Two Texas Channels Will Not Air CBS's Hitler mini-series movie due to content - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Pavan · 05-16-2003, 06:05 PM

KZTV(TV) of Corpus Christi, TX and co-owned KVTV(TV) of Laredo, TX, both Texas CBS affiliates, have decided not to air that network’s two-part biopic, Hitler: The Rise of Evil, scheduled to air Sunday, May 18, and Tuesday, May 20.

Dale Remy, general manager of both stations, said that after getting a dozen or so complaints from viewers, including "community leaders," he decided that "at the end of the day, we didn’t think it was something that was going to benefit our audience or our station."

He added, "The potential downside of humanizing this character in a world where Nazism is still real scares me a little."

For the record, Remy said, "I did not tell CBS I would not air it," nor did he think it was something people shouldn’t see at all.

Instead, he added, he offered to air the show in late-night, but the network declined.

In place of the two-part miniseries, Remy will air theatricals Superman III and Naked Gun 2 and 1/2, which he had to pick up from Paramount Pictures since he didn’t have a movie library on hand.

Remy thinks the move may cost him money, and potentially ratings, but he said the money issue "was no reason to run or not run something that was problematic from a content standpoint."

CBS has received both complaints and praise for slating its showcase sweeps mini about Hitler's rise to power.

Corpus Christi viewers will still have a chance to see it, however, since it has been picked up there by low-power UPN affiliate KTOV-LP.

CBS said it knew of no other affiliates that had declined to carry the show.

KVTV is not to be confused with KTVT Fort Worth, Texas, which is owned by CBS.

TJL · 05-16-2003, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pavanbadal

Dale Remy, general manager of both stations, said that after getting a dozen or so complaints from viewers, including "community leaders," he decided that "at the end of the day, we didn’t think it was something that was going to benefit our audience or our station."

And showing "Superman III" will?

Brian · 05-20-2003, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TJL

And showing "Superman III" will?

Janice · 05-23-2003, 02:45 PM

I taped this and watched it last night. I think it's ridiculous that anyone would decide not to air it. The movie did not 'humanize' Hitler at all. On the contrary, it portrayed him as the evil psychotic monster that he truly was.
At no point during the 4 hours did I find myself liking the guy, not even in his early years.
I loved it, and I learned a lot from it. I had never seen Hitler's rise to power played out in such detail. The movie actually ended when he became Dictator in 1933.
Powerful and emotional, it has Emmy written all over it.
If it were possible for me to despise Hitler and all he stood for any more than I already did, this movie would do it.

TJL · 05-23-2003, 03:19 PM

I agree Janice.
The producers of the series skipped over showing Hitler as a child to avoid portraying him as a sympathetic figure. I think they did a good job of showing how he took advantage of his war ravaged and defeated countrymen and manipulated them into following his twisted ideas.
I only caught the first two hours, but what I saw was very compelling. I hope it comes to video soon so i can catch the second half.

05-16-2003, 06:05 PM	#1
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,821	Two Texas Channels Will Not Air CBS's Hitler mini-series movie due to content KZTV(TV) of Corpus Christi, TX and co-owned KVTV(TV) of Laredo, TX, both Texas CBS affiliates, have decided not to air that network’s two-part biopic, Hitler: The Rise of Evil, scheduled to air Sunday, May 18, and Tuesday, May 20. Dale Remy, general manager of both stations, said that after getting a dozen or so complaints from viewers, including "community leaders," he decided that "at the end of the day, we didn’t think it was something that was going to benefit our audience or our station." He added, "The potential downside of humanizing this character in a world where Nazism is still real scares me a little." For the record, Remy said, "I did not tell CBS I would not air it," nor did he think it was something people shouldn’t see at all. Instead, he added, he offered to air the show in late-night, but the network declined. In place of the two-part miniseries, Remy will air theatricals Superman III and Naked Gun 2 and 1/2, which he had to pick up from Paramount Pictures since he didn’t have a movie library on hand. Remy thinks the move may cost him money, and potentially ratings, but he said the money issue "was no reason to run or not run something that was problematic from a content standpoint." CBS has received both complaints and praise for slating its showcase sweeps mini about Hitler's rise to power. Corpus Christi viewers will still have a chance to see it, however, since it has been picked up there by low-power UPN affiliate KTOV-LP. CBS said it knew of no other affiliates that had declined to carry the show. KVTV is not to be confused with KTVT Fort Worth, Texas, which is owned by CBS.
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05-23-2003, 02:45 PM	#4
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I taped this and watched it last night. I think it's ridiculous that anyone would decide not to air it. The movie did not 'humanize' Hitler at all. On the contrary, it portrayed him as the evil psychotic monster that he truly was. At no point during the 4 hours did I find myself liking the guy, not even in his early years. I loved it, and I learned a lot from it. I had never seen Hitler's rise to power played out in such detail. The movie actually ended when he became Dictator in 1933. Powerful and emotional, it has Emmy written all over it. If it were possible for me to despise Hitler and all he stood for any more than I already did, this movie would do it.

05-23-2003, 03:19 PM	#5
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	I agree Janice. The producers of the series skipped over showing Hitler as a child to avoid portraying him as a sympathetic figure. I think they did a good job of showing how he took advantage of his war ravaged and defeated countrymen and manipulated them into following his twisted ideas. I only caught the first two hours, but what I saw was very compelling. I hope it comes to video soon so i can catch the second half.