NBC...WTF?

I don't often see NBC since my reception is, well, less than dependable. Tonight I actually got both picture and sound, and within 15 minutes I was treated to a segment on "dateline, NBC' about a Tampa area reporter who "beat every worst case scenario" when he has Leukemia "through his faith and the power of prayer." They never said what any of these "worst case scenarios" were, or what other treatments he had received, they just interviewed his wife and coworkers who talked about how much they prayed and how they asked Tampa area viewers to pray for him, and their faith in God. Now he spends his time interviewing people about their faith and plans to go on to greater things (his own real estate business).
At the end of the segment, Brain Williams says "Tomorrow on Good Morning America; faith based sex education" (or was it the "Today show"? All I heard was "faith based sex education"). Then the commercials rolled; in between products, a promo ran for an NBC movie called "Revelations" , and another appeared for a week long series called "Faith in America."

Now, I have nothing against people expressing their faith, but aren't their ample channels on AND off cable that are aimed solely at Christians? When did NBC become the 700 club? And when will I wake up from this Twilight Zone episode?

There was a teaser blurb on yesterday about "Faith in America" that asked "Why do the liberal elites seem to hate religion?". Very objective question there.

Did they ever crack a dictionary?

From Websters: Elite- a group of persons who by virtue of position or education exercise much power or influence <members of the ruling elite>

WHAT LIBERAL ELITES? There isn't a true LIBERAL anywhere with "power and influence"!

Geez-I'm so glad I don't have cable; my head would explode!

and try to "pray their way out" of it!

From now on they aren't aloud to use the science they don't believe in.
Nope. Only us "liberals" are aloud to use science. Sorry for those who have cancer. You can just pray your way out!

"There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical. We can roll the image; make it flutter. We can change the focus to a soft blur, or sharpen it to crystal clarity. For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear."

Only, the hour never ends...it goes on and on and on...

Lie to your kids about contraception failure rates and pray that they do not get pregnant or an STD.

God, Guns and Gore 24/7 :-(

not Al Gore. *sigh*

They're pandering to the Jeebus crowd with this holy-roller stuff.

This Christian-themed programming is everywhere - networks, CNN, History Channel, Discovery/Times channel...it's like I'm living in a revival tent when I turn on the television anymore.

But, oh, don't forget how Christians are 'persecuted'...

Oy. Even tonight on the History channel they were having a special on the Bible codes on the Apocolypse and a part two. Luckily not everybody believes in this though. At the college class I go to at my church I talked about this and how this code claimed to predicted JFK's assisination, 9/11, Saddam Hussein etc. and the teacher was like "yeah right." The people who eat this stuff up are the one's who are eating up the Terri Schiavo case. I told a friend of mine about the Schiavo case and about the '99 case Bush signed and she couldn't believe it so I'm glad some people out there can see through this b.s.

Religious programming will be much more prolifigate all week. But take heart - it will all be over in a week.

and I never in my life saw it poured on this thick!

We've had cable since being here in Tennessee which was back in 1987. As far as I know anyways. I can't believe it myself. I just don't watch it.

Just this year-or earlier?

and thought almost the exact same thing, "When did basic TV become religious programming?"

Bush-a-ganda at its worst, I turned it off before the segment was over.

Yesterday, I watched CNN for about 1 minute and the "news" was showing footage of things exploding in Iraq and instantaneosly blended into a commercial for Bank of America: no fade out, no fade in. It was just another example of our fascism, war and death being sold by banks with no difference between them.

It only takes about 1 minute to be thoroughly offended by TV.

Religion is everywhere on TV and newspapers lately. It's really starting to freak me out this weekend. Hopefully it will only be temporary. If I hear "culture of life" one more time...

:puke:

was there more of the same earlier or later? It's DEFINITELY freaking me out!!

it happens

of the piece, it was hard to know WHAT was going on there. Weirdest "reporting" ever; "so, do you feel your faith in God is what kept you and your family going"? Going through what, exactly? They said nothing about how advanced his disease was, or what those "worst case scenarios" were. It was sorta like "there was this bad thing, but it's OK 'cause of prayer and faith". No substance, no details-just handwaivy 700 club style crap.

:shrug:

disappeared only to come back with a vengeance and kill. Saw it happen to a very good friend's husband who tried every piece of shit new age crap.

It's completely irresponsible for Nothing But Crap to run this story as it may inspire people with serious diseases to go to a prayer group instead of a doctor.

I watched a one-minute commercial for a 2 CD set of "the most beloved gospel songs." WTF is going on? It's bad enough I gotta surf through this crap late at night, but during prime time?

Sure hope the Rapture is soon.

maybe their ratings aren't what they once were?

Brings back one of those early faith healer shows on TV where somehow an error brought the same person back in front of the camera for some other crippling or life taking illness and the media had a field day putting the healer down. This might have easily happened since these same kind of people are always there and wanting nothing more than another moment on camera.
I know that there are healings that have nothing to do with the medical field, but it also happens to many who don't follow recognized religions.

Yesterday, it was the annual showing of "The Ten Commandments."

This is the time of year that people in the news say "shouldn't we do something about religion? It might help our ratings."

Hey, if this guy found healing through prayer, he isn't the first, nor will he be the last.

Personally, I don't find the stories interesting, so I don't watch them.

Seriously; I've been around for a few decades, and I've never seen the MSM so enraptured with Christianity. I watch the "ten commandments' every year-you can't see film making that extravagant nor acting that painfully wooden anywhere else-but the rest of it? Come on!

Seriously. Do you think they consider ANYTHING other than the almighty $$ ?

It's on, because that's what their people tell them that the public wants to see. As long as the Dobsons exist, with their massive PR tactics, this will continue.

People write in and express their displeasure at the lack of religious stories in the news. But people here usually just complain about the stories, but don't take the time to write to NBC and complain.

Here's their e-mail address: dateline@nbc.com <dateline@nbc.com>

campaigns are concerned. Yep, it's something their side does VERY well and we need to start fighting fire with fire!

Thanks for the address-I'll use it!

Good for you. Tell them what you think. :thumbsup:

Republican extremests who like to think they control everything. The tide will shift though. I think the Media is pandering to the =pont nthat they are making themselves meaningless. At least that's what I hop is going on.

I turned it off during that commercial break. It's well past time for a boycott!

There has been recent information released which suggests that children who choose to wait until marriage are NOT abstaining COMPLETELY form sex and because of that are ending up with venereal diseases of the mouth and such. There is a movement underfoot to let them know that a condom can help protect them from this type of venereal disease as well. Did you hear if that is what they are trying to report on?

I think it is very important to let these kids know venereal disease does not just effect the genitals and oral sex is a risk factor for venereal disease.

I am very spiritual so I do believe somewhat in the power of collective prayer but I think it is insane to think prayer alone is the answer. I believe combined "prayer" or just "good thoughts" are a powerful thing but more for the psyche than the body. It never ceases to amaze me that MSN runs stories like this but doesn't really go into detail about the "medical" aspect of these peoples treatments.

I've got seven shrinks in my family (all agnostics) and they'll tell anyone the same thing. But Dateline didn't even touch on scientific findings about the mind-body connection, which I guess is way I found it so profoundly disturbing. Once upon a time, reporters reported on all sides of a story...I guess those days are long gone.

on anymore!

something to this effect for a week or so...it really IS everywhere right now. Last week, before that poor wee Jessica was confirmed dead, Katie Couric interviewed her grandmother...she asked her (TOTALLY out of the blue) "Jessica was very involved in her church, right? She enjoyed going to Sunday School?" I assumed there was going to be some sort of segue into perhaps someone from the church being a suspect or witness to her disappearance or something, but no. She asked the question, then started talking about what the police had told the family about any leads they had. :wtf:

I can only hope it's Easter-related for ratings and goes away quickly. x(

who noticed and found it a wee bit out of the ordinary!