NBC’s ObamaVision: ‘Law and Order’ — ‘This Is Why We Need Health-Care Reform’
by Michael S. Rulle Jr.NBC’s “Law and Order” is in its 20th season. The economy is weak, so they have devolved to converting White House talking points into weekly shows. Last week, “Doped” was a farcical equivalent of “Damien Thorn meets Karen Silkwood.” Pharmaceutical companies and Doctors are worse than drug cartels. The killers in the previous week’s episode on such cartels were more sympathetic than the health professionals.
In the opening scene, a woman with 4 children is driving the wrong way down the West Side Highway (like the Diane Schuler Taconic Parkway horror this summer). Speaking on her cell phone erratically (no “hands free!”), the kids get concerned. She decides it is time to use nasal spray for her allergies, which had been spiked without her knowledge. Flash forward and viewers see two mangled vehicles resulting in seven deaths.
Detectives Barnard and Lupo scan the usual suspects; husband (nope, he seems too distraught), in-laws (no reason, plus their kids died), even the cancer stricken mother-in-law (too sincere). We discover the deceased woman and her boss (“Mad Men’s” Rich Sommer) have had secret late night meetings for weeks. They discovered their drug company has doctored marketing materials and bribed doctors to push a cancer medication which can extend terminal patients lives up to a few months, although most last at most a week. The medication is a $1000 a day. The episode makes it clear such life extending drugs exist for drug company profit only.
Consumers are portrayed as morons and dupes. Doctor’s have magical (and evil) powers to persuade them to buy this drug against their own better judgment and economic interest. One middle aged son complains that his father lasted 30 days too long on the drug, thus wiping out his mother’s savings as she was forced to sell her house. Apparently the writers did not think it important to explore why the father and mother were willing to do this. But they were quite sure they should not have. Who needs death panels with kids like that?
Insurance companies are also evil. Even though they stopped paying for a drug which the writers make clear should not exist, they still come in for criticism for discontinuing payments. In utter frustration, Jack McCoy blurts out, “This is why we need health care reform.” Why is that Jack? The drug company used misleading advertising and made bribes. Don’t we already have laws against that? Or do we need to force people not to take life-extending drugs? What does health-care reform have to do with any of this? When shows just follow talking points it is hard to stay coherent.
Ultimately, we learn the deceased drunk mother, Brenda Sawyer, was working with the FDA to expose her company’s deceitful marketing representations and practices, including bribing doctors, about the life extending cancer drug, “Lextenda.” A “whistle-blower” law awards a large percent of the fine to those who come forward if their company is convicted. Sommer’s character, Zach Marshall was her boss. He was working with her under the impression they would be sharing the award. She informed him, as the official “whistle-blower,” she would giving the award to charity. Marshall realizes his big payday is gone and decides to murder her so he can collect the award. During an office party he spikes her soft drink with alcohol and her nasal spray with a drug which mixes poorly with alcohol. Marshall then discovers she’s picking up the children and calls 9-1-1, but too late. He thought killing her was fine (plus whoever she might hit) but had some qualms about children.
While it is not made clear how Marshall communicated with his company, McCoy knew he had information proving their deceitful practices and was effectively blackmailing them. They erased his computer files, and paid for his legal defense, apparently all legal. The Chairman of Woodmore Pharmaceutical (a contributor to McCoy, who righteously gives him back his money) is shown as clearly caring only about covering up the illegal and deceitful marketing practices. The plot line makes it clear the company was willing to defend Sommer, regardless of what he did – including murder, to prevent the information from getting out. Sommer is convicted of murder. The exposure of Woodmore’s practices is not made explicit, but the viewer assumes they have been compromised.
And that is why we need health care reform.
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1,001 Comments
I prefer the glory days, so I'll stick to re-runs
I watched that episode and let's just say the "iiberal tell" was exceedingly thick. I think I'll pass on L & O from now on.
meant "liberal"
Not suprising, NBC/GE is controlled by a cabal of far left sycophants. Since Jack Welch left, this once great company has been decimated by a new PC management staff. Dissenters are fired or reassigned to lowly positions. False financial reporting is not just encouraged, its essentially mandatory, senior management dreams up ridiclous quotas, and expect monthly and quarterly reports to meet or exceed them. If the business isn't there, make it up so that the projections will look good. Best thing that ever happened was being laid off from that sinking ship.
Oh Good Lord – This is the zillionith time that "L&O" has gone to this well. They aren't even making a pretense of subtlety any more. They really should just have the doctors and drug company executives wear big labels that say "Evil Greedy Bastard" just in case viewers don't quite get it. This is why I stopped watching the show. Once the premise is set up in the first five minutes you know exactly how it's going to turn out. I used to admire Sam Waterston as an actor but over the last ten years he has redefined the term "sanctimonious ham."
Byt he way, I really hope that one day, Dick Wolfe will be in need of a life-saving medical procedure or medication and his doctor will look at him and say….."Aren't you the guy who thinks that all of use are greedy monsters? Well this is going to hurt a lot….."
NBC…Enough said
Leftwing propaganda pure and simple. Haven't watched it in decades.
Patrick, you've revealed what I've suspected about GE for awhile. Obama won't be there to protect them forever. It's possible that we will see Immelt do a Perp Walk for cooking the books in time. And the SEC, just where are they in protecting shareholders……?
Oh, nevermind.
And that is why I do not watch this show anymore,
I recall a few weeks ago, when several folks on here were lauding L&O for their recent episode on abortion. I (among many others) reminded those folks that L&O was running about 999-to-1 in the "conservative bashing versus conservative supporting" tally.
Make that 1000-to-1. The only way this kind of crap will go away is for those of us who care to STOP WATCHING IT.
I stopped watching L and A years ago, when "Lenny" left the show. All the other spin-offs are just as bad. I could write scripts, the bad guy is white,Conservative,a big Corp,Christian or all of them.
Yes, and it used to be a good fictional show. Now, it's chronic PC crap. That's what has fans upset.
GE CEO Jeff Immelt is so far up Obama's butt he needs a mining helmet.
Ah, it's called reviewing TV shows. Apparently such a concept is beyond the ken of leftist trolls.
If Hollywood ever had an original thought, it would die of loneliness!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Drudge Report, Fernando Colon. Fernando Colon said: NBC’s ObamaVision: ‘Law and Order’ — ‘This Is Why We Need Health-Care Reform’ http://bit.ly/VF4hC [...]
If a portion of the content of a particular show didn't have value in shaping the minds of Americans, the writers wouldn't include it. L&O ought to be about entertainment, but they passed on entertainment when they started pushing propaganda. There is much to be gained by turning off the television.
A mining helmet and a flashlight!
When they aired the episode that included the line "Sueing the Bush administration" a few weeks ago, I vowed to never watch an episode of any of the versions of L&O again. The series has clearly outlived it's entermainment value long ago and should die a ignominious death. This week, I will also have to forgo many of the NBC shows I normally watch because they are including all their preachy crap about global warming.
Saw the episode, watched where it was going and turned it off to no longer watch L & O. Opened my email up this morning to find my in box full or emails from relatives and friends pointing out the shaow and asking that we no longer watch it and pass the no show suggestion on to all our friends……..we will.
The title of the website you are visiting is "Big Hollywood." The stated mission of the website is to discuss entertainment from a conservative perspective. Hence, our comments.
See, here's another comment – You are a moron.
Understand how it works now?
I used to watch this until it became political…Now I hope it ends on the scrap heap.
There is absolutley NO evidence that pharm. corps are making drugs and people are being manipulated into buying them. Now excuse me while I go get my totally safe and extensively tested swine flu vaccine, lest I become a mere satistic in the pandemic.
Hmm, I thought I was the only kook who couldn't watch that show anymore because of its one sided preaching. They feign an attempt to show both sides, but the character representing or espousing a conservative viewpoint either has fringe views or is merely a strawman (or woman as the case may be) and pummeled into submission by the liberal with the "superior" intellect.
Same reason I could no longer watch Boston Legal. In response to rgallagher, I have a problem with this because as a television show, supposedly for entertainment, I don't expect a political message. I guess I'm just naive. You're right though, there are much bigger things to complain about. So, I'm going to get back to work now, be thankful I have work to do, a place to do it, and people who pay me for it.
But a mining helmet has a light built in. Therein lies the evidence of the genius comedic mind of bobmac.
This is why network TV is dying. I'll stick to a movie before I watch this drivel.
There ain't a thing worth watching on NBC since Bob Hope passed away. I watch very little network TV now. I guess that's why I am not in danger of liberal indoctrination. There is very little entertainment on any TV these days. If Letterman & Leno are supposed to be entertainers, why not go after some real talent & give , oh, say, Robin Williams a weekly 2 hour variety show of his own with hands off him & see how much the ratings go up. He may cost more than all these" would be funny men", but he'd be worth it. I'd can "The Comedy Channel" I ain't seen a bit of humor there in years. They ought to call it the "Cussing, Gross Out Channel" LMAO !!!!!!!!!!
I like Waterston very much and WAS a big fan. Since their cheap shot at Bush/Cheney earlier and now this crap…. BYE BYE L&O…
A fan, no longer!
rgallagher – it's leftist liberal tree hugging leeches of society LOSERS such as yourself that make things in this country worse. You are so uneducated that you can not offer a substantial point or counter-point only to say "waahh?" LOL!
I've watched L&O since it started and it is BLANTANTLY obvious that they are pushing the Obama agenda. I noticed this several weeks ago and I pointed it out to my wife when it happened last week. Funny, how the medical marijuana angle has been thrown into the show as well..coincidence? Don't think so…
Could you imagine the backlash from the idiot left if a TV show or TV company (which is supposed to be unbiased) blantantly tried to "push" one of Bush's policies? The Nancy Pelosi puppets would be in an uproar.
this is exactly why i don't watch the show anymore
You see, you liberal pukes, you are in the minority and the majority of America does not want ObamaScare or most of his leftist policies. He lied to the American public and the American public has paid attention….
It's funny how elitist the left and liberals think they are "above" common American folk, but they are NOT. They are the far below that resembles anything American or human for that matter!
I believe it was Louis Mayer of MGM who once said, "If you want to send a message call Western Union". Back in the days of entertainment, plot lines were interesting not indoctrinating.
Yet another incisive contribution to a discussion by a leftard incapable of reason.
Ooooooooooooh but the people in Hollywood know what is best for us stupid little morons. How would we know anything if they weren't there to educate us?
is this show still on the air?…
Sorry. It's a lawyer show. Not on our radar; neither are doctor shows or cop/forensic shows. Want a good cop show? Watch 'Naked City' reruns. Doctors? How about 'Medic' with Richard Boone. Lawyers?
Haven't EVER found one worth watching…
Ditto Michelle. I have finally given up on the show as it has become more and more political indoctrination instead of crime drama
We need health-care reform so the government WILL pay for the non-efficacious drug which the evil insurance companies decided didn't work. Correctly so, as it seems.
Is it just me, or did the show actually support the benefit of private market scrutiny of products?
Clever, do it again. My crazy old lady neighbor used to do that too anytime someone said something she didn't like. Then they put her in a home, judging her mental capacity to be that of a five year old. Which I thought was insulting to five year olds everywhere.
See, any time anyone does not toe the leftist line, and makes any sort of comment about it, they are ridiculed…the only thing WE, the moderate-to-conservative American people, have to fear, is fear of getting our feelings hurt…these lefties are just a bunch of name callers, like little kids on a playground of old…I, for one, don't care anymore, call me what you wish, the words such as bigot, racist, sexist, well, they are losing their power fast…and as a mechanic, I've heard as much FOUL language as anyone would care to, so hey lefties,
BRING IT ON!
I quit watching this and the SVU a long while ago. If you notice the only criminals involved in these horrific crimes are also middle, upper and rich white people. We need to just understand that dialogue such as Lenny's partner pushed during the Iraq war, " you lied to us, just like that guy in the white house" is just woven into their agenda. But then again maybe without Obama being elected they might have gone under, so does it count as saved jobs?
Have not watched any of the NBC dribble since the new season started. If I wanted to be brainwashed I would have attended one of the socialist infected ivy league halls of liberal droids, but have been told I would not be admitted, seems you are not welcomed if your parents where married before your conception.
We mostly only watch sports and reruns of old sitcoms in our homes for this reason. I get tired of Hollywood pushing their liberal agenda when they know that more than half the country does not lean that way. I'm surprised they can get any sponsors. When I see a show that injects something political, I quit watching it.
Why limit yourself to L&O – I watch nothing that involves the leftist NBC.
The quote, unquote stars of these shows should be careful – they're all getting too old to be of any value in Obama's "new world order".
To these same "stars" I would say – how much are you getting paid to sell off your country. If freedom leaves us
because of people like you – I just want to know what your price tag was as a collaborator and was it worth betraying your country?
Ya, I was hoping that Law and Order would get back on track but no dice. A once great show with only occasional forays into liberal imbecility has become a walking parody of itself. I don't even know how, since I gave up on it years ago, but I wound up catching this show and was confirmed in my beliefs.
The guy saying that the new whistleblower laws that allowed for compensation to the whistleblowers had them coming out of the woodwork was especially bad in my view because it implied that all the big pharma companies were doing it…
I quit watching all the L & Os this year. The only nbc show I watch is 'The Office' and I wish it was on a different network. I will not watch it this week during 'green week', so no nbc at all this week.
NBC is still on the air? Now that's news worthy…
Crap like this is why I stopped watching Law & Order at least five years ago
Don't forget now that Jeff ( Everything I touch turns to S**t) Zucker is Chief Television Campaigner for POTUS, we are in for a lot more of this – because it is ALL about GE getting billions in GREEN no-bid government contracts. The large graft is getting so big it is interfering with the small graft. I guess AG Holder's misdirection play with the trial in NYC – at the risk of God knows what – will keep him from prosecuting Imelt. Sweep Left, on GO!
Imagine the time effort and money wasted simply to set up for the line "That's why we need health care reform."
ABC, NBC, CBS, and most of Hollywood has been using the same play book for years. Charles Dickens descendants should really start suing for copyright infringement.
It's NBC – what do you expect!
me neither…got tired of their liberal garbage years ago
The dregs of the TV networks strike again. What do you expect from these low life's 'THE TRUTH ?'
NEVER.
Saying that the $1000/day drug exists only for drug company profit is like saying I drink water only because I'm thirsty and being thirsty is a bad thing. When will these morons ever realize that almost ALL drugs exist for drug company profit? If companies didn't make a profit then there would not BE any drug companies and therefore no drugs at all! You just cannot get around the fact that besides free-market profit the only other tried and true motivator is putting a gun to someone's head to force them to do something. Capitalism is what gave us the most technologically advanced medical care on earth and the money in our pockets to PAY for it. Commies think they can do better? – no they just want RAPE those advances and foist themselves into a position of power over us. Help save the USA – kill a commie.
this use to be my show, loved it watched it every Wednesday night but now it is junk and I would not watch if you paid me.
The only thing i watch on NBC is football, it's the only thing NBC can't trash except Keith Ob trys to trash someone everyweek during the pregame and at the half time. I wish they would get rid of that jerk.
L & O has become so liberal, I stopped watching it a long time ago.
NBC is still broadcasting??? Been so long since I turned on the TV to NBC didn't know they still existed.
Why would anyone ever watch this crap?
Noo! Not Law and Order! It looks like the state controlled media has infiltrated yet another show. Time to turn the channel I guess. So sad – I loved Law and Order…
Wolfe and Waterson's bleeding heart "messages" have resulted in my wife and I turning off L&O after all these years. If you want to make political statements, do so at your own risk.
I saw it. It was the final straw, following a long and predictable string of these little quips. No more stupid L&O for me.
Law and Order stopped being enjoyable for me to watch a long time ago. Now that they are regurgitating talking points for political parties gives me no reason to ever want to go back to watching them. I have two shows I like to watch, Star Trek: Enterprise (best of all the Star Trek series) and House. Nothing else on TV intrests me anymore.
Did you notice on "The Office" last week, that Pam and Jim may lose their jobs because of Dunder Mifflin becoming insolvent. Pam is pregnant, and will no doubt lose her health insurance. I'm sure that NBC will use the plot line to show why we need a public option.
NBC contains more than a left-wing bent. GE is ACTIVELY INVESTED in Obama's success in health care and cap-and-trade. They stand to make the lion's share of the profit once passed. Their networks are the lost-leaders to push it through. That is why they are not concerned with ratings. The corporate entity as a whole will make out like a bandit, so the measly pennies spent in the networks will be worth it all to them.
NBC is the horse's arse. I've noticed their PC garbage creeping into the only program worth watching, The Office, too.
I stopped whatching years ago when the franchise decided it was wise to portrait a man that glorified killing cops, as a cop. I thought that was the only thing that bothered me, but now that I look back the liberal leanings were always there. Thanks for the reminded why I don't watch network TV.
I used to be addicted to L&O but no more, NCIS is the BEST!
It never ceases to amaze me how many actors and producers Dopeywood are willing to bring a quick death to their career by insulting the politics of 50% of their potential audience.
Can't remember the last time my TV was tuned to NBC….
Interesting that, in light of what Patrick M mentions, that GE is in the process of selling NBCUniversal to Comcast… if you can't sweep Fiscal Impropriety under the rug, just sell it off for a profit and make it somebody else's problem!
Aren't these Actors embarrassed? This is just PATHETIC. F GE too.
A while ago Nolte made an observation about "Law and Order" which totally explained why the show is a disaster. When L&O first began, Nolte said, it was about a crime and how the lawyers brought the criminals to justice. But now L&O is about leftist ideology and how the writers can shove it in our faces. Yuck! This latest travesty is just one more sickening example of why I stopped watching this show years ago.
[...] DRAMA: LAW AND ORDER: ‘This Is Why We Need Health-Care Reform’… And this is why I never watch this program. I’m not particularly fond of propaganda. [...]
Another liberal B U L L S H I T ditty
It is laughable that L&O blames pharmaceutical companies – ( without whose research and development , many human beings would suffer, stay sick for longer or die early) when the main reason why healthcare costs so much is FEAR of LAWYERS and the crazy lawsuits!! So if L&O had even a grain of truth they would at least not blame the wrong group. If we had tort reform everyone could get doctors care for $50 a visit!!!!
I used to LOVE Law and Order, but I hate it when they get overly preachy. Besides, they're not as good at it as they used to be.
President OBowMao and Hollywood/TV syndicated shows are idiot libs – with agendas and fairy tales to sell.
It's just like all of the other police/crime dramas where all of the streetgang members are blonde white guys. When was the last time you saw streetgangs composed of blonde white guys? Maybe in Europe, but they are very rare in the USA. Yet these shows would have you think that all of the street thugs and crackhouses are chock full of Swedish guys. I stopped watching all of those shows a few years ago.
quit watching l&o when angie harmon went off – the show really went down the liberal America hating ditch at that time
think mmoore started filling in as head writer – doesnt help that waterston is one of the tin hat brigade leaders when it comes to obama syle liberal hatred toward regular Americans
This year, NBC has finally admitted that it has been pushing the left agenda for years, only this year they decided to be open about it. They did a green week, last month they did a national community service where they mentioned in one week on SIXTY different shows how great that would be. Now it's health care reform.
Do any of the positive, well-liked characters oppose it?
but they can count on obozo to help keep them afloat as long as he is in power
so the loons at nbc are looking and the 3 year zerobama window for the future planning
check out Jimmy Fallon telling us to turn out our lights for the environment as he's backlit by dozens of needlessly turned on ones himself
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgqhJNN5-lk
L&O became far left years ago. Anyone watching the show would think that there is an epidemic of violent crime in the white surburbs.
the l&o hypocrites can preach and not worry, cuz they have the money to get whatever they need, no matter where they have to go or who they have to kill to get it
their propaganda is just for the flyover riff raff in Real America – as they will always maintain the liberal hypocrisy of "do as I say, not as I do", like all the rich little socialist nazis like algore and mmoore and barbra streisand
Since of the liberal propaganda, I haven't watched any L&O show in years and years.
Network shows have impaled themselves on Obama, and the liberal agenda. They think they're doing some kind of mind control, when in reality all they're doing is destroying their profession. I burst out laughing recently when watching "Trauma". The shows gay character, a white, first responder ambulance EMT was telling his work partner how his life partner has been brow beating him for driving a gas powered car. The work partner, a black first responder EMT, then gets all super serious and looks at him and says, "He's right man, you're just being selfish." And, the white, gay EMT walks away with his tail between his legs.
It's not often you burst out laughing during during an adrenaline drama.
Oh wow! Dregs Report has linked this article, clearly. The tin-foil hat crowd is in FULL force here!
I along with many more quit watching for this reason. Also the reason they need "Health Care Reform" is because it does not cover "jumping the shark".
I stopped watching television (NFL games don't count as television) twenty years ago when I realized that "60 Minutes" had become a Democrat "book of the month" club. Network news promised little, delivered far less. Family entertainment was endless series featuring smart kids and dumb dads. The only entertaining shows were spinoffs of British series: "All in the family" from "Till death us do part," "Sanford and son" from "Steptoe and son," and "Three's Company" from "Man about the house." And the American shows were just pale immitations of their British progenitors. American daytime television is where brains go to be poisoned. Television is for the passive mind, and my pet peeve is visiting friends who never turn their TVs off, and then talk to me while watching it.
The next L&O should be about a group of terrorists who, having destroyed several office buildings and killed thousands in an attack known around the world, are held in an offshore prison without being Mirandized and are aggressively interrogated. A famous head of state who decides that his country must no longer hold these "freedom fighters" indefinitely against their will, decides to try them in a civilian court. The trial is held in the same place where the attacks took place.Via a series of prosecutorial mis-steps and procedural rules, federal secrets relevant to intelligence gathering techniques and security protocols are divulged ,weaknesses in the same are revealed, and the defendants are all acquitted by an instance of jury nullification surpassing that displayed in the trial of OJ Simpson.
The defendants then win a case in civil court awarding them millions in damages for mental anguish and physical harm, lost wages and alienation from family. Hailed as heroes back home in North Crapistan and armed with millions in dollars, knowledge of state secrets and defensive weaknesses, and the admiration of their countrymen, they gain enough prestige and followers to launch another series of devastating WMD attacks against the country which once held them in prison cells.
What do you espect from Communists Central Hollywood? I bet 90% are died in the wool communists that just love what Obozo and Peeelosi (The worst plastic surgery I have ever seen) Idea to control US health care. I love Law and Order for the most part, but I have turned it off lately because of the Health care being shoved up our BUTTS a TV show at a time. If you are tired of this crap write the sponsors!
NBC is a communist propaghanda network, therefore, my children and I do not watch it – ever. I even gave up Sunday night football. This is just another example of NBC's BS.
I enjoyed L&O during its first years, but stopped watching after Jack McCoy made the statement that "the Constitution is a living, breathing document."
And exactly why I quit watching (what at one time was my FAVORITE show) about 2 years ago…..nothing but Liberal drival.
Part 1: I had my satellite service removed because I was tired of liberal nonsense like this propaganda wheedling its way into my living room. I seldom watched it, but my children on accasion did. I called the satellite people and asked them to offer me a package without CNN, MSNBC, MTV, BET, and other networks which I consider to be purveyors of left-wing ideology. Of course, the satellite company said that I couldn't select the stations I wanted because all stations were packaged with other stations. T his made me realize that I was paying Keith Olbermann's and Chris Mathews' salaries.
Part 2 That I was subsidizing the liberal left made me realize too that much of the liberal propaganda that is out there is funded my a lot of folks who really don't support liberal views but like tv shows enough to ignore what their money is going to support. Well, I've been without DISH now for two weeks and things are really better around the house than I suspected they would be.; All of us just adapted to not having certain shows at certain times of the day when we habitual sought refuge from the day. Netflix has helped. The good thing about Netflix is that you CAN choose what you want to watch and you don't have to subsidize the liberal left. This means, of course, no Sean Penn or Susan Sarandon movies, but I can handle that. The extra $50 per month is nice too. Even better is the feeling that DISH isn't pushing me around anymore.
Catherwood
Even as a registered Democrat, I'm appalled at the blatant liberal bent of LAO. I'm also scared to death of the Obama policies. I wish I could take back my vote! Will not vote for any democrat in 2010.
The new shows are so left I won't even turn them on any longer, they insult the intelligence of everyone but the liberals.
the funny part is that nearly all good police officers, and prosecutors i have ever met were conservative. Oh, well there are at least 50 other stations I can tune into that aren't set up for children under five .
Why do they think hammering us with leftist propaganda is entertaining ?
NBC as a whole has gone Obama-house organ. Maybe things will change if they are bought by Comcast. Unfortunately, most people don't differentiate between dramas like this and real issues.
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