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…)

***Video of Glenn Beck’s response below***

From today’s L.A. Times:

An EIF memo to show runners explaining the project obtained by Big Hollywood describes the initiative as a response to Obama’s push for more community service. But Paulsen said that she and EIF board Chairwoman Sherry Lansing were inspired by hearing both Obama and Sen. John McCain speak about the need for more volunteerism at a service forum during the 2008 campaign. …

Entertainment executives first hit on the idea during a board retreat in summer 2008 when they were brainstorming how to follow the “Stand Up to Cancer” project, according to Mitch Metcalf, NBC’s executive vice president of program planning and scheduling and a member of the EIF board.

“We’re lucky that the Obama administration happened to think this is a worthy cause and the first lady in particular is behind this general effort,” he said. “But that just provides support and shines a spotlight on it. . . . We’re certainly not servicing the White House.” (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…)