Reagan Mini-Series Stirs Controversy Before It Airs
10-22-03, 06:47 AM
#1
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 1999
Posts: 68,522
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Reagan Mini-Series Stirs Controversy Before It Airs
Fox News:
By Catherine Donaldson-Evans
Controversy is already churning over a TV mini-series about President Ronald Reagan and his legacy -- even though no one will see it until next month.
An article in Tuesday's New York Times reported that family members and close associates of the former president -- who now suffers from Alzheimer's disease -- have already begun stewing about "The Reagans," a two-part series set to air on CBS Nov. 16 and 18.
"I fully expect this mini-series will be largely unfavorable to my dad," the Times quoted Michael Reagan, a radio talk show host, as writing in an online column.
Much of the concern centers on the fact that lead actors James Brolin and Judy Davis, who play Ronald and Nancy Reagan, and series producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan have all openly acknowledged their left-leaning political views, according to the Times.
That has fueled fear that CBS' version of the Reagans' story will be told through a liberal filter -- and thus offer a skewed portrayal of the popular former president.
"It sure makes me suspicious," Reagan speechwriter Peter Robinson told Fox News. "With James Brolin as Ronald Reagan, something is definitely up."
Robinson, author of "How Ronald Reagan Changed My Life," admitted that he hadn't seen the mini-series or read the script -- but he didn't get a good feeling about it from the Times article and other reports.
"It sounds to me as though this script takes this idea that the man is tremendously appealing personally, that he's gifted with words, but that there's nothing in his head and he just somehow lucks into all the accomplishments of his presidency," Robinson said on Fox. "That's a preposterous notion."
The Times, which did obtain the final version of the script for its article, reported that the mini-series does credit Reagan with ending the Cold War and portrays him as a savvy politician and a moral man.
But the film doesn't discuss the economic recovery, creation of jobs and improvement of morale that he and his supporters believe were his greatest achievements as president, according to the Times.
Additionally, some of the depictions of President and Mrs. Reagan are unflattering -- like his alleged disdain for AIDS and gays, and his hazy memory, the Times reported.
"They simply want to belittle the man," Robinson said. "It's just outrageous."
Producer Meron defended the film.
"This is not a vendetta, this is not revenge," he told the Times. "It is about telling a good story in our honest sort of way. We all believe it's a story that should be told."
Ronald Reagan's biographer, Edmund Morris -- who wrote the authorized biography "Dutch" -- said he was worried the TV movie would be slanted but added that it could serve to balance out the almost cult-like status Reagan has garnered since leaving office.
"The provenance of the movie makes me suspect it will not be fair," Morris told the Times. "The best thing one can say about a movie of this kind is it does redress or counteract the sentimentalities that are being perpetrated all of the time in his name by his fanatical followers."
_______
There's nothing like commenting about the content of the series without first viewing it.
Note: I thought this to be the proper forum for this thread, and not TV Talk, because it is basically "political" in nature and not artistic.
By Catherine Donaldson-Evans
Controversy is already churning over a TV mini-series about President Ronald Reagan and his legacy -- even though no one will see it until next month.
An article in Tuesday's New York Times reported that family members and close associates of the former president -- who now suffers from Alzheimer's disease -- have already begun stewing about "The Reagans," a two-part series set to air on CBS Nov. 16 and 18.
"I fully expect this mini-series will be largely unfavorable to my dad," the Times quoted Michael Reagan, a radio talk show host, as writing in an online column.
Much of the concern centers on the fact that lead actors James Brolin and Judy Davis, who play Ronald and Nancy Reagan, and series producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan have all openly acknowledged their left-leaning political views, according to the Times.
That has fueled fear that CBS' version of the Reagans' story will be told through a liberal filter -- and thus offer a skewed portrayal of the popular former president.
"It sure makes me suspicious," Reagan speechwriter Peter Robinson told Fox News. "With James Brolin as Ronald Reagan, something is definitely up."
Robinson, author of "How Ronald Reagan Changed My Life," admitted that he hadn't seen the mini-series or read the script -- but he didn't get a good feeling about it from the Times article and other reports.
"It sounds to me as though this script takes this idea that the man is tremendously appealing personally, that he's gifted with words, but that there's nothing in his head and he just somehow lucks into all the accomplishments of his presidency," Robinson said on Fox. "That's a preposterous notion."
The Times, which did obtain the final version of the script for its article, reported that the mini-series does credit Reagan with ending the Cold War and portrays him as a savvy politician and a moral man.
But the film doesn't discuss the economic recovery, creation of jobs and improvement of morale that he and his supporters believe were his greatest achievements as president, according to the Times.
Additionally, some of the depictions of President and Mrs. Reagan are unflattering -- like his alleged disdain for AIDS and gays, and his hazy memory, the Times reported.
"They simply want to belittle the man," Robinson said. "It's just outrageous."
Producer Meron defended the film.
"This is not a vendetta, this is not revenge," he told the Times. "It is about telling a good story in our honest sort of way. We all believe it's a story that should be told."
Ronald Reagan's biographer, Edmund Morris -- who wrote the authorized biography "Dutch" -- said he was worried the TV movie would be slanted but added that it could serve to balance out the almost cult-like status Reagan has garnered since leaving office.
"The provenance of the movie makes me suspect it will not be fair," Morris told the Times. "The best thing one can say about a movie of this kind is it does redress or counteract the sentimentalities that are being perpetrated all of the time in his name by his fanatical followers."
_______
There's nothing like commenting about the content of the series without first viewing it.
Note: I thought this to be the proper forum for this thread, and not TV Talk, because it is basically "political" in nature and not artistic.
10-22-03, 06:55 AM
#4
DVD Talk Godfather
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Gateway Cities/Harbor Region
Posts: 63,299
Received 1,816 Likes
on
1,131 Posts
I don't have much hope for this project....
My formula:
Brolin + Babs Striesand = no way this will show Reagan in any fair or at least balanced kind of light.
I know Babs isn't connected tot he project, but Brolin has to go home and face this woman every night.
My formula:
Brolin + Babs Striesand = no way this will show Reagan in any fair or at least balanced kind of light.
I know Babs isn't connected tot he project, but Brolin has to go home and face this woman every night.
Last edited by Giantrobo; 10-22-03 at 07:02 AM.
10-22-03, 06:56 AM
#5
DVD Talk Godfather
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Gateway Cities/Harbor Region
Posts: 63,299
Received 1,816 Likes
on
1,131 Posts
....like his alleged disdain for AIDS and gays,
Last edited by Giantrobo; 10-22-03 at 07:02 AM.
10-22-03, 07:10 AM
#7
DVD Talk Legend
fear of a liberal filter? Would it be better through a conservative filter? There's no way to make an unbiased miniseries without painting a negative picture cuz the Reagan years were shitty.
10-22-03, 07:14 AM
#9
DVD Talk Godfather
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Gateway Cities/Harbor Region
Posts: 63,299
Received 1,816 Likes
on
1,131 Posts
Originally posted by Trigger
fear of a liberal filter? Would it be better through a conservative filter? There's no way to make an unbiased miniseries without painting a negative picture cuz the Reagan years were shitty.
fear of a liberal filter? Would it be better through a conservative filter? There's no way to make an unbiased miniseries without painting a negative picture cuz the Reagan years were shitty.
you see why liberal fiters suck?
10-22-03, 07:16 AM
#10
DVD Talk Godfather
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Gateway Cities/Harbor Region
Posts: 63,299
Received 1,816 Likes
on
1,131 Posts
Originally posted by Groucho
Damn it! They should portray Reagan as a God, and hide all of his flaws!!! That would be fair and balanced!
Damn it! They should portray Reagan as a God, and hide all of his flaws!!! That would be fair and balanced!
However, balancing his story so he's just, god forbid.....human... would be good.
10-22-03, 07:18 AM
#11
Moderator
Originally posted by Giantrobo
However, balancing his story so he's just, god forbid.....human... would be good.
However, balancing his story so he's just, god forbid.....human... would be good.
10-22-03, 07:19 AM
#12
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: The Land Of The "Governator"
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by Giantrobo
Oooooh here we go again, blaming...implying... Reagan helped to spread AIDS. Utter Bullshit.
Oooooh here we go again, blaming...implying... Reagan helped to spread AIDS. Utter Bullshit.
Opposing funding for AIDS research in the early years of the disease.
Not even mentioning the word AIDS in public until 1987.
Gee, I can't imagine how anyone could think that Reagan helped to spread AIDS......
10-22-03, 07:23 AM
#14
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 1999
Posts: 68,522
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am glad to see one thing in the series - it's acknowledgement that Reagan is the person who is primarily responsible for ending the cold war. I think liberals have failed to give him the credit (or some would argue the blame) for being the individual who was responsible for doing so.
Other than that, and the fact that he did bring about an era of general "good feeling" among Americans (most) after the morose they felt with Jimmy Carter, I don't have much good to say about the administration of Ronald Reagan.
Other than that, and the fact that he did bring about an era of general "good feeling" among Americans (most) after the morose they felt with Jimmy Carter, I don't have much good to say about the administration of Ronald Reagan.
10-22-03, 07:31 AM
#15
DVD Talk Godfather
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Gateway Cities/Harbor Region
Posts: 63,299
Received 1,816 Likes
on
1,131 Posts
Originally posted by FranksAndBeans
NOT promoting AIDS education.
Opposing funding for AIDS research in the early years of the disease.
Not even mentioning the word AIDS in public until 1987.
Gee, I can't imagine how anyone could think that Reagan helped to spread AIDS......
NOT promoting AIDS education.
Opposing funding for AIDS research in the early years of the disease.
Not even mentioning the word AIDS in public until 1987.
Gee, I can't imagine how anyone could think that Reagan helped to spread AIDS......
Did he force men into bathhouses? Did he tell them NOT to use rubbers? AIDS wasn't the 1st STD you know. Did he invent promiscuity?
10-22-03, 07:33 AM
#16
DVD Talk Godfather
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Gateway Cities/Harbor Region
Posts: 63,299
Received 1,816 Likes
on
1,131 Posts
Originally posted by Groucho
Just from reading the story, it sounds like that's exactly what they've done. Nothing in it indicates that they're only focusing on the bad.
Just from reading the story, it sounds like that's exactly what they've done. Nothing in it indicates that they're only focusing on the bad.
So, the NY Times says it's balanced? Consider the source....
10-22-03, 07:40 AM
#17
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 1999
Posts: 68,522
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Were the movies that came out of Hollywood about Nixon balanced?
Were the moviews that came out of Hollywood about Kennedy balanced?
Of course not!
Why would anyone expect that a movie (mini-series) that came out Hollywood about Reagan to be balanced?
Were the moviews that came out of Hollywood about Kennedy balanced?
Of course not!
Why would anyone expect that a movie (mini-series) that came out Hollywood about Reagan to be balanced?
10-22-03, 07:52 AM
#18
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally posted by Giantrobo
lame lame lame! Take responsibilty for you bad choices. How the F*** can "mentioning a word" stop AIDS???????
Did he force men into bathhouses? Did he tell them NOT to use rubbers? AIDS wasn't the 1st STD you know. Did he invent promiscuity?
lame lame lame! Take responsibilty for you bad choices. How the F*** can "mentioning a word" stop AIDS???????
Did he force men into bathhouses? Did he tell them NOT to use rubbers? AIDS wasn't the 1st STD you know. Did he invent promiscuity?
Personally, I did not hear about AIDS until 1986.....9 years after the first case was diagnosed. Perhaps most of the population did not either. Lucky for me, I never "slept around" and escaped this horrible disease.
I do agree that one must take responsibility for his or her actions....especially nowadays when there is so much information on the disease.
Peace
LS
10-22-03, 07:53 AM
#19
DVD Talk Godfather
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Gateway Cities/Harbor Region
Posts: 63,299
Received 1,816 Likes
on
1,131 Posts
Originally posted by classicman2
Why would anyone expect that a movie (mini-series) that came out Hollywood about Reagan to be balanced?
Why would anyone expect that a movie (mini-series) that came out Hollywood about Reagan to be balanced?
I don't... That's why I said I have no high hopes about this project.
10-22-03, 07:55 AM
#20
DVD Talk Godfather
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Gateway Cities/Harbor Region
Posts: 63,299
Received 1,816 Likes
on
1,131 Posts
Originally posted by LiquidSky
To be fair, there were also heterosexual sex clubs like Plato's Retreat that were the straight equivalent to bath houses.
Personally, I did not hear about AIDS until 1986.....9 years after the first case was diagnosed. Perhaps most of the population did not either. Lucky for me, I never "slept around" and escaped this horrible disease.
I do agree that one must take responsibility for his or her actions....especially nowadays when there is so much information on the disease.
To be fair, there were also heterosexual sex clubs like Plato's Retreat that were the straight equivalent to bath houses.
Personally, I did not hear about AIDS until 1986.....9 years after the first case was diagnosed. Perhaps most of the population did not either. Lucky for me, I never "slept around" and escaped this horrible disease.
I do agree that one must take responsibility for his or her actions....especially nowadays when there is so much information on the disease.
Although the one sentence did seem to imply gay bathhouses, notice I DID NOT mention gay or straight in my comment.
10-22-03, 08:03 AM
#21
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally posted by Giantrobo
Although the one sentence did seem to imply gay bathhouses, notice I DID NOT mention gay or straight in my comment.
Although the one sentence did seem to imply gay bathhouses, notice I DID NOT mention gay or straight in my comment.
robo....grab your towel......let's go take a nice steambath.
10-22-03, 08:03 AM
#22
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: The Land Of The "Governator"
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by Giantrobo
lame lame lame! Take responsibilty for you bad choices. How the F*** can "mentioning a word" stop AIDS???????
Did he force men into bathhouses? Did he tell them NOT to use rubbers? AIDS wasn't the 1st STD you know. Did he invent promiscuity?
lame lame lame! Take responsibilty for you bad choices. How the F*** can "mentioning a word" stop AIDS???????
Did he force men into bathhouses? Did he tell them NOT to use rubbers? AIDS wasn't the 1st STD you know. Did he invent promiscuity?
I wish I had the luxury of possessing your attitude. The problem is, I was around in the 80's and I know what was going on in this country at the time. The Reagan administration, cared nothing about this disease as long as it was only killing '****'.
So take your vulgar style of arguing, (jeeze, don't mods hand out suspensions anymore?), and have a nice day.
Life's too short to deal with ignorant people.............
10-22-03, 08:04 AM
#23
Banned
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 11,544
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Don't worry, I brought my Rappin' Ronnie Reagan tape. It always makes the trip go faster.
Well, well, well, w-w-well, well, well, w-w-well, well, well, w-w-well...
You know something? He *did* say "well" a lot.
Well, well, well, w-w-well, well, well, w-w-well, well, well, w-w-well...
You know something? He *did* say "well" a lot.
10-22-03, 08:12 AM
#24
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: The Land Of The "Governator"
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by Giantrobo
Although the one sentence did seem to imply gay bathhouses, notice I DID NOT mention gay or straight in my comment.
Although the one sentence did seem to imply gay bathhouses, notice I DID NOT mention gay or straight in my comment.