ABC pulls Mel Gibson Holocaust miniseries - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 08-01-2006, 02:16 PM

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The ABC television network said on Tuesday that it has pulled a miniseries about the Holocaust it was developing with Mel Gibson's production company.

The move came after Gibson was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving early on Friday and was reported to have launched into a tirade against Jews, asking the arresting officer if he was a Jew and blaming the Jews for starting all wars.

The actor, who holds strong conservative Catholic religious and political views and whose father is a Holocaust denier, apologized on Saturday and has entered a rehabilitation program to treat alcoholism.

But the incident has raised questions about the future of projects Gibson and his Icon Productions company are working on.

A spokeswoman for ABC, which is owned by Walt Disney Co., said an ABC television miniseries based on a memoir about a Dutch Jew during World War II would not go ahead.

"Given that it has been nearly two years and we have yet to see the first draft of a script, we have decided to no longer pursue this project with Icon," said spokeswoman Hope Hartland.

ABC did not give any further reason for its decision to drop the project and Hartland made no comment when asked if the decision was linked to Gibson's behavior at the weekend.

Disney's movie studio arm still plans to release Gibson's self-financed Mayan-language movie "Apocalypto" on December 8, Hollywood's trade papers reported.

The Web site www.slate.com quoted Walt Disney Studios President Oren Aviv as saying he accepted Gibson's apology.

Ireneparalegal · 08-01-2006, 02:17 PM

I give it six months; by then everyone will have forgotten abt his "tirade".

Chelsea · 08-01-2006, 02:18 PM

Are you kidding me? Mel Gibson...who wasn't even really THAT drunk (.12)...made anti-Semitic remarks.

...In Hollywood.

Brad Russ · 08-01-2006, 11:00 PM

That sucks. I was really looking forward to watching that.

LucyCompanyPhan · 08-01-2006, 11:07 PM

Why would Gibson be developing a Holocaust miniseries if he's anti-semitic?

Brad Russ · 08-01-2006, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LucyCompanyPhan

Why would Gibson be developing a Holocaust miniseries if he's anti-semitic?

He's not anti-semitic. People do and say things while being drunk all the time that they wouldn't normally say, it doesn't mean that they're racist. Iv'e never heard him say anything even remotely anti-semitic until now, so I have no reason to believe he is. I'm not excusing what he said because he was wrong, but I do not believe he is anti-semitc.

Ireneparalegal · 08-01-2006, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Little Mel

He's not anti-semitic. People do and say things while being drunk all the time that they wouldn't normally say, it doesn't mean that they're racist. Iv'e never heard him say anything even remotely anti-semitic until now, so I have no reason to believe he is. I'm not excusing what he said because he was wrong, but I do not believe he is anti-semitc.

People are making a big HOOPLA over this. Oh, wait, only certain people are. I am more concerned that he was driving drunk...my daughter drives to Malibu a lot, he could have crashed and killed her! or anyone else who was on that road that night!

Brad Russ · 08-01-2006, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

People are making a big HOOPLA over this. Oh, wait, only certain people are. I am more concerned that he was driving drunk...my daughter drives to Malibu a lot, he could have crashed and killed her! or anyone else who was on that road that night!

Yep, I agree with you 100%!!

LucyCompanyPhan · 08-01-2006, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Little Mel

He's not anti-semitic. People do and say things while being drunk all the time that they wouldn't normally say, it doesn't mean that they're racist. Iv'e never heard him say anything even remotely anti-semitic until now, so I have no reason to believe he is. I'm not excusing what he said because he was wrong, but I do not believe he is anti-semitc.

I don't think he's anti-semitic either, I was just saying *IF* he's anti-semitic as the public is talking about so much, my question would just be, why is his production company planning to make a holocaust miniseries?

People get arrested and yell and say crap all the time. I don't blame the police trying to "cover" this up. It's really just stupid gossip that is becoming too big of a deal. I'd bet that most of the people who get picked for DUI all resist arrest and cause a problem. Let's hear their cases on the news for 5 days straight.

I don't take Driving under the influence lightly at all but people do it everyday. It was said before on here: he didn't murder anyone, or rob a bank at gunpoint. People have done worse things.

AKA · 08-01-2006, 11:36 PM

I understand ABC's move. Like it or not, folks, at this point, Mel Gibson making a movie about the Holacaust, in many people's eyes, is like Paris Hilton making a movie promoting abstinence and a substance-free lifestyle.

Brad Russ · 08-01-2006, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LucyCompanyPhan

I don't think he's anti-semitic either, I was just saying *IF* he's anti-semitic as the public is talking about so much, my question would just be, why is his production company planning to make a holocaust miniseries?

People get arrested and yell and say crap all the time. I don't blame the police trying to "cover" this up. It's really just stupid gossip that is becoming too big of a deal. I'd bet that most of the people who get picked for DUI all resist arrest and cause a problem. Let's hear their cases on the news for 5 days straight.

I don't take Driving under the influence lightly at all but people do it everyday. It was said before on here: he didn't murder anyone, or rob a bank at gunpoint. People have done worse things.

I'm sorry, I misunderstood what you were saying. I totally agree with you though.

08-01-2006, 02:16 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	ABC pulls Mel Gibson Holocaust miniseries NEW YORK (Reuters) - The ABC television network said on Tuesday that it has pulled a miniseries about the Holocaust it was developing with Mel Gibson's production company. The move came after Gibson was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving early on Friday and was reported to have launched into a tirade against Jews, asking the arresting officer if he was a Jew and blaming the Jews for starting all wars. The actor, who holds strong conservative Catholic religious and political views and whose father is a Holocaust denier, apologized on Saturday and has entered a rehabilitation program to treat alcoholism. But the incident has raised questions about the future of projects Gibson and his Icon Productions company are working on. A spokeswoman for ABC, which is owned by Walt Disney Co., said an ABC television miniseries based on a memoir about a Dutch Jew during World War II would not go ahead. "Given that it has been nearly two years and we have yet to see the first draft of a script, we have decided to no longer pursue this project with Icon," said spokeswoman Hope Hartland. ABC did not give any further reason for its decision to drop the project and Hartland made no comment when asked if the decision was linked to Gibson's behavior at the weekend. Disney's movie studio arm still plans to release Gibson's self-financed Mayan-language movie "Apocalypto" on December 8, Hollywood's trade papers reported. The Web site www.slate.com quoted Walt Disney Studios President Oren Aviv as saying he accepted Gibson's apology.
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

08-01-2006, 02:17 PM	#2
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	I give it six months; by then everyone will have forgotten abt his "tirade".
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

08-01-2006, 02:18 PM	#3
Chelsea Semi-retired Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Washington Posts: 5,727	Are you kidding me? Mel Gibson...who wasn't even really THAT drunk (.12)...made anti-Semitic remarks. ...In Hollywood.
	__________________ Chelsea Former Administrator, 2005-2012 Former Member, DVD Review Team, 2004-2010.

08-01-2006, 11:00 PM	#4
Brad Russ Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 17, 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 10,085	That sucks. I was really looking forward to watching that.
	__________________ St. John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Currently my favorite song.

08-01-2006, 11:07 PM	#5
LucyCompanyPhan Hollywood Senior Member Join Date: Sep 25, 2001 Location: a far away place in sitcomville Posts: 2,254	Why would Gibson be developing a Holocaust miniseries if he's anti-semitic?
	__________________ "Rather than love, than money, than faith, than fame, than fairness -- give me truth.”

08-01-2006, 11:36 PM	#10
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	I understand ABC's move. Like it or not, folks, at this point, Mel Gibson making a movie about the Holacaust, in many people's eyes, is like Paris Hilton making a movie promoting abstinence and a substance-free lifestyle.
	Last edited by AKA; 08-01-2006 at 11:56 PM.