C4 — The Herald Journal Logan Utah Sunday November 16 2003 so what’s next? CBS won’t air ‘Reagans’ By Frazier Moore AP Television Writer handed new evidence to buttress their belief that "the left-wimainstream media" are out to trash everything they hold dear As for viewers who aren’t so fond of Reagan they win tin) They have been spared from watching a film they probably didn't want to see anyway (what if it went too easy on him?) while they also get to bask in righteous indignation over CBS denying them a look at it The New York Times won Despite being part of the NEW YORK — This was where I was going hi review “The Reagans" CHS' miniseries airing inueh-anlicipat- ed tonight and Tuesday Except it 'isn’t going to air — not then not on CBS I prefer writing about shows that will actually he broadcast and shows that I've screened Hut sinejr everyone else has expressed an opinion about this biopie sight unseen why shouldn't 17 Come to think of it I'd like to salute CBS for giving “The ' Reagans" the hook (episodes It’s certainly a win for everyone who frightened CBS into bailing on the project As NewsMax the right-win- g Web site crowed "CBS' decision to cancel the Reagan movje is one of the greatest victories ever — for the conservative movement over main- g the stream media" It's also a win for the TV audience Viewers alarmed that the film might defame a man they lionize were spared from hav- ing their vision of him challenged Even better they were left-win- AP Photo Brolin as President Ronald Reagan appears in a scene from “The Reagans" After taking The Reagans" off its schedule in the' face of political pressure CBS said it would license the film to Showtime a corporate cousin and pay cable network with about ’ one-fifof CBS’ audience James ' th con-serv- ed ' ati ve Washi ngton lawmakers whose votes it needs ' for high-staklegislation that among other things would allow its parent Viacom to own more local stations None of that had anything to do with his decision Leslie1 Moonves insists “It was a moral decision not an economic or a political one" the CBS boss told Vari- ety last week CBS’ cancellation of “The Reagans" comes on the heels of the timidity it displayed over its "Hitler" miniseries last spring The network blasted one of the es stream media" lor so some insist) it ignited the firestorm against fallow “media elite" CBS in a big story last month that quoted details from the script deemed unflattering to Reagan And what of CBS? Yes it has won too exhibiting a newfound heretofore undcmonstriitcd commitment to program quality In its announcement that "The Reagans’’ had been scrapped CBS said the deci- sion was “based solely on our ' reaction to seeing the final film not the controversy that ' erupted around a draft of the script" The film said CBS “docs not provide a balanced portrayal of the Reagans” worries So about fairness aiid factuality prompted CBS to yank a four- - il — Commentary Showtime) Of course cynics may counter that CBS simply caved in to the Far Right Or ' that even more dismaying the network pandered to main- "left-win- g of “CSI" "CSI: Miami" and "Without a Trace" are now scheduled instead) I think taetie is a win CBS' turn-tafor all concerned ' g extravaganza from its November sweeps lineup just two weeks before airtime! However unlikely CBS pro- fusses to have struck a blow for truth ( It also washed its hands of a sticky problem by dumping “The Reagans" on its payrcablc sister channel hour-lon- ' ' last-minu- te ' hadn’t' film's executive producers after he was quoted in TV Guide comparing the fear ' among Germans during Hitler's rise to fear in America as it headed into war with Iraq Then the producer was fired from the film But despite that uproar “Hiller" aired as scheduled Now with the axing of “The Reagans" CBS has seemingly declared that its future biopics won't dure to challenge con- - ' ventionul wisdom Meanwhile the network has reminded its viewers that at crunch time they don’t count Special interests do After all none of the thousands who protested “The Reagans" and prevailed with CBS hud viewed the film ' Republican National Com- miltee Chairman Ed Gillespie who wrote a blistering letter to Moonves hadn’t Bill O' Reilly who joined other on-a- ir pundits in demonizing the film hadn't Michael Paranzino who launched the ' : "Boycott CBS" Web site - And now CBS' viewers ' never will But there's really no need These days passing judgment on a film calls for no more than a few excerpts a glimpse of its script and cherished assumptions about the media's collective depravity “We believe this is a solu- -' lion that benefits everyone involved" said CBS when it pulled “The Reagans" So everyone wins huh? But what show gels pulled next? How long will CBS surrender to this kind of winning-streak? : Noteworthy and mentullyv Military Marine Corps Pfc IXillas Nutt son of Melinda and Ken- heth Campbell of Arbon Idaho formerly of Richmond Utah: anil Roberi and Lara Nutt of ' Fielding Utah recently completed 12 weeks of basic train: ing at Murine Corps Recruit ' Depot San Diego California to challenge' liew '' designed Marine recruits both physically " Pfc Nutt and fellow 'recruits begun their 5 training each day at am by funning three D Nutt - HAIR ' miles and performing exercises In addition to the physical conditioning pro- grain Nutt spent many hours in classroom instruction and field assignments which included learning first aid uniform regulations combat water survival: marksmanship! hand- - " torhand combat and assorted weapons train- - CUTS PERFECT NAILS Kidiowr9 FuNSet Complete 10°° HAIR PERMS C0L0R tottogAt SiSSS $40w $35®° We'veSLdPricesOnPmJiomlHairCiiiePwducts lit North Main ing' Downtown Logan Hondiy-Siturda- 8 y an -- 1 pm m Cache Legacy contains 245 historical pictures of the people who have helped niahe Cache Valley what it Lis today Tliese titiiquc photographs wete submitted ' hytlie llerald Journal readers and tell an interesting pictorial history of the valley Don’t miss this opportunity to give this unique-gifto a friend or a loved tine : t Pickup fyr cost--- -- no Mail Cost 8 p la Herald wtjri Journal 75 West 300 Nortk 752-212- 1 ALSO AVAILABLE AT: Quantity of copies to be picked up at The Herald journal at $2995 " Quantity to be shipped at $3395 Total copies £ Total ($) enclosed Make checks payable to: The Herald Journal PO Box 487 Logan attn: UTf 84323-048- 7 Angie Duncombe "included $4 shipping Ship to: NAME ADDRESS CITY PHONE STAIL m Herald