Toys in the Attic

Is This True?

10 Responses to “Is This True?”

1. SayUncle » Dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of and I’ve heard of lots of dumb things:
   April 4th, 2007 at 11:13 am

   [...] Lame: Apparently, if Fred Thompson does run for President, every episode of Law and Order he has been in could be yanked from the air as other candidates could require equal time on those networks. [...]

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2. Terry:
   April 4th, 2007 at 2:41 pm

   I may be wrong in my recollection, but my understanding from several years ago when I last looked into this was that the so-called equal time rule applied only to the non cable networks, such as NBC; telecasts on cable, such as now occurs with Law & Order via TNT and USA, could potentially continue. Also, I believe that the equal-time rule would only require that, NBC, for example, provide somewhere on their schedule for candidates to have time equal to whatever Thompson may have had on the program. In other words, if he appeared for only two minutes, which is often about right, the other candidate would only receive two minutes. Also, apparently NBC would have considerable flexibility as to when to provide those two minutes; I think right before overnight signoff would be fitting.

   Notwithstanding whatever the actual rule may provide, I rather suspect that a network such as NBC would probably decide to remove Thompson from the program, and cables such as TNT would probably not telecast episodes in which Thompson appeared. Likely none of them would wish to take the heat from the moonbat uproar that would otherwise occur.

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3. Jay:
   April 4th, 2007 at 2:59 pm

   Cable stations are under different rules. People seem to forget that cable stations are under no obligation to adhere to the same standards as the networks when it comes to things like cursing, nudity, etc. TNT can show the complete unedited version of ‘Pulp Fiction’ if they choose to do so, but don’t based on a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ they have with the networks to abide by the same rules. Some stations, like F/X have pushed the envelope and Turner Classic Movies no longer edits the films they show. Independent Film Channel is part of the basic cable package in most areas and does not edit their films as well.

   I have no doubt this would fall under the same ‘agreement’ and I agree that in order to simply avoid any criticism TNT, USA and Bravo (which shows ‘Law & Order: Criminal Intent’) would likely pull any episode he appears in.

   Of course, if Al Gore runs I’d like to see how quickly ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ is shelved.

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4. Cassidy:
   April 4th, 2007 at 3:07 pm

   “Likely none of them would wish to take the heat from the moonbat uproar that would otherwise occur.”

   Right…there are absolutely no conservatives who would be up in arms over the same thing. That’s a monumentally retarded assertion.

   Why don’t we just stop with the “this whole thing is the work of morons” and leave it at that.

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5. Terry:
   April 4th, 2007 at 3:32 pm

   Cassidy, old man. It would appear that you are still a borderline literate jerk, or to use your term, a retard.

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6. Cassidy:
   April 4th, 2007 at 9:51 pm

   No, sorry. High IQ doesn’t equal retard. Taking a good point (this whole thing of taking off a tv series cuz of equal time is stupid) and ruining it by a moronic partisan statement…is retarded.

   But hey, whatever makes you feel good in conservative land.

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7. Terry:
   April 5th, 2007 at 10:50 am

   “High IQ” – Not according to numbers in the boxes in Section II of DA Form 2-1.

   But who really cares….the essential point of the post remains valid: application of the equal-time provisions of a decades-old rule are, as you say, pretty lame.

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8. BT:
   April 5th, 2007 at 11:18 am

   If i were Thompson i would challenge any FCC application of the rule. I doubt it applies either in the letter or spirit of the law.

   NBC as owner of the series is free to do what it pleases, but i don’t see how they would be required to do so.

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9. Brian:
   April 6th, 2007 at 12:24 pm

   The same thing bit of wackiness happened back in Los Angeles in the 1970’s to George Takei, who played Lt. Sulu on the original Star Trek series. According to Mr. Takei, when he decided to run for seat on the LA City Council, his opponents cited this rule, which barred old episodes of Star Trek from being shown on TV in the LA area during the race and election. I remember hearing Mr. Takei tell this story (yes it was a Star Trek convention, make your joke now) back in the late 80’s or early 90’s, and he still was upset about the whole business.

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10. Rick DeMent:
    April 9th, 2007 at 11:33 am

    I loved “Hellcats of the Navy”

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