HBO Apologizes for

[James_B_Wads2000]

New York Times Link

[quote]March 12, 2009
ARTS, BRIEFLY

[size=6]HBO Apologizes for

[KapitanSparrow]

I am watching the 2nd season right now Cool show.

[Iceaxe]

Big Loves a good show.... So far Big Love has been pretty honest with what I know as facts... I'm curious to see how this temple thing goes. I think the LDS church is mostly upset that someone is going to show the secret handshake on tv.

I used to have a polygamist with 3 wives and a herd of children that worked for me. The guy was an employee for 10 years and we spent a lot of time talking about the actual logistics of having three wives and I have to say the show does a good job of portraying how complicated it is. The show pretty much parallels exactly what he told me.

It's funny but I also know one of the people that the show is loosely based on. The Joey Hendrickson character is loosely based on ex Dallas Cowboys receiver Golden Richards. I was friends with Golden's little brother the year Golden caught a touchdown in the Superbowl, it was a real big deal. Same thing when Golden hocked his Superbowl ring for drugs, same thing you hear about Joey in one of the first episodes.

[Ih8grvty]

It does not matter what movie I see him in, all I can think of is Chet from weird science.
IF people here do not know that movie...then maybe my kids are right and I am old.

[Iceaxe]

Kelly Lebrock was every young man's dream in 1985.

[Don]

We're sorry you're sensitive about this. We're still going to broadcast the show, but we are sorry you're offended.

[Deathcricket]

Big Loves a good show.... So far Big Love has been pretty honest with what I know as facts... I'm curious to see how this temple thing goes. I think the LDS church is mostly upset that someone is going to show the secret handshake on tv.

I used to have a polygamist with 3 wives and a herd of children that worked for me. The guy was an employee for 10 years and we spent a lot of time talking about the actual logistics of having three wives and I have to say the show does a good job of portraying how complicated it is. The show pretty much parallels exactly what he told me.

Quoted for complete agreement. I think the show is very respectful and has actually broadened my perspective on the subject. The scene they are talking about was actually very emotional and opened my eyes as to why you would "baptise the dead". I find it fascinating how they struggle with jealousy, time schedules, never ending children, etc. It's almost like the wifes have more troubles with each other than their husband too. Which actually makes sense to me. Bill Paxton's char really seems to be a man of god and tries to do the right thing all the time. He's not perfect of course, but I think they have been very respectful in their approach to such a controversial subject matter.

One of my good friends is a former plig. I've been asking him to watch the show and give me his interpretation but he's waiting for the complete torrent. He likes to watch entire series at once.

[James_B_Wads2000]

It does not matter what movie I see him in, all I can think of is Chet from weird science.
IF people here do not know that movie...then maybe my kids are right and I am old.

That

[Ih8grvty]

first off, the movie...Terminator. second off why would Kelly LeBrock be used in the past tense when speaking of fantasy?

So...What would you little maniacs like to do first?

My all time favorite scene int hat movie, that still makes me roll around holding my stomach laughing...
Wyatt on the toilet, Gary in the bathroom with him, the two girls knock on the door...

Damn! I searched, but could find no video on youtube or any place else that had the scene I was looking for!
I did find this though, and it only makes it harder (pun intended) to ask how Kelly could be paste tense?



and best yet!
the scene I so love....



actual scene at 5:12


EDIT
I made a mistake, I looked up present day Kelly....she is a was.

[Scott Card]

I recognize by commenting I am probably adding to this "controversy". However, I feel it important to be as open as I can since so many think of Mormons as a closed community or a cult (and HBO is certainly helping to portray "Mormons" as such it would appear)

Let me be VERY clear. Mormons do not practice polygamy. Period, end of story.

If a bunch of people are practicing polygamy, they are something else but THEY ARE NOT a Mormons, or members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What big love is going to portray is a Mormon religious ceremony. The reason why it is offensive to Mormons is because the temple ceremonies are deeply significant and represent some of the core doctrines of what we believe. Shane, as entertaining as you sometimes are, I am tempted to say your comment about a "secret handshake" is moronic, uneducated and insensitive but I won't because that would lack charity. It has nothing to do with that. There is a night and day distinction between that which I hold sacred and that which I hold secret. There is no gray area. My client's confidential admissions are secret. They will go with me to the grave. My religious vows and experiences are sacred. I will not share those experiences that I hold deeply significant on the most profound human and spiritual levels to anyone and particularly here on the internet without proper understanding or relationship. Let me give a secular example. There are rating systems on movies and video games for the reason that different ages (maturity) can handle different subject matter. I likewise believe that unless I can trust a person with my most personal feelings and beliefs, I have little incentive to share. For those who have read the bible, it is the concept of casting your pearls.

This show (and correct me if I am wrong) is about polygamy and its lifestyle. The religious ceremony about to be portrayed appears to be a Mormon thing. Again, Mormons are not practicing polygamy. HBO is mixing up a church with a practice that was discontinued over a century ago, that is more than 100 years ago for those playing along. If seeing the temple clothing is so cool to anyone, I would suggest that you go to a Mormon funeral of someone who has lived according to the beliefs and gone through the temple. Go to the viewing and there you can see what the big deal is about. Not much of a fashion statement really. If you want to really understand the "endowment" ceremony in the temple, join the church, get some background, live the teachings and then enter the temple. Then you will have the "context and understanding" the LDS Church speaks of in it's statement. If you want to see the inside of a temple, let me know and I will personally go with you through the Draper Temple and I would be happy to answer any question I can. That is an open invite to anyone. If you can't make it before Saturday, don't worry, another temple will be open to the public in a few months on the West side of the SLC valley.

Finally, just because the show says they will be sensitive means little to those who hold these things sacred. So please understand why we Mormons are not terribly thrilled with Hollywood in conjunction with an ex Mormon consultant portraying sacred ordinances. For them it is about money and entertainment, plain and simple.

Finally number 2, learning about Mormonism from HBO is akin to learning medicine from a witch doctor.

[devo_stevo]

Well said Scott. Thanks for that.

I have to agree that this is all about publicity and making money for them. They have no loyalty to the LDS church or any of it's members. That's why the apology that they issued is empty and meaningless. Just as Don pointed out.

[DiscGo]

Well said Scott. Thanks for that.

x2


When the show first started HBO assured the LDS church that they would make it clear that the polygamists characters of this show were not Mormons, but now are trying to use something very personal and sacred to Mormons as a ratings booster.

That being said, I do give the credit for at least apologizing and not using legal jargon to express regret over misinterpretations, and yada yada yada.

[asdf]

Do you think that the polygamists are also offended when they are called Mormons or are they just trying to ride on the coat tails of the LDS Chruch?

[Sombeech]

I pledge not to watch this show

...unless all 3 of the wives get nude.

[Jaxx]

Great post Scott.

I have a feeling HBO could care less about offending Mormons. They need to read the latest porn polls. If they are buying subscriptions online they probably bought HBO. Of course we are not a very big fish in the scheme of things.

Lets go to HBO headquarters and start breaking stuff down. And writing angry messages on their building.

Taking bets on how long this will last out of the politico section. 2 more posts is my bet.

[Jaxx]

Do you think that the polygamists are also offended when they are called Mormons or are they just trying to ride on the coat tails of the LDS Chruch?

Who would want to be associated with Mormons. Seems like that would only hurt their case.

[Don]

Scott,
The scene of the show that portrays the temple ceremony involves a main character who is a Mormon who is at the temple with family and who is contemplating leaving the mainstream Mormon church for a fundamentalist/polygamist life. She is sad to leave the temple ceremony and her extended (disapproving Mormon) family behind due to this choice.
The show has always kept the polygamist characters and the Mormon characters separate. The polygamists hiding their lifestyle from their judgmental Mormon neighbors is a regular plot element.
I don't think anyone watching this show will come to the conclusion that mainstream Mormons are polygamists.

[ilanimaka]

Thanks, Scott. I couldn't have said it better myself.

It's unfortunate that "entertainment" has sunk to such low standards.

[Sombeech]

The most violent protest you'll ever see from the LDS Church is a bunch of chain emails going from grandma to niece.

Occasionally one psycho will go on a rant and maybe even carry a sign, but you really have to acknowledge the maturity that LDS members act when "in protest".

Sure, somebody will call into a radio show or something and be all pissed off, but it turns out they aren't even an active Mormon.

The reality is, I am an active Mormon, I'm the Gospel Doctrine teacher in the ward, and I really don't care what HBO does. It's not up to us to decide who "goes to hell", contrary to popular belief.

Now, if you want to discuss the one time that a 12 year old said you were going to hell for smoking a cigarrette, maybe I can't expect that same maturity.

[James_B_Wads2000]

(and HBO is certainly helping to portray "Mormons" as such it would appear)

I have one question. Have you ever watched the show?



James