Dirk Benedict is now my all-time hero.
C The Shocker
Starbuck: Lost in Castration
Once upon a time, in what used to be a far away land called Hollywood
but is now a state of mind and everywhere, a young actor was handed a
script and asked to bring to life a character called Starbuck. I am
that actor. The script was called Battlestar Galactica.
Fortunately I was young, my imagination fertile and adrenal glands
strong, because bringing Starbuck to life was over the dead
imaginations of a lot of Network Executives. Every character trait I
struggled to give him was met with vigorous resistance. A charming
womanizer? The "Suits" (Network Executives) hated it. A cigar
(fumerello) smoker? The Suits hated it. A reluctant hero who found
humour in the bleakest of situations? The Suits hated it. All this
negative feedback convinced me I was on the right track.
Starbuck was meant to be a loveable rogue. It was best for the show,
best for the character and the best that I could do. The Suits didn't
think so. "One more cigar and he's fired,"they told Glen Larson, the
creator of the show. "We want Starbuck to appeal to the female
audience for crying out loud!" You see, the Suits knew women were
turned off by men who smoked cigars. Especially young men. (How
they "knew" this was never revealed.) And they didn't stop there. "If
Dirk doesn't quit playing every scene with a girl like he wants to
get her in bed, he's fired!" This was, well, it was blatant
heterosexuality. Treating women like "sex objects". I thought it was
flirting. Never mind. They wouldn't have it.
I wouldn't have it any other way, or rather Starbuck wouldn't. So we
persevered, Starbuck and I. The show, as the saying goes, went on and
the rest is history - for, lo and behold, women from all over the
world sent me boxes of cigars, phone numbers, dinner requests,
marriage proposals... The Suits were not impressed. They would have
there way, which is what Suits do best, and after one season of
puffing and flirting and gambling, Starbuck, that loveable scoundrel,
was indeed fired. Which is to say Battlestar Galactica was cancelled.
Starbuck however, would not stay cancelled, but simply morphed into
another flirting, cigar-smoking, blatant heterosexual called Faceman
Another show, another set of Suits and, of course, if the A-Team
movie rumours prove correct, another remake.
There was a time - I know I was there - when men were men, women were
women and sometimes a cigar was just a good smoke. But 40 years of
feminism have taken their toll. The war against masculinity has been
won. Everything has turned into its opposite, so that what was once
flirting and smoking is now sexual harassment and criminal. And
everyone is more lonely and miserable as a result.
Witness the "re-imagined" Battlestar Galactica. It's bleak,
miserable, despairing, angry and confused. Which is to say, it
reflects, in microcosm, the complete change in the politics and mores
of today's world as opposed to the world of yesterday. The world of
Lorne Greene (Adama) and Fred Astaire (Starbuck's Poppa), and Dirk
Benedict (Starbuck). I would guess Lorne is glad he's in that Big
Bonanza in the sky and well out of it. Starbuck, alas, has not been
so lucky. He's not been left to pass quietly into that trivial world
of cancelled TV characters.
"Re-imagining", they call it. "un-imagining" is more accurate. To
take what once was and twist it into what never was intended. So that
a television show based on hope, spiritual faith, and family is
unimagined and regurgitated as a show of despair, sexual violence and
family dysfunction. To better reflect the times of ambiguous morality
in which we live, one would assume. A show in which the aliens
(Cylons) are justified in their desire to destroy our civilization.
One would assume. Indeed, let us not say who are he guys and who are
the bad. That is being "judgemental". And that kind of (simplistic)
thinking went out with Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan and
Katharine Hepburn and John Wayne and, well the original Battlestar
Galactica.
In the bleak and miserable, "re-imagined" world of Battlestar
Galactica, things are never that simple. Maybe the Cylons are not
evil and alien but in fact enlightened and evolved? Let us not judge
them so harshly. Maybe it is they who deserve to live and Adama, and
his human ilk who deserves to die? And what a way to go! For the re-
imagined terrorists (Cylons) are not mechanical robots void of soul,
of sexuality, but rather humanoid six-foot-tall former lingerie
models who f**k you to death. (Poor old Starbuck, you were imagined
to early. Think of the fun you could have had `fighting' with these
thong-clad aliens! In the spirit of such soft-core sci-fi porn I
think a more re-imaginative title would have been F**cked by A Cylon.
(Apologies to Touched by An Angel.)
One thing is certain. In the new un-imagined, re-imagined world of
Battlestar Galactica everything is female driven. The male
characters, from Adama on down, are confused, weak, and wracked with
indecision while the female characters are decisive, bold, angry as
hell, puffing cigars (gasp) and not about to take it any more.
One can quickly surmise what a problem the original Starbuck created
for the re-imaginators. Starbuck was all charm and humour and
flirting without an angry bone in his womanising body. Yes, he was
definitely `female driven', but not in the politically correct ways
of Re-imagined Television. What to do, wondered the Re-imaginators?
Keep him as he was, with a twinkle in his eye, a stogie in his mouth,
a girl in every galaxy? This could not be. He would stick out like,
well like a jock strap in a drawer of thongs. Starbuck refused to be
re-imagined. It became the Great Dilemma. How to have your Starbuck
and delete him too?
The best minds in the world of un-imagination doubled their intake of
Double Soy Lattes as they gathered in their smoke-free offices to
curse the day this chauvinistic Viper Pilot was allowed to be. But
never under estimate the power of the un-imaginative mind when it
encounters an obstacle (character) it subconsciously loathes. "Re-
inspiration" struck. Starbuck would go the way of most men in today's
society. Starbuck would become "Stardoe". What the Suits of
yesteryear had been incapable of doing to Starbuck 25 years ago was
accomplished quicker than you can say orchiectomy. Much quicker. As
in, "Frak! Gonads Gone!" And the word went out to all the Suits in
all the smoke-free offices throughout the land of Un-
imagination, "Starbuck is dead. Long live Stardoe!"
I'm not sure if a cigar in the mouth of Stardoe resonates in the same
way it did in the mouth of Starbuck. Perhaps. Perhaps it "resonates"
more. Perhaps that's the point. I'm not sure. What I am sure of is
this:
Women are from Venus. Men are from Mars. Hamlet does not scan as
Hamletta. Nor does Han Solo as Han Sally. Faceman is not the same as
Facewoman. Nor does a Stardoe a Starbuck make. Men hand out cigars.
Women `hand out' babies. And thus the world, for thousands of years,
has gone round.
I am also sure that Show Business has been morphing for many decades
now and has finally become Biz Business. The creative artists have
lost and the Suits have won. Suits. Administrators. Technocrats.
Metro-sexual money-men (and women) who create formulas to guarantee
profit margins. Because movies and television shows are not made to
enlighten or even entertain but simply to make money. They will tell
you it is (still) about story and character but all it is really
about is efficiency. About The Formula. Because Harvard Business
School Technocrats run Hollywood and what Technocrats know is what
must be removed from all business is Risk. And I tell you life, real
life, is all about risk. I tell you that without risk you have no
creativity, no art. I tell you that without risk you have Remakes.
You have Charlie's Angels, The Saint, Mission Impossible, The A-Team
(coming soon) Battlestar Galactica. All risk-free brand names,
franchises.
For you see, TV Shows (and movies) are made and sold according to the
same business formula as hamburger franchises. So that it matters not
if the `best' hamburger, what matters is that you `think' it is the
best. And you do think it's the best, because you have been told to;
because all of your favourite celebrities are seen munching it on TV.
The big money is not spent on making the hamburger or the television
show, but on the marketing of the hamburger/show. (One 60-second
commercial can cost more than it does to film a one-hour episode.) It
matters not to Suits if it is Starbuck or Stardoe, if the Cylons are
robots or lingerie models, if the show is full of optimism and
morality or pessimism and amorality. What matters is that it is
marketed well, so that all you people out there in TV land know that
you must see this show. And after you see it, you are told that you
should like it. That it is new and bold and sleek and sexy and best
of all. it is Re-imagined!
So grab a Coke from the fridge (not the Classic Coke, but the re-
imagined kind with fewer calories) and send out for a McDonald's
Hamburger (the re-imagined one with fewer carbs) and tune in to
Stardoe and Cylon #6 (or was it #69?) and Enjoy The Show.
And if you don't enjoy the show, or the hamburger and coke, it's not
the fault of those re-imaginative technocrats that brought them to
you. It is your fault. You and your individual instincts, tastes,
judgement. Your refusal to let go of the memory of the show that once
was. You just don't know what is good for you. But stay tuned. After
another 13 episodes (and millions of dollar of marketing), you will
see the light. You, your instincts, your judgement, are wrong.
McDonald's is the best hamburger on the planet, Coca-Cola the best
drink. Stardoe is the best Viper Pilot in the Galaxy. And Battlestar
Galactica, contrary to what your memory tells you, never existed
before the Re-imagination of 2003.
I disagree. But perhaps, you had to be there.
Dirk Benedict, writing in Dreamwatch, May 2004
--
C The Shocker
2005 King of RSPW
Apathetic Member of the Cult of Meh
You eat pieces of shit for breakfast?
Nemesis
<chri...@comcast.FUCKOFFSPAMMERS.net> with the help of a thousand
monkeys banging on keyboards, was finally able to type out the
following:
>
>Dirk Benedict, writing in Dreamwatch, May 2004
Translation: He's pissed because he has no role in the new series.
--
Nemesis
ICQ #4610826
http://www.tehawk.com
http://home.earthlink.net/~tehawk
"Doing My part for RSPW"
the Bede
news:n6b1d19lub04f0vj0...@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 9 Jul 2005 21:53:21 -0700, "C The Shocker"
> <chri...@comcast.FUCKOFFSPAMMERS.net> with the help of a thousand
> monkeys banging on keyboards, was finally able to type out the
> following:
>
>
> >Dirk Benedict, writing in Dreamwatch, May 2004
>
> Translation: He's pissed because he has no role in the new series.
>
but it gets one key thing wrong--yes, on Old B.G. men were better than women
and humans were better than Cylons. That was cool for what it was. I liked
the show.
New B.G. does NOT reverse those judgements, as Dirk believes. it equals out
the roles of men and women, and makes the Cylons just as noble, justified,
and hopeful as the humans. the sides aren't shown as Better/Worse, merely
as Different.
and it's cool as hell.
C The Shocker
news:_b2Ae.57525$R21.10382@lakeread06...
Actually, it makes the show exactly what he describes... soulless, morally
ambiguous, and completely in line with today's Politically Correctness
bullshit. I watched it and I hated it. But then again, I'm old enough to
remember how cool the first show was.
the Bede
"C The Shocker" <chri...@comcast.FUCKOFFSPAMMERS.net> wrote in message
news:CaudnbvPxLN...@comcast.com...
>morally ambiguous,
>
wrong
>and completely in line with today's Politically Correctness
> bullshit.
>
wrong
>I watched it and I hated it. But then again, I'm old enough to
> remember how cool the first show was.
>
NEXT!
neoya...@hotmail.com
C The Shocker wrote:
> Dreamwatch Magazine
>
> Starbuck: Lost in Castration
Is Dreamwatch's URL http://www.axeandsmash.com ?
C The Shocker
Are you channelling Chad Bryant, Bede? Because you are becoming just as
worthless of a fucking troll as him.
neoya...@hotmail.com
The roles of men and women aren't really equaled out. The women are
the only ones with clarity of judgement and thinking while all the men
have some sort of emotional or moral baggage weighing them down. This
show has an underlying "anti-male" theme that has gained popularity
among show writers in the past few years.
Stoneco864
bitch.
Stoneco864
morally
ambiguous, and completely in line with today's Politically Correctness
bullshit"
Wow C is sounding like a right-wing loon.
Noodles Jefferson
(chri...@comcast.FUCKOFFSPAMMERS.net) dropped a +5 bundle of words...
This is just a long winded way to say waaaaaaah.
--
Noodles Jefferson
mhm31x9 Smeeter#29 WSD#30
sTaRShInE_mOOnBeAm aT HoTmAil dOt CoM
"Our earth is degenerate in these latter days, bribery and corruption
are common, children no longer obey their parents and the end of the
world is evidently approaching."
--Assyrian clay tablet 2800 B.C.
Greg Grant 333
"C The Shocker" <chri...@comcast.FUCKOFFSPAMMERS.net> wrote in message
news:CaudnbvPxLN...@comcast.com...
I don't think it's PC, and I don't know what show Dirk is watching, but the
new Battlestar does not have strong women, weak men. It has weak women, and
weak men. Everybody is flawed on the show. Nobody is depicted as always
right and smart. And Cylons aren't justified. They try to justify
themselves and writers show us their motivations, but it doesn't invite the
viewer to cheer them.
Arguing new Battlestar is bleak and bad sounds like the kind of arguments
old school Trekkies made when they watched DS9 and called in
un-Roddenberrian. More complex doesn't mean "bad guys are good", it just
means more complex.
Gul Dukat was still an evl motherfucker at the end of the day.
And Cylons are still evil. They're just more complex with a bunch of
competing motivations and long term planning.
Gaius is still a treasonous bastard. He's just an undiscovered treasonous
bastard that likes to fuck good looking women.
Original Battlestar was a kids show with a fun message.
New Battlestar is an adult scifi show.
One of the best on TV.
Also, didn't Dirk do a bunch of photoshoots with "Stardoe", where they posed
with cigars and were all smiles?
Night Spirit
> "C The Shocker" <chri...@comcast.FUCKOFFSPAMMERS.net> wrote in
> message news:CaudnbvPxLN...@comcast.com...
>> "the Bede" <rspwsow...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:_b2Ae.57525$R21.10382@lakeread06...
>>> "Nemesis" <nem...@tehawk.comedy> wrote in message
>>> news:n6b1d19lub04f0vj0...@4ax.com...
>>>> On Sat, 9 Jul 2005 21:53:21 -0700, "C The Shocker"
>>>> <chri...@comcast.FUCKOFFSPAMMERS.net> with the help of a
>>>> thousand
>>>> monkeys banging on keyboards, was finally able to type out the
>>>> following:
>>>>
>>> [snip]
>>>>
>>>>> Dirk Benedict, writing in Dreamwatch, May 2004
>>>>
>>>> Translation: He's pissed because he has no role in the new
>>>> series.
>>>>
>>> it's actually a good article.
>>> but it gets one key thing wrong--yes, on Old B.G. men were better
>>> than women
>>> and humans were better than Cylons. That was cool for what it
>>> was.
>>> I liked
>>> the show.
Yes that happen right after Dirk saw it was a major hit. Like Hatch
who now has a role in the new series he came around.
By the way the new Baltar didn't knowingly commit treason. He allowed
six to have access to the defense network but at the time he didn't
know she was a cylon. Ron Moore as said that Baltar is on a spiritual
quest and that he will have a few missteps along the way.
--
Have Fun,
Night Spirit
Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and quite
good with ketchup.
C The Shocker
news:1120977232.6...@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
No, Eric, just a pissed-off person heading for middle age and realizing that
the world is becoming less on substance and more on bullshit. And that's not
to say that the original B.G. was some thespian masterpiece by any stretch,
or even that original. It's a much more holistic rant that I'm spewing, and
something that the core of Benedict's article touched upon. It's that
simple, common human truths are becoming more and more muddled by the
demands of unnecessary social complexities by the "enlightened" on BOTH
sides of the ideological spectrum. In 100 years at this rate, everyone will
be mindless, soulless, colorless, sexless (and by that I don't mean that sex
won't exist... I mean that we will be androgynous... males and females will
be indistinguishable) automatons... something far from what I would consider
human, and probably what the "people in charge" most want: human sheep who
can't (or won't) think for themselves.
Oh, and if you think "liberal" means "Political Correctness Nazi", you are
an idiot.
Rockboy
> 1) There is a far higher percentage of blacks on television than there
> are in real life America.
You should have had the balls to say "gays" as well.
And from a Canadian perspective, there's a far _lower_ percentage of
Asians and Indians on television than in every day life.
--
Rockboy
Everybody's all right
Everything is automatic
Night Spirit
The New BSG can't even be compared to the old series. Ron Moore took
BSG and strip it of it's camp and has made a masterpiece of modern
Sci-Fi. Of course it's dark Moore is dealing with an after effects of
a holocaust. The Characters are 3 dimensional instead of just black
and white. Moore is using his story to examine politics, religion, and
culture.
I downloaded the series as it was shown in Britain first. I couldn't
wait for each new episode it's that good. I've gone back and rewatched
the all 13 episodes and the mini-series and even knowing what was
going to happen I still was awed.
SyVyN11
"John Henry" <j...@NOSPAMinsurgent.orgNOSPAM> wrote in message
news:Xns968F23AFDEC50jo...@216.168.3.44...> news:OJWdna8Wl4J...@comcast.com:
>
>> Starbuck: Lost in Castration
>
> It would be easy to write this off as just another bitter unemployed ex-
> b-level star venting at his own obsolescence.
>
> Poor thing is, he's right.
>
> I've spent a little time lately watching what I consider the two greatest
> comedy movies ever made:
>
> Airplane!
>
> and
>
> Johnny Dangerously.
>
> And you know what?
>
> These movies *could not be made* today.
>
> They are so full of stereotypes, politically incorrect humor. Come on,
> can *anyone* imagine a film today with a scene featuring a girl not old
> enough to have breasts saying (paraphrased) "I like my coffee the same
> way I like my men: hot and black"? Or an entire series of running gags
> involving Peter Graves trying to put the make on a 12 year old boy?
>
> Hell no.
>
> But you know what?
>
> That shit is funny. You laugh at it. So do I. Would it be funny if it
> were really happening? Of course not, it would be fucking disturbing!
> But *that's what makes it funny.*
>
add Blazing Saddles to that list.
No way in hell you could get the n word into a movie being said by a white
man today.
Smart Ape - Let's catch these batards
The new BSG is a million times better than the original.
--
--- "Damn dirty fleas..."
--- "Ever notice that at the start of a cartoon, Casper has no friends, and
by the end, he has some. Yet, in the next cartoon, he's friendless again?
Therefore, I think Casper is a soul-sucking-vampire-ghost."
--- Proud loser of TWO 2004 RSPW Poster Awards
--- 3rd Highest Vote-Getter in KORSPW 2005
--- Space (Animal) Hero #1 of the 1950's and 60's
~昢昏觟坍
<j...@NOSPAMinsurgent.orgNOSPAM> wrote:
>"C The Shocker" <chri...@comcast.FUCKOFFSPAMMERS.net> wrote in
>news:OJWdna8Wl4J...@comcast.com:
>
>> Starbuck: Lost in Castration
>
>It would be easy to write this off as just another bitter unemployed ex-
>b-level star venting at his own obsolescence.
>
>Poor thing is, he's right.
>
>I've spent a little time lately watching what I consider the two greatest
>comedy movies ever made:
>
>Airplane!
>
>and
>
>Johnny Dangerously.
>
>And you know what?
>
>These movies *could not be made* today.
>
>They are so full of stereotypes, politically incorrect humor. Come on,
>can *anyone* imagine a film today with a scene featuring a girl not old
>enough to have breasts saying (paraphrased) "I like my coffee the same
>way I like my men: hot and black"? Or an entire series of running gags
>involving Peter Graves trying to put the make on a 12 year old boy?
Several Premium channels (Showtime/Cinemax) have been showing "The Bad
News Bears" the last few days and what you said above is true. The
remake is due to hit theatres any day now and I know it'll have a few
things missing.
Remember Tanner saying,"Niggers, Spics, Jews, Whops, and now a girl.
We'll be the laughing stock of the little league" ?
A extremely racist and politically incorrect but, at the time in that
movie said by a kid it was funny.
And remember the ending when the team was given beer's by Buttermaker,
Walter Matthau's character ? Think that will be in the remake ?
And don't forget one of the funniest movies ever that would never be
allowed to be made by today's "Standards"...........Blazing Saddles
ViNNY
> John Henry wrote:
>
>> 1) There is a far higher percentage of blacks on television than there
>> are in real life America.
>
>
> You should have had the balls to say "gays" as well.
There are plenty of *queens* in sitcoms, proving that not all cliched
offensive stereotypes are dead...
-Vin
ViNNY
> Dreamwatch Magazine
>
> Starbuck: Lost in Castration
>
> Once upon a time, in what used to be a far away land called Hollywood
> but is now a state of mind and everywhere, a young actor was handed a
> script and asked to bring to life a character called Starbuck. I am
> that actor. The script was called Battlestar Galactica.
This would all be valid if only the remake of BSG actually sucked. Get
past the changes and it's the best sci-fi show in decades.
-Vin
ViNNY
>>Get past the changes and it's the best sci-fi show in decades.
>
>
>
> Battlestar Galactica
> The 4400
> Odyssey 5
> The last season of Enterprise
>
> Hope it continues.
I'd add Taken to the list. Much, much better than it had any right to
be, mostly because of Dakota Fanning. That kid is just scary good.
-Vin
~务唿
If you haven't seen "Hide and Seek" I recommend it, Fanning and DeNiro
K
<hipd...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>By the way the new Baltar didn't knowingly commit treason. He allowed
>six to have access to the defense network but at the time he didn't
>know she was a cylon. Ron Moore as said that Baltar is on a spiritual
>quest and that he will have a few missteps along the way.
So he won't be a humbled former leader held on a prison barge with
photos of him in his underwear hitting the covers of magazines? Oh,
wait, that's a bit of a mix of the old series and someone else..
I'm a djinn, wanna rub my lamp
politically correct can you get?
C The Shocker wrote:
> Dreamwatch Magazine
>
> Starbuck: Lost in Castration
>
> Once upon a time, in what used to be a far away land called Hollywood
> but is now a state of mind and everywhere, a young actor was handed a
> script and asked to bring to life a character called Starbuck. I am
> that actor. The script was called Battlestar Galactica.
>
> Dirk Benedict, writing in Dreamwatch, May 2004
>
>
I'm a djinn, wanna rub my lamp
would you?
John Henry wrote:
> "C The Shocker" <chri...@comcast.FUCKOFFSPAMMERS.net> wrote in
> news:OJWdna8Wl4J...@comcast.com:
>
> > Starbuck: Lost in Castration
>
> It would be easy to write this off as just another bitter unemployed ex-
> b-level star venting at his own obsolescence.
>
> Poor thing is, he's right.
>
> I've spent a little time lately watching what I consider the two greatest
> comedy movies ever made:
>
> Airplane!
>
> and
>
> Johnny Dangerously.
>
> And you know what?
>
> These movies *could not be made* today.
>
> They are so full of stereotypes, politically incorrect humor. Come on,
> can *anyone* imagine a film today with a scene featuring a girl not old
> enough to have breasts saying (paraphrased) "I like my coffee the same
> way I like my men: hot and black"? Or an entire series of running gags
> involving Peter Graves trying to put the make on a 12 year old boy?
>
> Hell no.
>
> But you know what?
>
> That shit is funny. You laugh at it. So do I. Would it be funny if it
> were really happening? Of course not, it would be fucking disturbing!
> But *that's what makes it funny.*
>
> Art - whether it's music, comedy, drama, film, theatre, painting, or what
> have you - should never, ever, be 'safe', palatable, or comfortable. It
> should be challenging, offensive, over-the-top, it should push envelopes,
> challenge mores, question authority, and make you cringe.
>
> Today's art, with a few notable exceptions (I'm thinking mostly of South
> Park, but there are others) is exactly that. It's safe, it's warm, it's
> fuzzy, it's comfortable, it's unoffensive...
>
> And it completely fucking sucks.
>
> Anyone who knows me - and there are people reading this who have known me
> for nearly ten years - knows that I'm no bigot. I'm the guy who dislikes
> the word 'tolerance' because it suggests that there is something about
> blacks, jews, gays, catholics, or other so-called minorities to be
> 'tolerated,' a notion that I personally find offensive. The very
> suggestion is ridiculous, that I should in my magnanimity of straight
> white malehood, 'put up with' someone because they're black, muslim, gay,
> or whatever. Piss on that. I have no problem 'tolerating' such people
> because I have no need to 'tolerate' them - I have a harder time
> tolerating those who think that people 'different from us' need to be
> 'tolerated.' I'm not going to engage in a bunch of 'some of my best
> friends are...' crap, because frankly, I'm not interested in 'proving'
> myself to anyone reading this - I know who I am, and I know how I think,
> and if you choose to see me some way that I'm not, that's your problem.
>
> But I have developed a real problem over the last ten years or so in that
> it seems like the only people it's 'safe' to make fun of any more for
> being what they are is straight white men.
>
> A look at any major TV station's programming - even the Disney channel -
> reveals some troubling trends.
>
> 1) There is a far higher percentage of blacks on television than there
> are in real life America.
>
> 1a) In many - indeed, most! - 'black' shows - *especially* shows targeted
> toward kids and young adults (the show I first noticed this on was the
> WAyans Brothers series), whites are portrayed as shallow yuppie klutzes
> with no rhythm, no social skills, little intelligence, and absolutely
> nothing cool about them. These white people wouldn't know a groove if
> you stuck them in the arm of a record player. That's not right, and it's
> no better than 'amos 'n' andy' or jack benny's 'rochester' or Steppin
> Fetchitt. If a white-centric program in this day and age portrayed
> blacks in this kind of broad-stroke stereotyped fashion, people would be
> raising hell from coast to coast. Why is it okay to do it to white
> people? More perniciously, why do the producers of these shows not
> realize that they are perpetuating anti-black stereotypes - the 'hoods'
> who can't speak a normal sentence of english, the black women who can't
> express indignation or anger without looking like a damn bobblehead -
> even as they think they're engaged in a crafty game of turning the
> tables?
>
> 2) Men are chumps. I'm sitting here trying to think of a single show on
> television that features a strong male lead who does not depend on women
> to get things done...and I can't do it.
>
> 3) Women - white, black, or other - do not want white men. White men are
> lacking in lovemaking skills, under-endowed, emotionally clumsy, and
> sexually worthless.
>
> 4) Straight men have no fashion sense, are mostly color blind, can't
> dance, and are generally feckless boors unless they have a gay man, a
> black man, or a woman to show them the path of enlightenment.
>
> 5) White women are often ignorant, ashamed of their bodies, sexually
> repressed, and incapable of achievement unless assisted by a 'sister of
> color.'
>
> In our admirable efforts to right the unquestionable wrongs of our
> society in terms of discrimination and stereotypes, we have regrettably
> swung too far - in our haste to avoid offending everyone *but* straight
> white men, we have made the straight white man the brunt of every form of
> prejudice that he used to propagate.
>
> Some people might call that karma - and there's some validity to that
> point of view - but let's be real here. The reason stereotypes are so
> persistent is that there are a remarkable number of people who choose to
> live down to them. The anti-intellectual street black; the flouncing,
> effeminate gay man; the man-hating bulldyke feminist; the low-riding,
> bandanna-wearing latino; the macho, swaggering, blindly patriotic Rich
> White Man.
>
> Instead of playing this silly game of simply shifting the target of our
> schadenfreude and calling it a movement, maybe it's time we all, as
> individuals, look at *our own* behavior and ask, what am I doing to break
> the stereotypes? What am *I* doing to treat people fairly?
>
> One of the things i find tremendously gratifying and honorable about the
> theatre group I work for can be found in the way we cast shows. For
> instance, right now, we are working on 'A Few Good Men.' In the film,
> *all* of the principles were white, save one (one of the soldiers on
> trial), and all were men, save one (Demi Moore).
>
> In our production, it's not just that we have black people and women
> involved - if I thought that, in and of itself, was something to be proud
> of, I'd be just as guilty of pandering to political correctness as the
> people I'm bitching about - but that the people in our cast were cast
> according to what character they best fit, rather than what the film said
> they should be, or some notion of what we think the military should look
> like.
>
> We have a female captain; the primary black character in the film is
> played by a white kid, while - and this is a nice twist, really - the
> Keifer Sutherland character, a guy who is every bit the stereotypical
> white southern christian, is played by a black guy.
>
> The part that really kicks my ass is that the gentleman playing this part
> has gone on record in interviews I've conducted saying that he was very
> much 'that kind of guy' when he himself was an Army sergeant, lacking
> only the anti-black and anti-latino racism implied by the Sutherland
> portrayal.
>
> Our other major black character is Sam, who was played in the film by
> Kevin Pollack, one of the whitest white guys who every put on a cardigan.
>
> This, to me, is a demonstration of how things should be. When we cast
> this show, nobody said 'all right, we gotta have the one black guy.'
> Nobody said 'we gotta cast the skin color the same way as the movie
> was.' They said 'who is the best actor for this role?'
>
> And that's the way it should be. THAT is a demonstration of true 'color-
> blindness,' true lack of prejudice, true disregard for gender or race in
> favor of merit and character.
>
> Today's television simply isn't like that.
>
> I think people - all people, white, black, gay, straight, man, woman,
> whatever - need to get off this politically correct bullshit and figure
> out how to feel good laughing at themselves again, because if you can't
> laugh at yourself, brother, you ain't looking at who you really are.
>
> We're *all* laughable. We *all* do 'those things' sometimes, whether
> that's the street patois of the young black man or the mindless pandering
> to 'tolerance' practiced by many liberals.
>
> I think it's well past time we stopped homogenizing ourselves, stopped
> being afraid of basic truths - for instance, that men like sex, and women
> like men who like sex, as Benedict points out in his column - and get
> back to the business of being human, celebrating our *real* diversity,
> and getting over this stupid drive to force everything into a nice safe
> unoffensive box.
>
> And in case I haven't managed to offend anyone, fuck you. Yes, YOU, the
> one who's not offended. Gee, you're offended now. Did your life end?
> HAs the world stopped turning on its axis? Has the moon crashed into the
> sea and Jesus returned?
>
> No.
>
> Get the fuck over yourself and get used to reality. Reality is, life is
> offensive. Life is hard, rough, brutal, callous, cold, and bitter, and
> if you think you're going to get out of wearing a cup through it by
> legislating banality, you're fucking nuts.
>
> Life is also beautiful, rewarding, warm, rich, complex, and most of all,
> DIVERSE.
>
> You can't celebrate diversity by watering diverse components of society
> down to fit some homogenous mold. That's not celebrating diversity,
> that's the same old bullshit - trying to force everyone into the same
> shoebox - as it always has been, it's just that instead of whips, chains,
> firehoses, and rape, we're killing each other with kindness.
>
> How's about we start living it again, instead of suing someone every time
> we don't like what's on TV?
>
> That's my two cents.
>
> --
> John Henry
> alt.usenet.kooks Hammer of Thor - May 2005
> NEW site! www.lowgenius.NET
Benrand
PREGNANT?
I was watching it and felt the need to ask myself continually, "what
the fuck is going on again?" The Cylons are in a dream but then are
real? There's two or more of the cute Asain babe?
It is terribly bad.
I was watching Season 4 of the Shield the other day and saw the PC
mentality creep into that show as well, the rapist's wife was
counselled agaisnt getting a CCW. Well, of course, as soon as she gets
a gun, she mistakenly shoots someone.
It was so blatant and obvious. Those assholes trying to ruin a killer
show with cops beating the shit out of scumbags, deservedly, by
putting that PC bullshit in it. Pathetic.
It was David Mamet's wife int he role, I'm sure she is a hyper lib
moonbat and probably had her hubby twist some arms to get the script
written this way.
whome?
Michael
> He's absolutely right. The new show has fucking cylons getting
> PREGNANT?
I'm watching it out of sheer horror.
That, the gal who plays all the Boomers is cute, and the guy who plays
Baltar does quite the good rave out (though you'd think he'd be in the
brig by now).
> I was watching it and felt the need to ask myself continually, "what
> the fuck is going on again?" The Cylons are in a dream but then are
> real? There's two or more of the cute Asain babe?
>
> It is terribly bad.
I'm not sure if the Cylon/Humans are organic with some modifications,
Organic with some machinery, like that glowing spine that means a
woman's at *THAT* point in sex, or mechanical constructs that are a lot
like the first Star Trek movie's Ilia in that the machinery is REALLY small.
At the end of the mini-series, it looked like there were a dozen of each
model. With the cliffhanger it now looks like there's hundreds or
thousands. And I'm unclear on the telepathic linkage stuff. The blonde
gal seems to be in constant contact with her other selves, Galactica's
Boomer seems cut off (which makes sense if she's an unknowing plant),
but the pregnant Boomer seems to be cut off as well. I guess the
telepathy/hive mind communication is voluntary?
I cannot stress how sick I am of the cylons talking about the one TRUE
God. Especially while the Humans worship at least several.
I also get the distinct feeling that as much as those in charge keep
telling everyone "we know where we're going with all this", that they
don't have this anywhere NEARLY as well thought-out as they think they do.
And the Galatica looks like a Nike shoe from a distance.
Michael
FunkyM
C The Shocker writed:
FunkyM feels the need to point out that he watched a bit of the
new Battlestar Galactica and had to wonder WHY THE FECK they felt
the need to do the battle scenes with the shakey camera effect
from 24 but TO THE EXTREME~! You know, where they try to mimic
the chaos of a real battle by zooming in fast, then not adjusting
the focus for about 30 seconds. Made FunkyM want to stab his
eyeballs with a pen.
The President chick is hot though.
peep peep!
Sue
channel promo for the show, chatting very amiably with Katie Sackhoff
and even giving her one of Starbuck's original cigars. That, to me, was
a sign of endorsement of the show. At that point he didn't seem to have
a problem with Starbuck becoming female. I wonder if Katie knew he felt
this way?
Richard Hatch (the original Apollo) has apparently resolved his feelings
and appeared on the new show to good effect. Judging from this, I'm
guessing they won't be asking Dirk for a guest spot.
dwacon
"I'm a djinn, wanna rub my lamp" <imagenie...@hotmail.com> wrote in
message news:1121353106....@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Starbuck is not only a woman now, but a minority as well. How
> politically correct can you get?
Minority? How so?
--
J Lo Lingerie *plus* 50% off Thongs
www.cafepress.com/dwacon
Night Spirit
I suspect that The cylons are cyborgs, that is they are Organic with
some kind of nano tech.
Night Spirit
Dirk like Hatch came around when he saw that it was a huge hit. In
fact Ron Moore is considering having Dirk play the Cylon god.
cloud dreamer
> Dirk like Hatch came around when he saw that it was a huge hit. In fact
> Ron Moore is considering having Dirk play the Cylon god.
Nah, he should play a guy who crash landed on an arid planet with only
pieces of his ship for company.
..
Night Spirit
Hummmmmmmmm Naked Boomers
> I cannot stress how sick I am of the cylons talking about the one
> TRUE
> God. Especially while the Humans worship at least several.
Get use to it, that is one of the central themes of the show. Moore as
said that he is examining how a culture handles great changes and
differences.
> I also get the distinct feeling that as much as those in charge keep
> telling everyone "we know where we're going with all this", that
> they
> don't have this anywhere NEARLY as well thought-out as they think
> they do.
But will you be watching tomorrow night?
> And the Galatica looks like a Nike shoe from a distance.
>
> Michael
--
Michael
> I'm very surprised Dirk feels this way, since he appeared on a SF
> channel promo for the show, chatting very amiably with Katie Sackhoff
> and even giving her one of Starbuck's original cigars. That, to me, was
> a sign of endorsement of the show. At that point he didn't seem to have
> a problem with Starbuck becoming female. I wonder if Katie knew he felt
> this way?
Sounded like Dirk didn't feel this way about the show and the female
Starbuck until he SAW the show, which I don't think he had at the time
of the "Passing Of The Cigar".
> Richard Hatch (the original Apollo) has apparently resolved his feelings
> and appeared on the new show to good effect. Judging from this, I'm
> guessing they won't be asking Dirk for a guest spot.
Probably not.
Maybe he and Roddy Piper can team up for another movie!
Michael
Michael
Unless there's something better on and until I get sick of the religious bs.
Michael
Sue
Night Spirit wrote:
> Sue wrote:
>
>> I'm very surprised Dirk feels this way, since he appeared on a SF
>> channel promo for the show, chatting very amiably with Katie Sackhoff
>> and even giving her one of Starbuck's original cigars. That, to me,
>> was a sign of endorsement of the show. At that point he didn't seem
>> to have a problem with Starbuck becoming female. I wonder if Katie
>> knew he felt this way?
>>
>> Richard Hatch (the original Apollo) has apparently resolved his
>> feelings and appeared on the new show to good effect. Judging from
>> this, I'm guessing they won't be asking Dirk for a guest spot.
>
>
> Dirk like Hatch came around when he saw that it was a huge hit. In fact
> Ron Moore is considering having Dirk play the Cylon god.
>
So he doesn't hate it, now that he's seen he can cash in? How can he
publish an opinion like this and then say "Oh, wait, turns out people
love it, so now I love it, too!" Seems kinda hypocritical to me.
I'd love to see Dirk play the Cylon god, though!
sol
that cape. LOL. Now the new Starbuck - she rocks.
Spaz
news:g5DBe.10521$aY6....@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> Dirk like Hatch came around when he saw that it was a huge shit.
whome?
> "I'm a djinn, wanna rub my lamp" <imagenie...@hotmail.com> wrote in
> message news:1121353106....@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
>>Starbuck is not only a woman now, but a minority as well. How
>>politically correct can you get?
>
>
>
> Minority? How so?
>
>
William December Starr
I hear he beat his cancer, and good for him. Pity he couldn't
get that stick out from up his ass too.
In article <1121353106....@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>,
"I'm a djinn, wanna rub my lamp" <imagenie...@hotmail.com> said:
> Starbuck is not only a woman now, but a minority as well. How
> politically correct can you get?
You seem to only half know what you're talking about.
--
William December Starr <wds...@panix.com>
dwacon
"William December Starr" <wds...@panix.com> wrote in message
news:dbigld$q9u$1...@panix1.panix.com...
Maybe she got a really good tan this summer?
ANIM8Rfsk
> news:dbigld$q9u$1...@panix1.panix.com...
>> [ Column: Dirk Benedict, writing in Dreamwatch, May 2004 ]
>>
>> I hear he beat his cancer, and good for him. Pity he couldn't
>> get that stick out from up his ass too.
>>
>> In article <1121353106....@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>,
>> "I'm a djinn, wanna rub my lamp" <imagenie...@hotmail.com> said:
>>
>>> Starbuck is not only a woman now, but a minority as well. How
>>> politically correct can you get?
>>
>> You seem to only half know what you're talking about.
Does seem to be silly. I've seen Stardoe in a dress. Didn't look much like
a woman. :-)
ViNNY
> Dirk Benedict, writing in Dreamwatch, May 2004
Which is before the show aired, right?
-Vin
nobody
<wds...@panix.com> wrote:
> [ Column: Dirk Benedict, writing in Dreamwatch, May 2004 ]
>
> I hear he beat his cancer, and good for him. Pity he couldn't
> get that stick out from up his ass too.
I'm convinced that his column was just his lashing out because the new
Starbuck is more macho than he was in any of his roles, including the
original Starbuck. Have you ever seen any of Benedict's characters
getting into a serious mano a mano like Starbuck did in the season
finale? Take away his cigar and his blaster, and the old Starbuck was
easy pickings. Remember the episode where he was stranded on some kind
of prison planet? He needed the help of CORA, a computer with a female
voice and personality, to escape.
GM
her performances that I've seen so far.