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Showtime to Air 'The Reagans' on Nov. 30
AP ^
| 11-17-03
Posted on 11/17/2003 2:13:04 PM PST by steppenwolffe
NEW YORK - Showtime will air "The Reagans," the made-for-TV movie that CBS scuttled, on Nov. 30.
The cable channel's announcement Monday was unexpected, since it had originally planned to air the movie next year.
"We just thought it didn't make sense to prolong this and bring it on next year," said Robert Greenblatt, Showtime entertainment president. "I'm just tired of people making judgments on this when they haven't seen it. Let them see it."
Fans of the former president, accusing CBS of distorting Ronald Reagan's legacy while he's sick with Alzheimer's disease, had mounted a furious protest. CBS denied it was bowing to pressure in handing off the project to Showtime, but said producers made a film that crossed the line into advocacy.
Greenblatt said the movie, which was to air over two prime-time nights on CBS, would be shown commercial-free in one sitting - at 8 p.m. EST the Sunday after Thanksgiving - and would last about three hours. Showtime will air a panel discussion about the movie with people familiar with Reagan's presidency the following night.
Michael Paranzino, who set up the Web site boycottcbs.com to fight the TV movie on CBS, said it might be harder to persuade Showtime to change its mind because it is smaller. Showtime is seen in just under 15 million homes; CBS is in 108 million.
"I think that Showtime realized they have a turkey on their hands and turkeys don't last much beyond Thanksgiving," said Paranzino, a government affairs consultant from Maryland. "I'm disappointed that they reversed their promise to take a fresh look and not air it until 2004."
He said he'll try to make people who were upset about the movie aware of Showtime's plans - but he won't be watching.
"I've never had Showtime because I never had a strong interest in watching `Porky's Revenge' at 3:30 in the morning," Paranzino said.
Greenblatt said the movie will appear pretty much the way the filmmakers made it.
Left out, however, will be a scene about AIDS that was the focus of controversy when a version of the screenplay was leaked. Reagan had been depicted as uncaring and judgmental toward people with AIDS.
"I think this is as balanced and honest a movie as can be made out of this movie," Greenblatt said. "We're never going to please the people who are on the extreme right side of the argument and there are people who are the left side of the argument who will think we didn't go far enough."
CBS had believed that producers were making a love story about Ronald and Nancy Reagan, with politics as a backdrop. But CBS was angered about a tone that appeared too strident.
The movie's producers, Crag Zadan and Neil Meron, said they are "pleased that our final version of the movie will be presented. We are proud to live in a country where everyone, including artists and writers, has the right of free speech."
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News
KEYWORDS: bias; cbs; media; showtime; thereagans
To: steppenwolffe
Crag and Neil, you have free speech. I, however, have the freedom to withold money that I have control over from CBS, sponsors, Showtime, or anyone else who contributes to a lie. And, you might just find out that this kind of a lie in media format is libel.
2
posted on
11/17/2003 2:18:41 PM PST
by
Ingtar
(Understanding is a three-edged sword : your side, my side, and the truth in between ." -- Kosh)
To: steppenwolffe
"I've never had Showtime because I never had a strong interest in watching `Porky's Revenge' at 3:30 in the morning," Paranzino said.
3
posted on
11/17/2003 3:10:12 PM PST
by
Cicero
(Marcus Tullius)
To: steppenwolffe
"I think this is as balanced and honest a movie as can be made out of this movie," Greenblatt said. "We're never going to please the people who are on the extreme right side of the argument and there are people who are the left side of the argument who will think we didn't go far enough." You know, the truth is always a great place to start. Look into it.
Patriot Paradox
4
posted on
11/17/2003 3:19:03 PM PST
by
sonsofliberty2000
(Al Jazeera? Al Sharpton? Al Gore? Al the same!)
To: steppenwolffe
Isn't the Sunday following Thanksgiving one of the slowest TV viewing dates of the year? Many are traveling home, the rest are cleaning up from the long weekend guests.
5
posted on
11/17/2003 3:20:29 PM PST
by
NautiNurse
(Everyone is born right handed. Only the exceptionally gifted overcome it.)
To: steppenwolffe
The movie's producers, Crag Zadan and Neil Meron, said they are "pleased that our final version of the movie will be presented. We are proud to live in a country where everyone, including artists and writers, has the right of free speech."Does that mean Showtime has to air a movie I make, so my ``free speech''isn't violated?
6
posted on
11/17/2003 3:22:05 PM PST
by
nickcarraway
(www.terrisfight.org)
To: nickcarraway
Yes. grab a camcorder and make an expose on Clinton, then give them a call.
Patriot Paradox
7
posted on
11/17/2003 3:28:01 PM PST
by
sonsofliberty2000
(Al Jazeera? Al Sharpton? Al Gore? Al the same!)
To: steppenwolffe
"I think this is as balanced and honest a movie as can be made out of this movie," - What??
To: Free_at_last_-2001
Translation: We know it sucks but all of us lefties put muchos moola into it and now have to try something with it. We like it.
Patriot Paradox
9
posted on
11/17/2003 3:44:21 PM PST
by
sonsofliberty2000
(Al Jazeera? Al Sharpton? Al Gore? Al the same!)
To: steppenwolffe
At this point, I'd like to see this thing as a goof. If it's as bad as all that, I bet it's going to be kinda funny. I read a review, I don't know where, that said it's even worse than anything you've read!
10
posted on
11/17/2003 3:46:24 PM PST
by
Hildy
To: steppenwolffe
Oh how I wish I subscribed to this tripe, "Showtime" so I could cancel. I don't, haven't and never will...subscribe.
11
posted on
11/17/2003 3:48:10 PM PST
by
Brian S
To: steppenwolffe
It's appropriate that this "biography" is being aired around Thanksgiving--it's a turkey! But the show is so ludicrous and over-the-top, it belongs on Saturday Night Live.
To: NautiNurse
So, you think they just want to get it over with? Sounds reasonable. If I were them, I would just can it, but I suppose bonus's are at stake.
To: steppenwolffe
I say if it airs ANYWHERE then we should boycott CBS...
Same parent company...so why not!
14
posted on
11/17/2003 6:37:57 PM PST
by
Bobalu
(Yahoooo... Rush is back :-))
To: steppenwolffe
Showtime will air a panel discussion about the movie with people familiar with Reagan's presidency the following night.Be sure to tune in. Babs Strisand will be the moderator. Panelists will include Mike Moore, Tiny, Tiny Timmy Dasshole, Ted "The Swimmer" Kennedy, Je$$e Jacka$$ and Nancy "Botox City" Pelosi. Just a fair and balanced cross section of folks familiar with Reagan's presidency. </sarcasm>
15
posted on
11/17/2003 7:01:06 PM PST
by
upchuck
(Encourage HAMAS to pre-test their explosive devices. A dud always spoils everything.)
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