Next Sunday, March 15th, HBO's Big Love is planning to air an episode "re-create[ing] even the tiniest details" about the temple ceremony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is not a joke. You can read the article in this week's TV Guide Magazine (page 46 of the magazine, page 48 of the PDF). I'll quote it here for your convenience:
GOIN’ TO THE CHAPEL
It’s one thing for Bill and Barb Henrickson’s inner
circle to know they have two other wives at
home…but letting the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints in on the secret? That’s a whole
other story. “It’s almost a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’
policy,” says executive producer Mark Olsen. Their
under-the-radar status will change this week when
Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn) faces the consequences
of breaking the rules and is called to an excommunication
hearing. “We researched it out the
wazoo,” says Olsen, who along with executive producer
Will Scheffer hired an ex-Mormon consultant
to help the set and wardrobe designers re-create
even the tiniest details. “We go into the endowment
room and the celestial room [areas of the
temple], and we present what happens in those
ceremonies. That’s never been shown on television
before,” says Olsen. Adds Scheffer, “But it’s
not for shock value. It’s really a very important
part of the story.” The decision won’t be without
controversy: According to a church insider, “If they
are in fact trying to emulate those rooms in any
way, that would be extremely offensive. The general
public is not allowed in our temples yet. Not
even all Mormons are. We consider them very, very
sacred.” Heaven help us. —Rochell D. Thomas
I don't know how much power we have in the matter, but I want to do everything we can! Here are the links to HBO and the FCC where you can file complaints or protests. Please, don't wait. Paper trails can take a while, and I think we only have one shot. I have written letters to both places and dearly wish that we could do more. Does anyone have any other ideas?
Here is another blog that talks a little more about it:
http://estherperry.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-to-offend-13-million-people-by-hbo_07.html
Boy, do I feel sick!
People should write to TV Guide too for publishing a picture of the actress in mock temple robes. That was pretty inconsiderate.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carma, for letting us know. I'm writing to everyone, and praying hard.
ReplyDeleteI just filed the online complaint with the FCC, but I doubt that it will make it through the bureaucracy in time for this coming Sunday. The complaint that people ought to make is under the bias, unfair broadcast topic. I wrote saying that HBO originally claimed to be following the disaffected polygamists and not the LDS church but now was confusing the issue as the TV Guide interview seems to indicate that the these are the actual LDS Church Temple rites, which is factually impossible if the plot is really not about the LDS church. Thus the broadcast will be an inaccurate factual portrayal of the LDS Temple ceremony unfair bias.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I think that there is likely nothing we can do. Even if it was found to be unfair and biased, the likely result will either be making HBO display a disclaimer on before the airing of the show or pay a fine. Either way, it is likely going to air. This is the bittersweet double-edged sword of the Freedom of Speech, a right that each of us cherish enough that we allow anyone else to say pretty much whatever they'd like.
Maybe it might be best to watch the scene so we can explain to friends, family, colleagues and coworkers any inaccuracies portrayed of the ceremony. Possibly the attitude to take here is "any publicity is good publicity." While HBO might portray moments of the ceremony, there is no way that the series is going to be able to capture the depth or meaning of the ceremony, which may allow us to explain the "whys" behind what people see. Because the "whys" are what make this ceremony so precious and sacred to us, not the "whats."