Even MMO bloggers like to watch TV occasionally. Lately each Monday night I settle down to watch a popular drama called “24”. Just this past Monday viewers of that Fox TV show were subjected to a global warming public service styled announcement from the Rupert Murdoch owned FoX TV network. This time it was made by the actress playing the president — the authority figure on the show – conveniently not the actor playing the bad guy. A few weeks ago Keifer Sutherland came on and made a similar statement talking about how the crew of “24” is doing all they can to reduce their carbon footprint and stop global warming.
Whether you believe in global warming, global cooling, climate change or the Tooth Fairy is not the point. I resent the fact that a broadcast network like Fox has resorted to using it’s well paid actors (Sutherland purportedly earns $10 million a year for his role as Jack Bauer) to lecture it’s viewers on a controversial agenda. It’s down right offensive and plain wrong. It’s the kind of thing you expect in Communist China.
Fox TV has crossed the line yet again as they did a few years ago on “24” when in a network public service announcement they timidly caved into pressure groups and apologized to the Muslim community for daring to have a plot line that dealt with Muslim terrorists. Spineless cowards.
In May of 2007 Rupert Murdoch publicly announced News Corporation plans to indoctrinate their consumers:
“The challenge is to revolutionize the [climate change] message,” Murdoch told the crowd. He emphasized the need to “make it dramatic, make it vivid, even sometimes make it fun. We want to inspire people to change their behavior.”
So who then decides what is “good” behavior on the part of the citizenry? Who decides what serves the public interest? An unelected, rich and powerful CEO like Rupert Murdoch? This is madness. We are seeing George Orwell’s book “1984” coming true. To those that think this is harmless and a “good” thing. What if the next cause that Mr. Murdoch decides to shove down your throat is something that you don’t agree with? What then?
Injecting overt propaganda into the time slot of a hugely popular TV show like “24” is a dirty, rotten and shameful stunt. They know millions of people will be watching — a captive audience. I watch a show like “24” to be entertained. Period. I don’t need or want to be lectured by anyone, let alone stooges like vapid Hollywood actors or pompous CEO’s like Rupert Murdoch, Bill Gates, etc. I decide what I watch, read and listen to when *I* want. I decide what I believe — not you. News Corporation should heed the advice of the slogan of its TV news division and be “fair and balanced….we let you decide.”
Wise up Mr. Murdoch and stop injecting your political and personal agenda into my nightly entertainment.
Now back to our regularly scheduled program…
-Wolfshead
Fortunately the Fox News Channel sticks to it’s policy.. oh, wait..
Is this simply a case of cognitive dissonance? Sure, bait & switch is annoying, but would you be as annoyed if the PSA was more in sync with the show’s message?
I’ve got no problem with PSAs done by TV shows that are about universally agreed upon worthwhile causes like finding a cure for cancer, literacy, combating poverty, etc. What Fox TV has done here goes well beyond that.
As to the “message” of the show, what message would that be? Must every show have some underlying covert message?
And yes I would be just as concerned if Fox started preaching in a PSA about something potentially controversial that I happen to believe. It would make me feel uncomfortable.
I think if you look at bit deeper into 24 it’s a show about moral dilemmas which is part of the reason why it’s so gripping. The obvious one that comes to mind is the torture debate that has preoccupied the USA in the past few years. I really don’t want to debate that here nor do I want fall into the trap of debating global warming.
TV networks should stop with the propaganda and stick to providing solid entertainment free from an underlying political agenda. I don’t watch TV to be treated like a child that needs to be educated or lectured.
One could argue that global warming (and in a more general sense, keeping the planet viable for long-term human habitation and sustainable growth) is one such worthwhile cause. However, the presentation of the issues is often quite anvilicious and suffering from cognitive dissonance of it’s own, triggering a backlash.
You answer your own question:
One term that’s often used to describe 24 is “heightened reality”, real-life dilemmas amplified for drama, not a “how-to” guide for national security. The show is a series of situations where doing things the “right” way is rarely feasible, and the protagonists have to choose between bad and worse, and the protagonists don’t always know which is which. Case in point, the plotline that started with Bauer’s intrusion into the Chinese embassy. Spelling that out would make a decent PSA. Even professional wrestling eventually admitted that it was entertainment.
This is where we differ. I believe that media can do both, but I admit it’s hard to keep the balance. Especially in a highly polarized political environment, where the networks just pick an audience segment to cowtow to and stick with it. Trying to remain objective just leads to being criticized by both sides.
Oh give me a frakin break dude. Talk about a frakking TROLL post.
There is no end to your outlandish, wholly inaccurate and extreme over-reacting troll-like statements:
“It’s down right offensive and plain wrong. It’s the kind of thing you expect in Communist China.”
“We are seeing George Orwell’s book “1984″ coming true. ”
“to lecture it’s viewers on a controversial agenda.”
Finally your REAL reason for this post comes through:
“I don’t need or want to be lectured by anyone”
Well that’s your real problem isn’t it?
You should listen to your own advice: “I decide what I watch, read and listen to” and just not watch FOX if you feel so strongly.
Now that you’ve posted your rant, and I’ve posted my rant reply, I look forward to things getting back to normal so I can continue to enjoy reading your posts that are related to gaming.
I don’t mind when celebrities take political stances. Using their entertainment vehicles as a bully pulpit is rather annoying, though. I’d have much the same reaction if WoW started coming with PSAs on their loading screens. Would it be the end of the world? Nope, but neither would it be something I’d view kindly.
You’ve come out of nowhere and you call me a “troll” and a “ranter”. I don’t see anything worthwhile in your post. You haven’t contributed anything to this discussion except a juvenile outburst that seems to be atypical of the discourse on the WoW forums. You seem angry that I happen to have an opinion on an issue that I’d wager differs from yours.
Debate and dissent are the lifeblood of our culture and our democratic society. Based on your post you don’t seem to have much tolerance for those founding principles of our society.
This is my blog. I won’t be intimidated. I write articles about subjects that interest and concern me. It’s impossible for everyone to agree all the time especially on divisive topics like politics. If we do happen to disagree let’s do it politely please. I do try to stay away from politics at all cost but when they intersect the realm of entertainment then I feel it’s fair game.