Post by Lane Kent on Oct 6, 2007 16:11:19 GMT
Just do a google search, I can't be bothered to even do a source as it is all over the newswires. However in a nut shell it seems that the Season 4 premiere episode (last weekend, Sept 30th) had Susan questioning the credentials of a gynocologist and said she didn't want one trained from a Philippines medical school. Don't know what exactly the joke was and I suspect the rest of the world will never see the scene in question as ABC have found themselves in a Shilpa Shetty situation with American Philipinians taking offence that the scene is going to be removed from all reshowings in the US and re-sales digitally and internationally etc.
So much eruption has the scandal caused that the news has made it back to the Philippines country itself where top politicians were calling for Teri Hatcher's head (who plays Susan) personally, blaming her I kid you not, as well as calling the entire show to be banned from the Country. Ethnic groups in the States are calling for ABC boycots.
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Like many members of this board, I live in the UK or countries that haven't seen this episode yet, so don't know how serious the line was. I am perplexed how anyone can blame an actor. Knowing a bit about the TV industry, one thing I do know is Teri Hatcher would of had no final say in this line. The only individual person responsible for this is Marc Cherry himself as writer/producer/creator and boss of Desperate Housewives. Also ABC are responsible as a body in charge of the show's production and as the broadcasters. ABC have already apologised, now Marc Cherry should apologise to the Philippines and that should be the end of that. Teri should be left alone (and I'm not saying that as a fan). It is ridiculous to point the finger at her. If she did make a statement now she would probably get in trouble with her bosses, and if she objected in the first place to saying the line she would of probably been ignored by her bosses.
I do find it very hard to believe this line is anywhere near as bad as some of the stuff Gaby spouted regarding her maid/surrogate mum back in Season 2 and early Season 3. I've only seen those episodes once and I can still remember some of the insults they stuck out so much. She even threatened the maid saying she would send her back to where she came from in order to work in sweat factories or whatever. Just go back to Season 2 and look at all the scenes with Gaby and that maid (whose name I cannot spell). Every week racial hatred came out of Gaby's mouth and I'm all for jokes and appreciated that Gaby was showing herself up as much as anything, but at times they did make me stop and think.
Now I'm wondering if there is one of three things why this has blown up
1) it started out as an internet vendetta that gathered momentum and got the attention of the national media etc (the first place I read it was the ABC message boards on Monday) or
2) it came from Susan and you just wouldn't expect such a line from Susan where as you might expect someone like Bree or Gaby to say something so hateful or
3) DH does something anti PC every week (not that I notice because I think the PC brigade take things too far), however this one thing has been the straw that broke the camal's back and people have said enough is enough?
I am struggling to understand how if this was so bad it got past the DH censors, then the ABC sensors to get on air. Shows go through vigorous viewing, before they air so this can't of seemed any worse than the usual gags this show airs.
So much eruption has the scandal caused that the news has made it back to the Philippines country itself where top politicians were calling for Teri Hatcher's head (who plays Susan) personally, blaming her I kid you not, as well as calling the entire show to be banned from the Country. Ethnic groups in the States are calling for ABC boycots.
-----
Like many members of this board, I live in the UK or countries that haven't seen this episode yet, so don't know how serious the line was. I am perplexed how anyone can blame an actor. Knowing a bit about the TV industry, one thing I do know is Teri Hatcher would of had no final say in this line. The only individual person responsible for this is Marc Cherry himself as writer/producer/creator and boss of Desperate Housewives. Also ABC are responsible as a body in charge of the show's production and as the broadcasters. ABC have already apologised, now Marc Cherry should apologise to the Philippines and that should be the end of that. Teri should be left alone (and I'm not saying that as a fan). It is ridiculous to point the finger at her. If she did make a statement now she would probably get in trouble with her bosses, and if she objected in the first place to saying the line she would of probably been ignored by her bosses.
I do find it very hard to believe this line is anywhere near as bad as some of the stuff Gaby spouted regarding her maid/surrogate mum back in Season 2 and early Season 3. I've only seen those episodes once and I can still remember some of the insults they stuck out so much. She even threatened the maid saying she would send her back to where she came from in order to work in sweat factories or whatever. Just go back to Season 2 and look at all the scenes with Gaby and that maid (whose name I cannot spell). Every week racial hatred came out of Gaby's mouth and I'm all for jokes and appreciated that Gaby was showing herself up as much as anything, but at times they did make me stop and think.
Now I'm wondering if there is one of three things why this has blown up
1) it started out as an internet vendetta that gathered momentum and got the attention of the national media etc (the first place I read it was the ABC message boards on Monday) or
2) it came from Susan and you just wouldn't expect such a line from Susan where as you might expect someone like Bree or Gaby to say something so hateful or
3) DH does something anti PC every week (not that I notice because I think the PC brigade take things too far), however this one thing has been the straw that broke the camal's back and people have said enough is enough?
I am struggling to understand how if this was so bad it got past the DH censors, then the ABC sensors to get on air. Shows go through vigorous viewing, before they air so this can't of seemed any worse than the usual gags this show airs.