When CBS announced in November, 2003 that it would broadcast a mini-series it produced about Ronald and Nancy Reagan called "The Reagans," Matt Drudge obtained excerpts from the script and published them. That led to right-wing bloggers, organizations and pundits, along with the RNC itself, demanding that CBS cancel the broadcast, which it did (moving it instead to Showtime, with a panel discussion afterwards filled with critics of the film).
Those who wanted the mini-series cancelled back then were making arguments which are highly relevant -- for reasons that are self-evident -- to ABC's plans to broadcast an indisputably fictionalized mini-series about 9/11, a film which includes exactly the fabricated dialogues and historical events which served as the ostensible basis for outrage over The Reagans:
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Bill O'Reilly, O'Reilly Factor "Talking Points", 11/4/2003 (Via Lexis)Today CBS issued this statement, "Although the mini-series features impressive production values and acting performances, and although the producers have sources to verify each scene in the script, we believe it does not present a balanced portrayal of the Reagans for CBS and its audience."Well, fine, but how could CBS green light the film in the first place knowing that the producers, the director and the featured actors are all left wing thinkers?
That would be like CBS commissioning a movie about the Clintons written by Rush Limbaugh and starring Dennis Miller and Ann Coulter. Do you think that would ever happen?<snip>
Brent Bozell, November 5, 2003Brent Bozell, founder of the Media Research Center, scoffed at the notion that CBS was stifling free speech.
"There is no such thing as creative license to invent falsehoods about people," Bozell said. "I don't care who you are. You don't have that right."
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Excellent array of quotes and examples.
http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/2006/09/bush-supporters-condemn-fictionalized.html