HEAVEN, HELL, GOD, THE DEVIL, BOB, NBC, AND YOU
by Paul Rosenblum

Our newest curmudgeon ponders our fascination with the box.

When Archie Bunker muttered "Meathead" for the first time, people were appalled. When Pat Paulson from The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour ran for President in the 1960's - now that was controversial. Elvis shaking his pelvic region on The Ed Sullivan Show just couldn't be watched by the American public at the time. Earth shattering! The original cast of Saturday Night Live pushed live TV's censor buttons. This was the Sixties and Seventies. By today's standards, it's considered mild.

Today on the evening news, we hear about 1^st graders shooting other 1^st graders, an investor shooting his stockbroker, plane crashes and hostage situations seemingly every day and nobody says a thing. Howard Stern is abrasive on radio and television. The more we complain, the higher the ratings. It's the Life Stinks mentality these days. Today, more than ever, people who are religious and believe in God, Heaven and Hell are clinging to their beliefs even more. Television sometimes reflects life with major embellishments and situations in the hope of poking fun at ourselves or at least to get people to think. We have television shows about aliens, lots of shows about family life from the 1970's (That 70's Show) to cartoon families (The Simpson's and Family Guy), as well as family dramas such as Once and Again about a single mom bringing up two girls. HBO has a real family show - The Sopranos. So, why not a show about the largest of all Fathers in our history - God.

NBC premiered God, the Devil, and Bob a couple of weeks ago, and it immediately got bad press. We can show war, killings, corrupt politics, racism, and interviews with people on death row --- but don't profit on the Almighty! A cartoon show, (for God's sake), that in my opinion, is not trying to be political or religious (just showing a Jerry Garcia from the Grateful Dead-like character in the "God" role) [Editor's Note: The producers of "God, The Devil and Bob" are also getting sued by Jerry Garcia's estate because of the resemblance between Captain Trips and Captain Deity.] and is just trying to be funny and entertaining has found itself being banned by 17 of NBC 214 affiliate stations around the country, and that number is growing daily. WPSD, in Paducah, Kentucky, for example, has decided in its infinite wisdom that since some people called in and complained about the show being offensive, that they would just take it off the air. The same story with some affiliate stations in Texas, Missouri and Mississippi, as well as Idaho, Utah and Indiana.

Let's get back to basics, kids. If the news is too violent at 11pm and you don't want to look at it - what do you do? If The Man Show is too sexist for you and you just hate that show - what do you do? And if you find ER too bloody and against your idea of what you want to watch on TV - I ask again - What do you do? What do you do? (My Karl Malden impression) -- I'll tell you what you do. You don't watch the show. Read my lips - You turn to another channel or God forbid - you turn the television OFF.

Oh, you rather complain about the programming on television by boycotting the show and its sponsors? The American Family Association agrees with the affiliates pulling the show from its lineup. The Council on American-Islamic Relations also agrees. This is getting so much press that this issue has become 'water cooler' material for people to kibitz about every morning. Good job, people. Free advertising. Now the show could be a hit, without the large budget that NBC has already allowed for.

What our society seems to be saying is - tell us about rape, killings, war, hunger, poverty, corrupt government, and unsafe environment - but do NOT screw around with our religion! 1 + 1 does not equal 582 ½. I just don't get it.

One thing I must comment on: NBC programmed this show before 10pm. Why? This is not a family oriented show, although I don't find it offensive. I am, however, surprised that NBC chose to air this program at all. The major networks are after ratings as taken by Nielsen. The higher shows ratings are, the more dollars that network can charge for each commercial during that show. The networks try to program for the mass audiences. They want big numbers. They do not want cults, or a small, dedicated group of viewers. They want the masses (no, not the one you sing) - millions and millions of people watching each program that they offer on their perspective network. So, I am rather dumbfounded as to why NBC would choose to air this program at all. Comedy Central has South Park and Dr. Katz - two adult oriented shows not geared to the masses. God, the Devil and Bob would find a nice home there. Not on NBC.

Like anything, though, if you, the viewer doesn't like a show on TV, this is what to do: Look for a little button on the remote that says "Channel up" or "Channel down", and turn to another channel. Or, if push really comes down to shove, there's another button on the remote that says "Power". If you press that button, it turns your set off. Now, that's the way to boycott. If nobody watches a show on a major network, it won't be there for long.

Enjoy TV this week and I'll meet you on Saturday night at the Vintage movie theatre for a showing of A Clockwork Orange. 8pm sharp. Be there.

Or God'll get ya.

Paul Rosenblum's father co-produced "The Patty Duke Show." Paul is writing a book for computer beginners who have anxiety about PC's.

Got a problem? Email Paul at cinewebzine@hotmail.com