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With well-paid publicists clearly earning their paychecks, HBO hopes their new show Big Love (due this fall) is greeted with some controversy. If they are lucky, some Mormons will get outraged and be kind enough to comply and organize a boycott that will result in some free publicity. Clearly, last year’s announcement has faded from the memories of too many and we need to be reminded of impending SCANDAL and CONTROVERSY. Don’t forget!
TV Guide is happy to start the ball rolling:
Indie starlet Chloe Sevigny['s] next TV project might win her more controversy than she bargained for, however.
“I’m about to do a TV show for HBO called Big Love,” says the 31-year-old actress. “It’s a modern-day, Six Feet Under-like drama about a Mormon [sic] fundamentalist family.
Fortunately for our culture, HBO is not one to shy away from controversy, regardless of the specter of angry Mormons:
Considering the controversial subject matter of Big Love, it’s no surprise that Sevigny is already steeling herself for the outcry from the Mormon community. ”They try to sweep this kind of stuff under the carpet as much as they can because it gives them a bad name,“ she says. ”The production company was like, ‘Oh, we’re going to go shoot in Salt Lake City.’ And I was just thinking, ‘Are you kidding me? There’s no way you’re going to Salt Lake!’“
Fortunately, besides ”steeling“ themselves from the coming difficulties, those of HBO will be treating the ”controversial subject matter“ with the sensitivity and accuracy it deserves:
”I watched a lot of Dateline specials to prepare for the role,“ she says. ”I also read Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer, which was a fascinating book.“
So after you stop laughing (or crying), don’t forget to get mad and start the online petitions. Don’t forget, there’s still time!
5 comments
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22 March 2005 at 6:59 pm
William Morris
I was going to blog on this, but you’ve done much better, David.
Absolutely hilarious.
22 March 2005 at 7:10 pm
Charley Foster
”They try to sweep this kind of stuff under the carpet as much as they can because it gives them a bad name“? This is so depressing. On all kinds of levels. Fundamentalism is my hobby. I’m fascinated by it. I’m simultaneously repelled and yet immensely sympathetic. I’m attracted by its complexity and lack of clear answers. Now the country will be briefly overflowing with jerks with recieved opinions about polygamy. One of which, apparently, will be, “Mormons want to sweep it under the rug because it makes them look bad.” Sheesh. Wake me up when it’s over.
22 March 2005 at 9:17 pm
Dallas Robbins
That is pretty funny. But I love HBO series, so I am looking forward to this. The “controversy” will be a annoying, but I hope the show will be able to stand on it’s own merits as good storytelling. We’ll see, I guess.
23 March 2005 at 12:03 pm
Geoff Johnston
Classic post Dave. Nice work. You are absolutely right about hoping and begging for controversy. Getting gain is the real idea and if they can get the whole church in a uproar about it that means more lucre for all involved with the show. Crickets chirping = cancellation. Ah, the joys of living in Babylon!
29 March 2006 at 11:34 am
Elizabeth Carr
I am offended that you would produce the series Big Love. It demeans and distorts sacred beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. By setting the show in Salt Lake City, it blurs the line between the Church and the long renounced practice of polygamy. Please cancel the show immediately.