Is anybody going to watch FX's "Over There"?

[Democracy White]

from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446241/

although they don't have the description up, I just wonder what others think about it through the ads that have been showing on TV?

BTW the message board for the show is interesting.

Dee

[Kraklen]

1. It's Steven fucking Bochco.

I heard there's a scene where the torso of an insurgent explodes and the legs keep walking.

I already saw Robocop, thank you very much.

Given it's Bochco the legs will probably do a little dance.

[EVDebs]

19. Operation Hollywood

Military interference in American film production
Operation Hollywood: How the Pentagon shapes and censors the movies by David L. Robb

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/holl-m14.shtml

Air Force Entertainment Liaison Office ?

>snip<

"Operation Hollywood ignores these issues and fails to even mention the highly publicised meeting between Karl Rove, President Bush’s chief political advisor, and the film and television chiefs and the industry’s union bosses straight after the September 11 terrorist attack on the US. Rove called on those assembled to assist in Washington’s so-called “war on terror”. Predictably the entertainment industry chiefs promised to do all they could to help."

Altogether, a good book review !

[CatholicEdHead]

24. Kind of like Stargate (SG1 and Atlantis)

which seem to heavily push a Air Force recruiting angle mixed in with the science fiction.

[JackRiddler]

23. Yeah, Mr. Hill Street Blahs

So here, appropriate to our accelerated times, is a fiction series that makes the unprecedented and absolutely shameless but altogether predictable move of exploiting an ongoing war for ratings.

The previews do not look rah-rah. On the contrary, they convey an obvious formula: Obscure the straightforward evil and illegality of the invasion with a bunch of close-focus sensation and human-interest emotionalism.

Conscientious Americans will struggle with thoughts of whether their good intentions are causing bad results. A few innocents from Kansas will wake up to the fact that war is really hellish and weird. A couple of corrupt or nutso figures will hound the good guys, a la MASH. Therein will lie the main story conflict, strictly among the "fully rendered" American characters. The aboriginals will serve as foils, helping us better understand the minds of the real humans.

Except for Freepers, people don't buy into rah-rah anymore. Nowadays, propaganda designed to collaborate with Nazi acts comes in humanist terms. It pretends to fairly balance different perspectives on a "complex" situation, avoiding "simple" answers or the idea of an objective truth. It thus serves the status quo.

What's my example of a simple answer that is objectively true? "We" have no business "over there," blowing up their country, blasting them to pieces, and encouraging them to blast each other. Period.

The real (commercial) goal of such a program is to leave the audience feeling touched, informed, and utterly supine on the couch, but the effect is indistinguishable from the intent of a well-oiled propaganda ministry.

How about a series that shows the U.S. government's crimes from the perspective of the Iraqis, who constitute 98 perccent of those dying in this war?

Now, go ahead, object that I haven't even watched the thing. Pretend that you don't know what's coming, given your own lifetime of viewing American TV.

Or search for a critical/liberal subtext. I guarantee you that will be there, as you are one of the key target audiences. In fact, the ideal outcome from the producers' perspective would be if conservative pundits were to start howling on FOX, creating just the buzz they need.

[DanCa]

2. I dont know I usually hate war movies because of the guns

Do you think it's an anti war film? Because I might break my rule if it is.

[Wickerman]

3. I've read it will stay out of politics

and focus on the soldiers and the families. Kind of like ER with a live war, is my guess.

[DanCa]

5. Ah thanks

At this point in time I just cant stand to see people getting shot at. Okay am a big whimp LOL.

[dogday]

4. As a mother of a son who will be in

Afghanistan in a month, I am going to try to watch it and understand what these poor guys and girls go through. I hope I have the courage to watch... This stuff scares the crap out of me....

[DanCa]

7. Dogday

Can you thank your son for his service for me please. And give him a hug too?

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. I'll be praying for your family. *hugs*

[dogday]

13. Thank for the thoughts, I am going to need all the

support I can get.....

[DonP]

17. Mine just got back so I have extra room in my evening prayers

If it's alright with you, I'll add your son to the roster.

My son got back a few weeks ago and is mustering out in the next few weeks after 5 years in the Army.

From our family to yours, best wishes and stay strong for your son.

[dogday]

27. I am glad to hear your son is safe and sound

and your family is together again. Thanks so much for your support. Any advice you can give me will be greatly appreciated. Thank your son for his service for our country. I do appreciate all of the soldier's efforts....

[stillcool]

6. i'm inclined to pass....

as it strikes me as made for propaganda purposes. If it had any value it wouldn't be aired without a bunch of hooey.

[radar]

8. Reckon I'll check it out but

Not ready to plan on making it required viewing.

Review at Variety...
"Attention-seeking FX has already won a victory by greenlighting this provocatively current drama...."
Over There (Series -- FX, Wed. July 27, 10 p.m.)
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117927688?categoryid=32&cs=1&s=h&p=0

[villager]

9. Variety review in GD:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4129274

[rinsd]

10. It looks interesting...

...I think it would be the first TV show dealing with war when the actual war is still going on.

But from the previews and FX's reputation, I would imagine it will not be for kiddies.

[hallc]

16. Definitly not for kids...

rated TV-MA...I for one will definitly be watching. Seems like FX is the only channel that comes out with new thoughtful television. Rescue Me has become a favorite of mine, and 30 Days is awesome. Im hoping Over There follows in their footsteps

[Nightjock]

11. I saw several glowing reviews

Most saying it stays out of politics. And most saying it is "top tier television."

Even if it is great, it will remind me of bush and how 1700 plus Americans and thousands of Iraqi civilians are dead FOR NO FUCKING REASON!

[NativeTexan]

14. The Commercial caught my eye

It looks interesting, but if it turns out to be a RAH RAH for all of the "good reasons" that we are in Iraq, then it won't hold me too long.

Showtime had a movie about 9/11 at one time. Sounded good. Timothy Bottoms played Bush, and it was all "gee, honey, the country needs me to be strong, and protect them and thats what I've got to do no matter how much my life is in danger" bullshit!!

Couldnt keep a straight face long enough to keep watching...

[ClintonTyree]

15. If it's on FOX, I won't watch it.

I make a point of never watching anything on FOX or it's affiliates. It's just my own little way of pretesting.

[skids]

18. Not unless a soldier tells me it is good.

I'm not going to buy into the exploitation of the Iraq war by the entertainment industry. If an American serviceperson or three assure me it is not offensive to them, then I'll watch it.

[pocket]

20. saw an interview with several soldiers calling it BS

they were Washington NG that has just come back.

Maybe it didn't have enough rape scenes.

[rinsd]

25. That's quite an achievement....

..considering that the show hasn't even been broadcast yet.

[pocket]

28. theyve shown it to critics and GIs

advanced showings are fairly normal

[murray hill farm]

22. my son is in Iraq now...

there is no way that i would watch it.

[dogday]

26. I don't know how you feel yet

I am still in the new stages of this thing. My son leaves next month for a year's service in Afghanistan. I will pray for your son when I pray for all of the soldiers in this war. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your son. Please thank him for me for his service... If you need to talk.....

[Eloriel]

21. Definitely

Going to give it a chance for sure. We'll see. Unlike a lot of people here, I guess, I've appreciated Bochco's stuff in the past. If it's propagandistic, or too violent, it'll be off in a nanosecond. But let's see how it goes.

[deadparrot]

29. No, but only because

I'm not into war programs. They've never appealed to me, which I suppose fits in rather nicely with my political views about war.

I've read that it's not for people with a rigid ideology about the war, either for or against.