Real-Life Clowns Aren't Happy w/ "American Horror Story" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 10-15-2014, 04:55 PM

Professional Clown Club Attacks "American Horror Story" over Murderous Character
10/15/14
by Seth Abramovitch

Real clowns see nothing funny about their depiction in "American Horror Story: Freak Show". The FX series from Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk revolves around Twisty the Clown (John Carroll Lynch), a serial killer who stalks couples with scissors and imprisons children in an old school bus.

"Hollywood makes money sensationalizing the norm," bemoans Glenn Kohlberger, president of Clowns of America International, the nation’s biggest clown club. "They can take any situation no matter how good or pure and turn it into a nightmare."

With membership in the organization dwindling — its aging base is made up of 2,500 clowns, down from 3,500 in 2004 — Kohlberger, whose big-shoed alter ego is Clyde D. Scope, takes a hard-line stance against characters like Twisty.

"We do not support in any way, shape or form any medium that sensationalizes or adds to coulrophobia or 'clown fear,'" Kohlberger says.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...merican-740768

JamesG · 09-03-2017, 08:10 PM

Michigan-based World Clown Association Gears Up for Onslaught of Scary Clowns in Film, TV
by Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press Pop Culture Critic
Sept. 3, 2017

Real clowns are used to correcting images spread by TV and movie projects featuring scary clowns. But that doesn't make the arrival of It in multiplexes Friday and "American Horror Story: Cult" on the FX network Tuesday any easier for them.

How do clowns fight against the fears evoked by the creepy fictional versions? "The best possible way is for every true professional clown to be out there in the public and be interviewing and be meeting and greeting," says Pam Moody, president of the Michigan-based World Clown Association.

The film It is based on the 1986 Stephen King novel about an evil being that assumes many forms, including that of a clown named Pennywise.

"AHS: Cult", the new season of the FX anthology series, is laden with creepy clowns in its advertising and story line.

According to Moody, real clowns have been dealing with the image created by It for the past 30 years. The book previously was made into a TV miniseries that featured Tim Curry as Pennywise. His portrayal was so unsettling that it still evokes chills today.

Moody herself hasn't seen the small-screen version of It and isn't familiar with the "American Horror Story: Cult" clown-centric ads. She says she's not a fan of the genre.

She's one of about 2,500 members of the World Clown Association, headquartered in Berrien Springs and run by a globally based board of directors.

Moody performs as Sparky, the firefighter clown, and has been doing educational programs for schools for more than two decades. She says she was performing in India on an extended visit when the 2016 spate of creepy clown sightings — some real, others hoaxes — in the U.S. became a worldwide story.

"The media was asking me about it there," she says.

Since being caught by surprise by the creepy clown craze, her association has developed guidelines to help members deal with negative portrayals, as Moody told the Hollywood Reporter.

According to Moody, movies like It could spur a temporary a decline in business for real clowns. But she says the worst part is the distortion of what clowns really do, which is to help through their art.

"The role of a clown persona, regardless of their style of clowning, is meant to bring joy and laughter, to bring humor to a hurting world."

Moody is also involved with Red Nose Response, a volunteer clown organization that tries to assist people, first responders and communities impacted by natural disasters.

"When things settle down in Houston, there will be clowns in those shelters, giving of their time and talent to bring some comedic relief," she says, referring to the devastating floods caused by Hurricane Harvey.

"Clowns aren't just about laughter. They're about listening and caring."

http://www.freep.com/story/entertain...vie/626138001/

10-15-2014, 04:55 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,120	Real-Life Clowns Aren't Happy w/ "American Horror Story" *Professional Clown Club Attacks "American Horror Story" over Murderous Character* 10/15/14 by Seth Abramovitch Real clowns see nothing funny about their depiction in "American Horror Story: Freak Show". The FX series from Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk revolves around Twisty the Clown (John Carroll Lynch), a serial killer who stalks couples with scissors and imprisons children in an old school bus. "Hollywood makes money sensationalizing the norm," bemoans Glenn Kohlberger, president of Clowns of America International, the nation’s biggest clown club. "They can take any situation no matter how good or pure and turn it into a nightmare." With membership in the organization dwindling — its aging base is made up of 2,500 clowns, down from 3,500 in 2004 — Kohlberger, whose big-shoed alter ego is Clyde D. Scope, takes a hard-line stance against characters like Twisty. "We do not support in any way, shape or form any medium that sensationalizes or adds to coulrophobia or 'clown fear,'" Kohlberger says. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...merican-740768 Attached Images
	Last edited by JamesG; 09-03-2017 at 08:06 PM.

09-03-2017, 08:10 PM	#2
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,120	Michigan-based World Clown Association Gears Up for Onslaught of Scary Clowns in Film, TV by Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press Pop Culture Critic Sept. 3, 2017 Real clowns are used to correcting images spread by TV and movie projects featuring scary clowns. But that doesn't make the arrival of It in multiplexes Friday and "American Horror Story: Cult" on the FX network Tuesday any easier for them. How do clowns fight against the fears evoked by the creepy fictional versions? "The best possible way is for every true professional clown to be out there in the public and be interviewing and be meeting and greeting," says Pam Moody, president of the Michigan-based World Clown Association. The film It is based on the 1986 Stephen King novel about an evil being that assumes many forms, including that of a clown named Pennywise. "AHS: Cult", the new season of the FX anthology series, is laden with creepy clowns in its advertising and story line. According to Moody, real clowns have been dealing with the image created by It for the past 30 years. The book previously was made into a TV miniseries that featured Tim Curry as Pennywise. His portrayal was so unsettling that it still evokes chills today. Moody herself hasn't seen the small-screen version of It and isn't familiar with the "American Horror Story: Cult" clown-centric ads. She says she's not a fan of the genre. She's one of about 2,500 members of the World Clown Association, headquartered in Berrien Springs and run by a globally based board of directors. Moody performs as Sparky, the firefighter clown, and has been doing educational programs for schools for more than two decades. She says she was performing in India on an extended visit when the 2016 spate of creepy clown sightings — some real, others hoaxes — in the U.S. became a worldwide story. "The media was asking me about it there," she says. Since being caught by surprise by the creepy clown craze, her association has developed guidelines to help members deal with negative portrayals, as Moody told the Hollywood Reporter. According to Moody, movies like It could spur a temporary a decline in business for real clowns. But she says the worst part is the distortion of what clowns really do, which is to help through their art. "The role of a clown persona, regardless of their style of clowning, is meant to bring joy and laughter, to bring humor to a hurting world." Moody is also involved with Red Nose Response, a volunteer clown organization that tries to assist people, first responders and communities impacted by natural disasters. "When things settle down in Houston, there will be clowns in those shelters, giving of their time and talent to bring some comedic relief," she says, referring to the devastating floods caused by Hurricane Harvey. "Clowns aren't just about laughter. They're about listening and caring." http://www.freep.com/story/entertain...vie/626138001/