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NBC's Studio 60 Lost a Viewer Last Night
Another mission accomplished by Hollywood's condescending elites; the shameful and untruthful stereotyping of Christian Americans.Having heard the rave reviews and the buzz on the street, I decided to invest an hour of my precious leisure time to sit down and watch the premiere of NBC's Studio 60 featuring an all star cast of some of television's brightest and talented actors.
It started out fast and polished. Right out of the box, a cynical and burned out producer (played by Judd Hirsch) of a Saturday Night Live-esque type show interrupted a live skit with an unscripted tear about how bad television writing and comedic creativity had become.
Not bad so far, I thought. Then it turned a bit unpleasant.
Studio 60's own writers drive their point home by concluding the producer's rant with this gratuitous little gem: "The two things that make them scared gutless are the FCC and every psycho religious cult that gets positively horny at the very mention of a boycott."
My friends, as uncomfortable as that statement was, I decide to take it with a grain of salt and continue to see how the drama would unfold.
The story fast-forwards into a full-blown meltdown and the newly hired executive (played by Amanda Peet) is forced to move quickly to save the show. So how does she resolve the situation? She convinces the network boss to re-hire the two biggest talents in television that he himself was forced to fire back when Studio 60 was enjoying unprecedented success. He is ultimately convinced the duo (played by Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford), although irreverent and high maintenance, can indeed infuse the show with credibility and much needed "class".
After the two accept the offer to save the show after an initial reluctance, we then find out Perry's character has broken up with his girlfriend because she had the audacity to sing spiritual hymns on "The 700 Club." Worse yet, Perry's character tells the girlfriend his main problem with her is "You put on a dress and sang for a bigot" (the producers of Studio 60 don't hide who they are referring to; Pat Robertson is mentioned by name later in the show). When she replies that she went on the show because of the faith embraced by the audience of the show inspires her, he snaps back "Throw in the Halloween costumes and you got yourself a Klan rally."
The girlfriend then expresses regret, and states if she could do it all over again she would not have gone on the show. Predictably, by the end of the show, Amanda Peet's character showers Matthew Perry's character with adulation for his brilliance in writing next week's opening skit "Crazy Christians".
Turns out all the rave about clever and ground-breaking writing was your typical Hollywood clichéd anti-Christian screed - a continuum of cheap shots taken at the expense of honest and decent Americans who pray, work and teach their children there is a Creator who gives meaning and purpose to life.
As a Christian, I refuse to be spit on; smugly told by a crass writer with an obvious agenda that folks from the 700 club are a costume short of a Klan rally. It's despicable. NBC executives and the producers of Studio 60 should be ashamed for trying to pass off hatred and contemptible anti-Christian garbage as "creative genius".
Daniel Garza is President of Hispanic and PODER Group
by Daniel G. Garza @ 12:27 AM
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12 Comments:
Mr. Garza, I take exception to some of your comments, which you seem to feel represent the feelings of all Christians. I am a Judeo-Christian with very deep beliefs. The scene between Matthew Perry and Sarah Paulson very clearly told both sides. Why is that such a frightening thing? ONE character thought Pat Robertson was a bigot. I happen to personally agree with that opinion, but the point is that one individual was spoken of, not all Christians, which was made very clear by the other character. (Remember free speech?) When the same character made his KKK comment, he was resoundly slapped for it. And I, for one, have the patience to wait until next week to find out exactly what the Crazy Christian sketch is before I judge it. Your comments, Mr. Garza, frighten me. Christians who have no tolerance for any view other than their own (and perhaps Mr. Robertson's)is so opposite the teachings of Jesus. (Remember love, tolerance, live by example?) Please don't be so thin skinned. I have a feeling that Ms. Paulson's character will be (like most Christians)secure in her beliefs without acting in an extremist fashion if disagreed with. Aaron Sorkin, once again, intelligently gives conflicting viewpoints and gives his audience the option to, if not choose a side, at least think about the viewpoint of another without it being screamed at them or being accused of being a heretic if we disagree with them. Give the show a little more time, Mr. Garza. Take care. God bless you.
Dude, Pat Robertson IS a bigot.
I have nothing against Christians in general (in fact, I used to be one) but Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell are both going straight to hell when they die.
Way to prove his point about "crazy Christians." You really want to lump yourself into that group?
As well intentioned as Pat Robertson might be, he IS a crazy Christian. There are psycho-religious cults out there and they deserve to be taken to task just as much as the right takes liberal ideas to task.
I am a Christian as well, I work in the ministry in a conservative denomination, and nothing in Sorkin's new show offended me in the least. I know there are crazy Christians out there, I see it in my work every day.
I'm looking forward to seeing Paulson's character develop, I think I'll be able to identify with her in a lot of ways. Sorkin is clearly deciding to venture into territory he may not agree with, but is trying to understand, otherwise he'd never have created a sympathetic character like her.
The episode is merely a prologue to what happens after this melt down.
the religeous right has been preaching so much hate and intolerance lately, it's really no surprise this skit represents Christians this way. I think it reflects their overall perception in America
Nancy:
Thank you for your sincere response. I fully recognize I don't speak for all Christians; they absolutely need someone with much more wisdom and knowledge than I could ever offer. I also don't doubt that the Christian community is sometimes guilty of excessive judgment and improper conduct; we are after all imperfect human beings trying to do the best we can given our limitations. But if I frighten you because I choose to tune off a television show whose content I found demeaning, then what I say next is not going to alleviate your sensibilities.
Of course the writers of Studio 60 have the right to free speech, but that does not mean I have to accept it as smart social satire, or embrace their contempt of conservative Christians as acceptable public discourse. I humbly believe that not responding to stereotype gradually and slowly begins to legitimize mainstream disdain and loathing of any social group caught in the crosshairs. There is no denying an audience of millions who will watch the show on a weekly basis.
By the way, it's not like I'm talking about going off a deep end here, my approach is actually ridiculously passive. All I am "threatening" to do is tune off. And yet, for this trivial and individual act of "free speech" I frighten you.
Fact is, Christians are very tolerant people. Sure, we get uncomfortable, squeamish, and even angry sometimes at the direction our public laws have taken, but only until recently have Christians taken to the polls to actively manifest their disquietedness (hence President Bush's victory in 2004). I'm not asking for NBC to show reverence to communities of faith, heck I'm not even asking for respect (that would be asking too much from Hollywood, and ironically, I would be ridiculed and laughed at for being a crazy Christian).
The scorn of conservative Christians isn't new, but unquestionably it has started to cross lines. Stanley Kurtz of the National Review recently wrote "For a very long time now, secular liberals have treated conservative Christians as the modern embodiment of evil, the one group you're allowed to openly hate. Although barely noticed by the rest of us, this poison has been floating through our political system for decades. Traditional Christians are tired of it, and I don't blame them."
By all means, watch the next episode and do let me know if I am missing out on quality entertainment. I'll be watching other programming that doesn't take cheap shots, or mocks a large community of Americans who have done nothing to deserve such derisive vilification.
God bless.
Joe:
Dude, the irony here is you claim to have been a former Christian, yet you apparently still subscribe to the proposition of a place called Hell. I pray you do not share the same fate you have condemned others to.
LB:
I honestly hope Paulson's character is developed into a grounded and steady Christian who is anchored by her convictions in a Creator. It would also be a pleasant surprise to hear she gives solid counsel to her co-workers and is the steady rock that contributes to the success of a show that offers smart, intelligent and witty political satire without having to resort to anti-Christian bashing.
Well, I too am a Christian (seems everyone is) and I agree with the critique. I watched the show and I thought it took some cheap shots at Christians because they are an easy target and most people won't care one bit. Personally, I wasn't impressed with the show and to me it seems the Christian character is not very authentic, but written more like Christians are perceived to be by non-Christians. It just seemed that way when she stated things such as Christians (who watch 700 Club) "have their faith and nothing else." The view of Christianity as a crutch is not something I usually hear from Christians, but I know lots of non-Christians who think that way. Just my opinion. I have no idea if Sorkin is a Christian or not and I don't care. To me it felt like the Christian character is there to "represent the other side" allowing Sorkin to say whatever he wants as long as she argues (or slaps in this case).
As for some of the other comments, it's funny, if you are a Christian and you disagree with something you have no tolerance or are a bigot. I tolerate views I disagree with everyday. Seems the only views not to be tolerated are Christian views. The most judgemental person in the show (using phrases like KKK and bigot) is calling folks "Crazy Christians" but I doubt anyone sees him as intolerant. Heck he can't even accept his ex-girlfriend because she is tolerant.
It reminds me of a bumper sticker that said "If only closed-minded people would keep their mouths the same way." It always struck me as ironic. I would only hope that some of you who disagree with the critique could open your minds up to a differing opinion.
I didn't watch the television show that you mentioned but I have noticed that at present it's easy to see how Christians are satirized in the Media. One of the series that I sometimes enjoy is The Simpsons. In some episodes they suggest nice and good aspects about Christians. But in many others they harshly ridicule them. This is just one of many examples. I accept that there are some Christians who can be seen as "Crazy Christians". But I assure Christians represent a very important factor for social balance since (generally) they are responsable people who are always giving small (and big) efforts to build a better environment to live. I think it must be valued and their belief and behavior must be respected (even if they were "Crazy Christians").
Saludos Daniel!
omargabrielmacias@hotmail.com
Pat Robertson is a bigot. The Matthew Perry character had a point.
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This bigotry towards Christians by NBC is a shame, because Studio 60 is actually a well acted and well written show except for its blatant hatred of Christians. Yes they put a token born again type on the show but she is written as a stereotypical nice person who happens to be a religious nut. Here is a fun little exercise, replace the word “Christians” with “Muslims”, “Scientologists”, “Blacks”, or “Homosexuals”, whenever you hear it mentioned on the show. Would NBC be seen as being socially hip or smart and satirical savvy to do a show where these denominations were continually shown in a derogatory fashion? Or would any other people group be shown a little respect. Doesn't the very fact that the actual show Studio 60 is all about how the Christian nut jobs control broadcast standards is actually on Network TV kind of render their argument moot? Remember this is the same NBC which bought the rights to show Veggie Tales on Saturday morning and then the studio execs asked that all references to God or Jesus be edited out. Now tell me who the real hypocrites are.
To the guy who said he was a Christian before: no, you weren't. You may have convinced yourself you were, but you were wrong. Labeling yourself does not make you something...only in your mind.
To those complaining about the show: don't watch it. Surprise about something being anti-Christian is a surprise in itself. Of course it is anti-Christian. Those that are not for Him are against Him, whether they know it or not.
Mel Gibson, a Christian was dragged through the mud for one uncharacteristic derogatory Jewish comment while drunk. Aaron Sorkin on the other hand, the writer of Studio 60 and a Jew, weekly makes derogatory comments about Christians spending one whole show mocking the name of Jesus Christ and another show, the Christmas Show, trying to prove that Jesus did not exist.
How is it that we are not asking Mr. Sorkin and NBC to apologize to Christians? While the show does strongly attack Christians and our faith, the real truth stands out and that is the arrogance, self-righteousness of the anti-religious crowd in Hollywood.
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