NBC gives new meaning to the phrase “green screen” next week, spreading a pro-environmental message across five of its prime-time entertainment programs – AP News.

When Arthur Miller wrote “The Crucible” it was rightly seen as a brilliant allegory to the House Un-American Activities Committee.  It was a brilliant piece of drama about the Salem Witch Trials of the late 17th Century with obvious corollaries to the political climate of post-World War II America.  And no matter where you fall on the political spectrum you must recognize the play as a classic in the canon of American drama.

My admiration for much of Miller’s work gives me enough confidence to say that he would view the current efforts to ham-handedly inject political statements into television sitcoms as absolute crap.  It takes a deft hand to send a message without it seeming like you are sending a message… and the writers of “The Office” and “30 Rock,” as glib as they may be, are no “Arthur Millers”.

I love “The Office.”  I’m one of those apostates who actually like the U.S. version better than the original (must be my knee-jerk patriotism at work).  But I saw my very first example of lousy (and I mean REALLY lousy) writing this season when they tried to force the issue of “Volunteer-ism” into the storyline. (more…)

Yesterday, The  L.A. Times ran a story referencing our Thursday series covering the leaked network network memo and those “organically” produced network television shows running this week designed to funnel the unsuspecting to creepy Internet portals eager to direct your children to Planned Parenthood:

More than 100 programs on ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and cable networks such as Nickelodeon and Lifetime will spotlight community service, either through explicit story lines or public service announcements featuring actors such as Emily Deschanel, Eva Longoria Parker and Rainn Wilson.

The message will be nearly ubiquitous, starting in the morning with programs such as “Today” and “The View,” and then echoed on soap operas, prime-time series and late-night shows.

Isn’t “Today” a news show that’s supposed to be doing, you know, news and not jumping to the tune of a memo that opens with “President Obama has called for…”? (more…)

From the leaked network memo:

President Obama has called for a new era of responsibility. … We can turn up the volume for service and volunteerism, engage more people and make it part of who we are and what we do to bring the country together. …

Campaign Elements: …
“To ‘organically’ create and produce as many shows as possible about service and volunteerism[.] …

Ideally storylines will touch on one or more of the key issues that have outlined as the country’s top priorities for services: (more…)

President Obama has designated September 11th as The National Day of Service and Remembrance.

Remember.

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