Media Extremely Free Speech
posted by on September 24 at 17:22 PM
This is so tragic. The ACLU’s infomercial about pot, which cost tens of thousands of dollars to produce, got booted from real TV and now the nonprofit is reduced to showing it on public access.
Using a panel format and clap-on-cue audience, the talk-show-style program encourages people to talk about pot. It is quite bland, really. Nonetheless, KOMO billed thousands of dollars in production costs for recording the show its studio, then refused to air it; KING and KONG would air the program only after 1:00 a.m.
Today, the Seattle Community Access Network, notable for the lowest production values and highest level of raunch in regional television, announced it will air the show at 6:30 p.m. and a live panel discussion at 7:00 p.m. on Comcast channel 77 and Broadstripe channel 23 throughout King County. Sounds… almost as dull as Brokeback Mountain. (You can also view the show online.)
But here’s the thing. People often deride advocates of controversial issues for marginal tactics, like marching or rallying or blogging—generally for not taking a more mainstream tack. Well, the ACLU tried to take the most mainstream approach of all—network television with high-end production values—but network television gave bullshit excuses to reject it. Maybe America’s just not ready for certain mainstream tactics until those rallies earn a bit more respect.
The stuff about "marginal tactics" is always a red herring meant to divide people who could be united on issues over social and cultural politics. Never fall for it.
Just broadcast it on CBC and then refer to it constantly to shame the MSM.
**Nonetheless, KOMO billed thousands of
**dollars in production costs for recording
**the show its studio, then refused to air it
Of course KOMO charged for renting out its studio. Why wouldn't they? And why would anyone assume they would air the show just because it was made in their studio?
Do not anger the Rick Steves. You would not like the Rick Steves when he's angry...
"Marginal" is not a good word for things like rallies and marching in the street. "Invasive" would be a lot better. "Retarded" might be another good one. Blogging doesn't in a million years belong on the same list with marching and rallying. Blogging is the best form of advocacy because it does not get in anyone's way or block streets. It is 100% consensual unlike being stopped on your way by a march or harassed by some dipshit with pamphlets. They should have just posted their video on youtube. A rally is not as bad as a march through the streets, but the implicit message: "there's lots of us and we have a PA system, so we must be right!" is a shitty one. Rational adults resent having their attention forcibly taken.
@ 3) Read the linked article about it. KOMO pre-approved the script then changed its mind after the show was filmed.
@6 - It says they gave KOMO the script, and "never heard any objection". That's not at all like pre-approval. If I apply for a job and never hear back about it, I'm not going to blithely assume that means I got it.
Miss @7 - And you generally pay your hopeful employerd thousands for your job interviews right?
No, but if I bought a big fancy costume to audition for a play, the theater wouldn't be obligated to hire me.
They weren't paying to have the show put on TV, or even to ASK to put the show on TV. They were paying to make the show.
If they were counting on having their show on KOMO, they should have got a direct, written yes or no answer before they spent that much on it. As it is, they have the show they paid for. They paid for a show, but they're not guaranteed an audience.
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