A Republican TV show? Yeah, right...

[7thson]

On Sunday's Reliable Sources, host Howard Kurtz played an excerpt from a panel discussion he moderated, which was held by the Kaiser Family Foundation, about how politicians are portrayed on TV entertainment programs. The panel was made up of former Clinton economic adviser Gene Sperling, Dennis Haysbert, the actor who plays the President on Fox's 24, and Lawrence O'Donnell, creator and Executive Producer of NBC's short-lived Mr. Sterling.

In an exchange brought to our attention by an e-mailer and tracked down by MRC analyst Patrick Gregory, Kurtz inquired of O'Donnell: “One thing these programs have in common, conservatives are practically invisible. President Bartlet is a Democrat. Martin Sheen, in fact, made anti-war ads before the invasion of Iraq. Mr. Sterling is a California liberal based loosely on Jerry Brown. Why aren't there any Republicans?”

O'Donnell replied: “You will never get that TV show. [crowd laughter] You'll never, ever going to get the Republican TV show. The Writers Guild of America, my union, is at a minimum, 99 percent leftist liberal and, like me, socialist. [crowd laughter] And we don't know how to write it. We don't.”

For a bio and picture of O'Donnell, a former Democratic Senate staffer who is currently a semi-regular on the McLaughlin Group: www.mclaughlin.com

[7thson]

I received this yesterday from a friend of mine. As I was reading the thread this morning concerning Star Trek and the call to replace the two who are connected to the new program Enterprise, this article came to mind. What I find amazing is that the leftist media continually state there is no bias and yet we not only have this example, we have the NYT's Jayson Blair and Chriss Hedges. We have CNN carrying water for Saddam. We have the VP of the LA Times saying they are being too bias. What do you guys and gals think?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Credit O'Donnell for truthfulness.

[Roughneck]

So now Hollywood admits to being Socialists.

This is proof that they are anti-American. A boycott is in order. BIG TIME.

[MalcolmS]

On the writer's block thread, it came out that you were in "the biz". Can't you do something about this? ;-)

Maybe there's money to be made as a script consultant re: how to include "under-represented" Repubs.

P.S. Since that posting, how many people have FR-mailed you to show your their scripts?

[ZGuy]

"As I was reading the thread this morning concerning Star Trek"

What thread? Did I miss a thread?

[ClearCase_guy]

I can imagine these guys trying to truthfully portray a Republican politician:

"Okay, the guy stands on the step of the Capital, and makes this really impassioned speech about -- get this -- the unconstitutionality of Gun Control, right? But we've got to make this believeable, OK? So, after he finishes the speech something's got to follow so we know how committed he is to Republican principles. What comes next? What would, say, Newt Gingrich do after a speech like that? I know! He goes over -- and steals money from a blind beggar! Yes!!"

[7thson]

ROFLMAO!!

[7thson]

ROFLMAO!!

[Digger]

I have said for years that if we had a TRUE conservative network unlike the pseudo FOX it would totally dominate. Now this will not happen. Anybody wonder why? Anybody wonder why when pubbies control all of Congress there is no conservative agenda in place? Anyone ready to question the "Two-Party Cartel" and it's 'bought & paid for' puppets which allows no competition. Elites can not afford conservativism to flow thus ruining their agenda.

[ThinkFreedom]

I think anyone with the resources to set up a conservative entertainment network - even on cable - would make a lot of money things stand at the moment! As for this article, it's confirmation of something everyone right of Bill O'Reilly knew already...

The big irony of Hollyweird is that business has been effectively hijacked as a means of leftist, anti-business propoganda.

[longtermmemmory]

If you are talking about brandon and braga, I think the libs are upset that these two are taking it away from a voyager touchy feely direction. (in other words writing to get viewers)

Hollywood better get their act together or the only movie or entertainment industry located there will be a little lady on a street corner selling maps to the former homes of the starts.

[Maximum Leader]

Or maybe Newt goes back to his office and sleeps with a congressional staffer! No that's too crazy, everybody knows that our politicians have higher moral than theirs.

/sarcasm off

[jpl]

I agree. You simply can't be a socialist and be a good American; the two are mutually exclusive as far as I'm concerned.

[SquirrelKing]

*chuckle*

[ClearCase_guy]

No, that's a different episode. That scene doesn't take place after the anti-Gun Control speech. The scene you're thinking of takes place after Newt's impassioned speech about the sanctity of marriage. THEN he goes back to his office and does it with the intern. Maybe his wife could call while they're doing it, and leave a message on the answering machine.

[eBelasco]

You can't even be a good DemoRat and good American.

[BillyBoy]

>> If you are talking about brandon and braga, I think the libs are upset that these two are taking it away from a voyager touchy feely direction. (in other words writing to get viewers) Hollywood better get their act together or the only movie or entertainment industry located there will be a little lady on a street corner selling maps to the former homes of the starts. <<

"Brandon and Braga" are one person (regular Star Trek writer Brannon Braga) I think you mean (Rick) BERMAN and Braga.

I'm not sure about Braga's political leanings (I would assume liberal, like most TV writers) Berman's certainly liberal-- one time during the run of Star Trek: The Next Generation, he angrily remarked at a press conference that Star Trek would never do any show that would portray an "anti-choice" abortion message on the show.

True, they've eerked a couple of liberals in the past couple years, but I think this is more because of their LACK OF SPINE than anything else. For years, they've been telling the gay lobby they would include an opening gay cast member, but haven't delievered. I'm sure they like the idea personally, they just feel it would be suicide for the ratings (and they would be right)

The only time I've heard of a conservative message on ST in recent years is some liberals were ranting and raving that "The Expanse" episode of Enterprise was propanda for George W. Bush's Iraq policy. Conservatives really didn't see this, and the I doubt the episode was written by Berman or Braga anyway.

Truth be told, Star Trek was more conservative-leaning in the 80s under the Harve Bennett/Nicholas Meyer duo. Watch Star Trek II or Star Trek VI and you won't see any touchy-feely politically correct stuff. And then there's the original stuff under Roddenberry. He leaned left on the few things, but I always found him more libertarian and than liberal.

[Free_at_last_-2001]

Credit O'Donnell for truthfulness. - My thoughts exactly!

[xkaydet65]

I believe Mike Stracynzski and Babylon V had a more conservative slant, particularly in the first year. One remarkable episode on the need to respect religious beliefs comes to mind.

[Chemist_Geek]

What thread? Did I miss a thread?

This thread. I don't know if you missed it or not.