Discovery Channel hostage-taker hated programming

[The Northerner]

SILVER SPRING, Md. – A gunman police shot to death after he took hostages at Discovery Channel's headquarters said he hated the company's shows such as "Kate Plus 8" because they promote population growth and its environmental programming because it did little to save the planet.

Three hostages — two Discovery Communications employees and a security guard — escaped unhurt after the four-hour standoff Wednesday in Silver Spring, just outside the nation's capital. After several hours negotiating with the gunman, tactical officers moved in when authorities monitoring him on building security cameras saw him pull out a handgun and point it at a hostage, Montgomery County Police Chief Thomas Manger said.

Capt. Paul Starks, a county police spokesman, identified James J. Lee on Thursday as the suspect.

Manger said and officer shot and killed Lee after hostages began moving and police heard a "pop" they believed to be either a gunshot or an explosive device detonating.

Lee repeatedly said he was "ready to die," according to Manger.

It wasn't the first time Lee, a homeless former Californian, had targeted Discovery's headquarters. In February 2008, he was charged with disorderly conduct for staging a "Save the Planet Protest." In court and online, he had demanded an end to Discovery Communications LLC's shows such as TLC's "Kate Plus 8" and "19 Kids and Counting."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100902/ap_on_en_tv/us_discovery_channel_gunman

[Dappleganger]

1. I hate their programming too.

They have left behind what used to be educational programming, for the weird. We stopped watching a long time ago.

[stuntcat]

12. +1

I can't watch Discovery, but if I did I would be even more ASHAMED of what my fellow citizens consider educational programming.

If anyone on TV would tell the truth and show the pictures of what's happening to the Earth then maybe some of the knuckledraggers would care.
Obviously there's not much money to be made from showing the truth though.

[izquierdista]

2. One less of him

and in a few more minutes, one more Duggar.

[demigoddess]

3. I hate it too, but I just watch something else.

History channel is going downhill also. ABC is a train wreck. So many channels, so little entertainment.

[Subdivisions]

4. He probably watched it 24/7 regardless. n/t

[Posteritatis]

8. Probably; outrage is addictive. (nt)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. You know what would be funny?

If they started a whole new lineup of reality shows based on his ideas.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

7. don't they already have that 'without people' series? n/t

[NightWatcher]

6. I blame Edward "Bear" Grylls

damn poseur

[Cheap_Trick]

9. I h8 K8+8 too....

But I DO love Mythbusters.

[HopeHoops]

10. The TV has an "OFF" button. If that's too complicated, it can be unplugged.

[Jkid]

11. True, but it does not influence the programing selection at all.

There are always people who blind-fully watch the shows because simply they don't care. I doubt, influencing the people would do any difference. You may suggest that there are actual programing of the kind he wants, but that programing may not exist at all or has not been produced at all.