Paul Newman Is Still HUD

The New York Times ^ | 08/19/03 | PAUL NEWMAN

[Pokey78]

he Fox News Network is suing Al Franken, the political satirist, for using the phrase "fair and balanced" in the title of his new book. In claiming trademark violation, Fox sets a noble example for standing firm against whatever.

Unreliable sources report that the Fox suit has inspired Paul Newman, the actor, to file a similar suit in federal court against the Department of Housing and Urban Development, commonly called HUD. Mr. Newman claims piracy of personality and copycat infringement.

In the 1963 film "HUD," for which Mr. Newman was nominated for an Academy Award, the ad campaign was based on the slogan, "Paul Newman is HUD." Mr. Newman claims that the Department of Housing and Urban Development, called HUD, is a fair and balanced institution and that some of its decency and respectability has unfairly rubbed off on his movie character, diluting the rotten, self-important, free-trade, corrupt conservative image that Mr. Newman worked so hard to project in the film. His suit claims that this "innocence by association" has hurt his feelings plus residuals.

A coalition of the willing — i.e., the Bratwurst Asphalt Company and the Ypsilanti Hot Dog and Bean Shop — has been pushed forward and is prepared to label its products "fair and balanced," knowing that Fox News will sue and that its newscasters will be so tied up with subpoenas they will only be able to broadcast from the courtroom, where they will be seen tearing their hair and whining, looking anything but fair and balanced, which would certainly be jolly good sport all around.

Paul Newman, an actor, is chief executive of Salad King.

[Paul Atreides]

More like, DUD.

[prognostigaator]

DUH.......

[thegreatbeast]

Damn! Where do you find comedy like that but in the NYT?

Paul Newman- another celebrity eager to demean himself instead of quietly going off with dignity.

[jocon307]

You know, it's really Spike Lee who started all this. As one writer put it, Somewhere Nick Nolte is kicking himself that he didn't sue Nick at Night before the statute of limitations ran out.

[ahadams2]

but when is the New York Times going to admit it's just a latterday attempt to revitalize the National Lampoon?

[nothingnew]

But is he doing this with "Absence of Malice"?...I'll find out...I'll call my friend Sally Fields.

FMCDH

[fish hawk]

What came first? Hud the Gov. or Hud the movie. If the Gov.agency existed first, they should be able to sue Paul Newman.

[sinkspur]

Paul, what we have here is, a failure to communicate.

Newman's sniffing too much of his ragout.

[WOSG]

New York Times sues The Onion for copyright infringement

or is it the other way around?

[Princeliberty]

The movie came first in 63. LBJ gave us HUD.

Hey, I think he got a point on this one.
I think Fox was silly to sue.

[BradyLS]

MY parents shoulda sued. ;)

[Lizavetta]

HUD...HUD...Oh yeah, they're the ones who won't help me buy a house because I'm white

They're also the ones left with missing millions after Cuomo Jr.'s tenure.

[Hildy]

How come these people didn't pipe up when Spike Lee sued viacom. This isn't even clever.

[Hildy]

I'm going to say this again...if somebody wrote a book, put my picture and the name of my store on the cover and the words CROOK appeared in big bold letters I'd sue too. I believe what he is saying is malicious slander.

[gcruse]

Our next door neighbor in Amarillo back then was a local TV personality named Warren Anderson. In the opening scenes of HUD, you might recall a barkeeper sweeping glass up from his sidewalk. Someone asks him what happened last night. He says, "I had Hud last night!" That bartender was our neighbor.

[BraveMan]

Unreliable sources report . . .

Confirmation that this is indeed a Times article . . .

[fish hawk]

I dont know if it is true or not but on another thread today I read that if Fox didnt challenge this, they would lose the rights to "fair and balanced".

[Torie]

If using the generic term "fair and balanced" is deemed a copyright infringement by any court in this land, I will stop eating meat. This is a really stupid suit by Fox. Fox takes itself too seriously, and it should be slapped down, and will be.

[nutmeg]

FoxFan ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my FoxFan list. *Warning: This can be a high-volume ping list at times.

[dennisw]

What wit!

[Timesink]

A perfect example of why The Times should leave comedy to The Onion.

Schadenfreude

This is the New York Times Schadenfreude Ping List. Freepmail me to be added or dropped.

[ventana]

Paul, as one whose trod the boards, you should know: dying is easy; comedy is hard. V's wife.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

I think the Fox News suit is stupid. I think Al Franken is stupid. And I think this OP-Ed piece by Paul Newman is stupid.

[veronica]

Well, this is rather clever, and unlike Al Franken, at least Paul Newman is a lefty who has contributed something to the world - a glorious career as an actor, and MILLIONS of dollars to cancer charity. Franken is just a useless leech who uses the successs of others to promote himself, his UNFUNNY MEAN-SPIRITED SELF.

[Living Free in NH]

Do you think Newman would sue if a salad dressing (say Kraft) maker named their new line "Kraft's Own"? He's be whining louder than Spike Lee.

[Tunehead54]

Do you think Newman would sue if a salad dressing (say Kraft) maker named their new line "Kraft's Own"? He's be whining louder than Spike Lee.

---

I'd like to see an enterprising guy or gal launch a product line named "Neuman's Own" - prolly have Newman and the Seinfeld crowd on the case! ;-)

[Grampa Dave]

Freepers should come up with "Newmen's Fair and Balanced Salad Dressings for Conservatives!".

Then watch old HUD go ballistic.

[Cincinatus]

Liberal humor is just like liberal "thought" -- non-existent.

[ladtx]

Another old time actor strolls into senility.

[ActionNewsBill]

Liberal humor is just like liberal "thought" -- non-existent.

I thought it was pretty funny.

Does that make me a liberal?

[Cincinatus]

I really wouldn't know. I find this forced and awkward attempt at humor simply tedious. if you don't, that's fine with me.

[Lancey Howard]

"You keep thinkin', Butch."

[ActionNewsBill]

I really wouldn't know. I find this forced and awkward attempt at humor simply tedious. if you don't, that's fine with me.

Is his salad dressing any good? I've never tried it...too expensive.

[SerpentDove]

I'm with you on this. I kept waiting for the funny part, and was willing to laugh, if it was genuinely funny.

Never happened.

[Rebelbase]

""Oh yeah, they're the ones who won't help me buy a house because I'm white"

Thats a crock.

[shadowman99]

I think he's slipped a gear.

WTF kind or ramble is this?

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

I thought it was pretty funny.

Does that make me a liberal?

Not necessarily. But it does point to a deficiency in your sense of humor.

[N. Theknow]

In other Hollyweird news, Danny DeVito is suing the city of
Los Angeles for installing their sidewalks to close to his ass.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

You might want to hire an English tutor to work on your punctuation.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

You might want to hire an English tutor to work on your grammar.

[ActionNewsBill]

But it does point to a deficiency in your sense of humor.

Thanks, I'll be sure to work on that.

[Rebelbase]

typing on the fly is for fun not payment. I'll leave the grammer and spell check to the anal types.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

Thanks, I'll be sure to work on that.

Good man. We all eagerly await the new you.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

typing on the fly is for fun not payment. I'll leave the grammer and spell check to the anal types.

Bwahahahaha!

[Skooz]

I remember about 20 years ago, Frank Sinatra sued the owner of a small diner called "Sinatra's," even though the owner's name was also Sinatra. I don't remember how it came out, but I was rooting for the diner owner.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Paul Newman Is Still HUD

I think they should've spelled that with a "P" instead of an "H".

[Cincinatus]

Is his salad dressing any good?

I don't use salad dressing, but friends who have tried it tell me that it's delicious.

[Labyrinthos]

If using the generic term "fair and balanced" is deemed a copyright infringement by any court in this land, I will stop eating meat. This is a really stupid suit by Fox. Fox takes itself too seriously, and it should be slapped down, and will be.

Try marketing a product using the phrase, "We bring good things to light," or "Just do it," and then count the days on one hand before you are hauled into court for copyright or trade infringement. Although Fox may lose, the lawsuit is far from frivilous.