ABC affiliates dropping "Saving Private Ryan" like tainted meat.

[Flammable Materials]

Here's the letter I wrote to my affiliate (WKRN, Nashville) on their decision to replace an uncensored broadcast of "Saving Private Ryan" with the film "Hoosiers":



First Sinclair tries to censor the horrors of war. I responded by removing Sinclair-owned stations from my Dish Network channel lineup.

Et tu, WKRN? What has happened to this country? When I was a child, I saw "The Deer Hunter" uncensored on broadcast TV. When I was a young adult, I saw "Schindler's List" uncensored on broadcast TV. I was not scarred for life.

It is really sad to see the damage that tiny-minded fundamentalists are doing to free thought, free speech, and free expression in this country. It's even sadder to see America's media shrivel up and die in the face of broadcasting anything even the least bit controversial.

You still have time to reverse your decision. This film honors those who make the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Those who don't want to see what war is like can turn the TV off and listen to Darryl Worley or something.

On the other hand, I have no problem with removing one more channel from my satellite receiver. But who am I? One person. Insignificant. Toss this e-mail in the trash if you want. I guess it doesn't really matter.

[Free2BMe]

1. ABC showing Private Ryan ..here in Rochester, NY

[candy]

2. Get the DVD---who needs all the commercials anyway?

[kcwayne]

3. The FCC is to blame, not the stations

AAR reported that the stations could not get a definitive answer from the FCC as to whether they would be fined for showing an R rated movie. If you are the station owner, why would you show a film that could get a $500,000 fine levied against you?

[BJ]

4. As kookie as it sounds, local station placing onus on FCC.

Here's what the general manager of the ABC affiliate in my home town said:

the Federal Communications Commission has changed its standards for certain content related to programming broadcast before 10pm. These changes followed the Janet Jackson incident at the Super Bowl earlier this year. The inconsistent manner in which the FCC is choosing to apply these rules puts TV stations like ours in a most difficult position. As this relates to Saving Private Ryan, our concern centers on whether the FCC would consider the context in which the intense adult language and graphic battleground violence is presented in the movie. Full statement here

So how I interpret the statement is that: if the FCC is going to go all wacko over a tiny peek of Janet Jackson's tit and Howard Stern saying a few naughty words then, why should it not also go bananas over scenes of graphic violence that may have more serious psychological repercussions to a young child than an inadvertent flash of boob.

[KurtNYC]

5. Haven't seen any anti-war films on broadcast TV recently

Or anything enlightening for that matter. Missing are:
Dr. Strangelove
Hearts & Minds
Life is Beautiful
Born on the 4th of July
The Deer Hunter
MASH (did see this recently on TV)
Grand Illusion
Three Kings
Full Metal Jacket
Wag the Dog
They Live
Hair and more

[Flammable Materials]

8. IFC. Sundance. You need little else. n/t

[against all enemies]

11. Born on the Fourth of July ran all weekend.

The TV people probably thought it was "pro-military". They're not too bright.

[greenmutha]

6. They are showing it in Utah...

uncut and with limited commercial interruptions. Saw advertisement for it last night while watching "Lost." They did have the "Parents Strongly Advised" intro to it though.

Pretty strange for *very* conservative Utah, eh?

[Flammable Materials]

7. Not at all. They love the Big Invisible Violent Sky God.

After all, the founder of their sect died in prison with a gun in his hand.

[DrFunkenstein]

9. Burn Huck Finn While We're At It - Discomfort Must Be Eliminated

If we are made uncomfortable, that must be bad. It makes us dissatisfied and that makes us think of changing things to become more satisfied. That's no good unless by "changing things" you mean buying something.

[hlthe2b]

10. I think ABC is sending a very pointed message to FCC

Frankly, I think they are HELPING the cause....

[xultar]

12. Sinclair affiliates leading the pack I bet n/t