Do they allow you to watch this?

[Svenskaflicka]

I just watched a political satire show by Michael Moore, "The Awful Truth". It was soooooooo funny!

I've heard that most TV channels in USA refuse to air Michael Moore's shows, since he's too controversial, and insults the companies and organisations who fund the media and the politicians.

Tell me, do you watch anything by Michael Moore?

 

[lucky-E-leven]

I've never seen anything by him personally, but have been told his work is very thought provoking. I have plans to see a movie or two of his, but wasn't even aware he had television program out there.

~lucky

 

[CharleyH]

I lied in my vote. I have actually seen 'Roger and me,' but not 'Bowling for Columbine," which is apparently accurate U.S. portrayal - I guess I'd rather spend my five bucks on mindlessness like "Debbie does Dallas" LOL

 

[ABSTRUSE]

I've seen his tv shows. I wasn't going to watch Bowling for Colombine after his oscar fiasco, but I was told it was very good, so I'll put my snobbery aside and go rent it.
~A~

 

[rgraham666]

My TV died on the weekend, so I can't watch anything.

 

[shereads]

I've heard that most TV channels in USA refuse to air Michael Moore's shows, since he's too controversial, and insults the companies and organisations who fund the media and the politicians.

What you've heard is true but only as it applies to TV networks that are dependent on advertisers for their income. Bill Maher lost his TV show on ABC, "Politically Incorrect," because sponsors canceled their advertising contracts in response to something the host said that was politically incorrect. But Bill Maher has a show on HBO now. People pay to subscribe to HBO and they like to know they're seeing programming that they could't have with just the free broadcast networks.

Michael Moore had a show on ABC a few years ago, that was wonderful. It might have been called "The Awful Truth," in fact. It didn't get great ratings, or it might have survived the anger it engendered. I don't know whether he's been picked up by HBO or Showtime or any of the pay channels, because I don't subscribe to them. Hadn't thought about visiting his website either, but I will. I get my Bill Maher fix by reading transcripts from his HBO program at his website.

I've been a fan of Michael Moore's since "Roger and Me." I haven't seen "Bowling for Columbine" so I''m glad you reminded me of that too.

I should read fewer dirty stories and watch more television!

 

[Guest]

Yeah, Sher, it was called The Awful Truth. I haven't noticed MM on cable though. P.

 

[shereads]

Thanks Perdita.

The one bit I remember most vividly from Moore's TV program was an elaborate set-up to confirm the fact that suburban neighbors will ignore almost anything, just to remain uninvolved. Moore commented that whenever a serial killer is arrested, the neighbors invariably describe him as "a quiet guy, polite but kind of kept to himself."

The show rented a suburban house someplace and spent weeks staging all the evidence that a chainsaw killer was living there. Windows blacked out, women screaming in the middle of the night, the appropriate sound effects, and to top it off, the lone male occupant of the house would dig large holes in the backyard and bury garbage bags.

They staged his arrest at the house one day, then a "detective" went around and interviewd the neighbors to see if they'd noticed anything unusual at the house.

Turns out he was "a quiet guy, polite but kept to himself."

 

[Liar]

The thing with The Awful Truth, at least the episodes I've seen, is that they are, in fact quite politically correct and pretty meek. He just takes little snippets of the absurd reality, and make fun of them without much bias at all.

One of my favourite episodes is about a number of congressmen (senators? something else? I've never understood your palament system...) who was about to get re-elected because noone in their district ran against them. So MM and buddies decided to do something about it in one district, and ran a full swing campaign for an opponent - who just happened to be a potted ficus tree. I think the slogan was "Hey, at least there's an option."

If I'm not mistaken, the ficus won. But it's votes didn't count, since human beings are the only ones eligeble for office.

There was no Rep vs Dec arguments, just stating that it ain't democracy if you only have one candidate. Something that I don't think anyone would disagree with.

Except maybe Mao.

#L

 

[KarenAM]

I find Michael Moore irritating in much the same way I find Sean Hannity, Al Franken, and Ann Coulter irritating. They all write angry, manipulative rants that insult my intelligence and assure me that anyone who disagrees with them is some kind of evil monster. What's worse is that their fans, who include several of my friends, actually refuse to accept that I just don't want to be exposd to their rage, and keep pushing me to read and watch their work, as though if only I sit through enough of it I will join the party of the righteous and see the light or something like that.

 

[shereads]

The thing with The Awful Truth, at least the episodes I've seen, is that they are, in fact quite politically correct and pretty meek. He just takes little snippets of the absurd reality, and make fun of them without much bias at all.

One of my favourite episodes is about a number of congressmen (senators? something else? I've never understood your palament system...) who was about to get re-elected because noone in their district ran against them. So MM and buddies decided to do something about it in one district, and ran a full swing campaign for an opponent - who just happened to be a potted ficus tree. I think the slogan was "Hey, at least there's an option."

If I'm not mistaken, the ficus won. But it's votes didn't count, since human beings are the only ones eligeble for office.

There was no Rep vs Dec arguments, just stating that it ain't democracy if you only have one candidate. Something that I don't think anyone would disagree with.

Except maybe Mao.

#L

Yep. That's what you get when sponsors have to pay for your show.

Even when Michael Moore is unconstrained, though, as he was when he made his first movie, Roger & Me, he lets situations and personalities create their own dark comedy. Roger & Me was about the massive unemployment that hit a Michigan automobile manufacturing town when the plant closed to reopen in Mexico. Flint, Michigan, first victim of massive outsourcing. The whole town's economy had been dependent on General Motors, and the movie is just a hand-held camera documentary about the home foreclosures, the desperation, interspursed with Moore's attempts to interview the president of General Motors. (Roger someone). He didn't have to provide a lot of commentary. There was a gem of a moment - ugly but more perfect than if it had been scripted - where Moore went to the local country club and asked some golfers what they thought about the massive unemployment in Flint. I remember one jewel-encrusted country club matron, practicing her golf swing, who said - without irony - "I can't see why those people don't just get other jobs."

You don't have to be a wiseass when the subjects of your documentary make themselves look like jerks.

 

[Guest]

Just thought I'd post this somewhere, here as good as any. Mostly I want you to know, Sher. It's on tonight, maybe already where you are.
The Jesus Factor (re. Bush)

Perdita

 

[shereads]

Just thought I'd post this somewhere, here as good as any. Mostly I want you to know, Sher. It's on tonight, maybe already where you are.
The Jesus Factor (re. Bush)

Perdita

Argh! I opened this post too late, Perdita. (12:40)
Thank you, though.

 

[Guest]

Sher, perhaps it will be repeated. Very scary. P.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I find Michael Moore irritating in much the same way I find Sean Hannity, Al Franken, and Ann Coulter irritating. They all write angry, manipulative rants that insult my intelligence and assure me that anyone who disagrees with them is some kind of evil monster. What's worse is that their fans, who include several of my friends, actually refuse to accept that I just don't want to be exposd to their rage, and keep pushing me to read and watch their work, as though if only I sit through enough of it I will join the party of the righteous and see the light or something like that.

You can't beat us! Join us... come on... you know you want to...

J/K, believe what YOU want.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I've seen his tv shows. I wasn't going to watch Bowling for Colombine after his oscar fiasco, but I was told it was very good, so I'll put my snobbery aside and go rent it.
~A~

Fiasco? I saw his speech, I thought it was pretty good - I thought the booing from the audience was a little childish, though. That's the kind of behaviour I indulged in when I was a teenager.

I only watched Bowling for Columbine because Hubby nagged me to see it, but I thought it was pretty good - except that I thought Michael Moore was way too soft with the people he was interviewing. I would have been much more bossy.

Rent it, it's not bad.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I remember one jewel-encrusted country club matron, practicing her golf swing, who said - without irony - "I can't see why those people don't just get other jobs."

There's people like that everywhere. Marie Antoinette asked "why don't they eat pastries if they don't have any bread?". Our former minister of finances, Anne Wibble, suggested that in order to get Sweden out of the financial crisis, everyone should strive to put away one month's salary in the bank.


What color is the sky on their planet?

 

[Linbido]

There's people like that everywhere. Marie Antoinette asked "why don't they eat pastries if they don't have any bread?". Our former minister of finances, Anne Wibble, suggested that in order to get Sweden out of the financial crisis, everyone should strive to put away one month's salary in the bank.

Actually, that was one year's salary. Yes. I kid you not.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

After his comments at the Oscars I wouldn't watch anything by him.

-Colly

 

[Svenskaflicka]

"Shame on you, mister Bush"..?

I can think of worse things to say.

"We're against this war"..?

Many Americans were, as I recall.

"We have fictious election results"..?

They are. Bush wasn't elected. He cheated.

Here's a link to Michael's speech.

I think he was pretty calm.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Actually, that was one year's salary. Yes. I kid you not.

Ow. Right.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

I only saw the movie 'Bowling for Columbine' and have the book 'Stupid White Men' on hold. Will read soon.

 

[SnoopDog]

I read all his books save his latest. I've seen 'Roger&Me', 'The Big One' and 'Bowling for Columbine'.
I absolutely like him and his work. He's a funny guy who is not afraid to confront americans with the huge problems of their land.
And he's good at it even though some of his work may be not too well recherched. But who gives a damn? He's funny and he does the right thing. I say keep the effort, Mr. Moore.

Snoopy

 

[Guest]

I would have been much more bossy.

Quel soopreeze. P.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

"Shame on you, mister Bush"..?

I can think of worse things to say.

"We're against this war"..?

Many Americans were, as I recall.

"We have fictious election results"..?

They are. Bush wasn't elected. He cheated.

Here's a link to Michael's speech.

I think he was pretty calm.

Excatly what he said is pretty immaterial. He has a right to an opinion. He has a right to express it. I have the right to disagree with it. I also have the right to feel his decision to express political opinion on an entertainment awards show was inapproriate.

As with the Dixie Chicks, I choose to exercise my right to disagree by not doing anything that supports them, financially or otherwise.

-Colly