium in these divisive times.)

And by the way -- I lived through the Reagan 80s as many here have. The man's track record re AIDS is shameful, and should be in the story. Read Randy Shilts' AND THE BAND PLAYED ON. The facts speak volumes. To edit that out of the story -- the 80sis the decade that COULD'VE turned the tide on AIDS (forget gay men -- there was no interest in African, either) -- would be a whitewash.

Updated On: 11/4/03 at 07:56 PM

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 11/4/03 at 8:07pm

Thank you, Auggie.

Don't forget the government prohibition of showing the coffins of the American dead in Iraq.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/4/03 at 8:47pm

Well, Rox, it seems the Repubs didn't worry at ALL about veracity in Showtime's recent W. binotgraphy dealing with his heroic superhero activities post 9-11 and his new endless war (I had no idea W. had the power of flight and can melt steel with his laser beam vision!). Would, oh would, that Rupublicans had raised so much as an eyebrow during THAT particular rim job. On the metaphorical limo that is our President's track record. Credibility is such a great thing.

[Kristie-K]

Posted: 11/4/03 at 9:18pm

I was a kid during the 80's and lived with my family in Hollywood....Alot of our friends were homosexual men who were artists....In my early years of life I witnessed more beautiful men suffer and died of Aids....I will never forget or forgive our Government for turning their backs on the Aids mess. It wasn't until Rock Hudson died and Liz Taylor started holding benefits for money, that the Government started coming around-barely...Reagan was part of this mess. This is History and this movie should be seen...

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/4/03 at 9:19pm

Reagan can't defend himself. Sort like beating up on a retarded kid
The Lynch movie is a joke & they are making her out to be the second coming of General Eisenhower & Rambo combined. Give me a break .

By the way, Mr Namo - Have a nice day.

Updated On: 11/4/03 at 09:19 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/4/03 at 9:23pm

Again. That makes no sense. Of course. But let's continue your line of logic. Reagan can't defend himself. So the Republicans have to say the movie is inaccurate and pressure the network into not airing it.

By that line of argument, W. should have contacted Showtime and told them not to run the 9/11 docufiction because it made him out to be a non-lying, decisive superhero that was filled with verifiable inaccuracies.

Buuuut, since the Repubs are the moral absolutists, they STILL ought to have mentioned the innacuracies, unless they don't mind lies that make them look good?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/4/03 at 9:29pm

Those who have a problem with the inaccuracies in the GWB movie (which I have never seen ) should complain to him at the White House. Have no problem with that at all. By the way, I was previously accused of being " off topic" . I only responded to this off topic thread & did not start it. Oh well

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/4/03 at 9:30pm

Complaining to the white house is not the same as using the Republican bully pulpit. Accent on bully. It's just not. Would that they had the integrity to police themselves as they police others.

Updated On: 11/4/03 at 09:30 PM

[RobbO]

Posted: 11/4/03 at 10:59pm

if, as a society, we didn't do anything that was insensitive to a political or other figure how would we have ANY checks and balances? that's absolutely crazy to say that we have to wait until someone dies to be critical of them!

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 11/5/03 at 7:39am

Mr. Roxy....Reagan has an army of people defending him on the news everyday. I just think it's disturbing that a political party can now control what we see on TV. I'm surprised they didn't try to say the movie was a threat to homeland security since that's the excuse they use to take away other civil rights.

On an even more disturbing note...there are two more republican governors in the country today...

[orion59]

Posted: 11/5/03 at 12:11pm

I wonder, if they were to remove from the script, the few lines that have people in an uproar (because Regan allegedly never said them)and they did this mini series portraying him in all honesty and objectively, would it make him come across any differently?

He was an ineffective president. He ignored the AIDS/HIV crisis that at that time was at it's peak. The list of his failures in office goes on. So, let's say for the sake of argument that he never utter the phrase about people living in sin, dying in sin. What he failed to do in terms of allocating funds, shows that whether or not those words were spoken, tahtw as certainly his attitude.

The Republicans have nothing valid to complain about even if the writers of this mini series took some artistic liberties.

[RobbO]

Posted: 11/5/03 at 12:16pm

of course they took liberties - it is a TV movie, it is not a documentary, it is not a historical account. i don't even believe that reagan was a bad president, per se, it just scares me that a project like this could be silenced.

this is not about which party you belong to in my mind, it speaks moreso to censorship - a topic (off or not) that interests the broadway community.

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 11/5/03 at 12:16pm

I just hope we have the opportunity to see this and judge for ourselves:)

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 11/5/03 at 12:29pm

namo, i'll not sit here and let you tear down our president. this president is 50 feet tall and has single handedly defeated rampaging mongol hordes with the flick of his wrist. this president has developed comprehensive plans for a balanced budget, saving medicare and social security, and wiping out unemployment, drug addiction, disease, and unhappiness. unfortunately those plans were stolen by james brolin when he was graciously given access to the white house in preparation for his scorched earth potrayal of ol' what's his name. brolin, i know you're reading this you rat b******, we know all about your evil plans and you and babs will never succeed! never! a-hahahahahahahaha...

note to self, never post immediately after double espresso

[robbiej]

Posted: 11/5/03 at 12:30pm

Papa love mambo

And Robbie loves Papa.

Drink all the espresso you want, dearie. You're a fabulous addition to this little enclave.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 11/5/03 at 12:37pm

Cha Cha Cha Papa! Cha Cha Cha Robbie! :)
Caffiene is your Friend Cha Cha Cha!

[Peter]

Posted: 11/5/03 at 12:51pm

Is this really that surprising to people that a movie which sheds an unfavorable light on a Republican president is pulled from airing? Wake up people...we've entered an age where it's anti-American to voice a dissenting opinion against a war that should never have begun in the first place. You really expect a movie to air that questions the integrity of the icon of the Republican party? Shame on you all. We're becoming more and more of a facist state under this administration.

[i luv stevo]

Posted: 11/5/03 at 4:18pm

I heard on the radio this morning that it is to air on showtime early next year.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 11/5/03 at 6:15pm

i heard that too and hope it happens. Wait and see...the McCarthy era will have nothing on this period in history. There will be blacklists, there will be a reaction, and the cycle will turn again. Maybe a play as great as THE CRUCIBLE will result.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/5/03 at 6:25pm

I'm glad CBS pulled the movie. I hated the Reagans. If people want to see a movie about these horrible people, they should have to pay for it on cable.

Not only did Reagan treat gays horribly, but the entire middle class. He cut student financial aid to colleges and disallowed a lot of middle class tax exemptions, all the while giving tax exemptions to the super rich. He is the also the reason why many companies do pre-employment drug testing (keep your nose out of my bedroom and everything else I do on my personal time).

[DofB5]

Posted: 11/5/03 at 6:41pm

Reagan, hummm. The name sounds familar--Reagan?? Wasn't he an actor who played a president--I can't quite remember the name of the movie.....

D