Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 08/02/21
From Mediaite:Seth MacFarlane took a swipe at Tucker Carlson, voicing his utter dismay that Family Guy is still aired on Fox News corporate sibling Fox Entertainment. MacFarlane took to Twitter on Sunday to take aim at Fox News and its prime time host, cracking that his marriage with the network “isn’t working anymore.”
“Tucker Carlson’s latest opinion piece once again makes me wish Family Guy was on any other network,” he wrote. “Look, Fox, we both know this marriage isn’t working anymore. The sex is only once a year, I don’t get along with your mother, and well… I’ve been having an affair with NBC.”
IMHO: MacFarlane’s right. The Fox News and Fox Broadcasting are not in alignment in terms of branding. While Fox News has seen spectacular success by offering a clear alternative to the Woke worldview of its competitors, the broadcast network is nearly indistinguishable from its competition. The result is the brand is sort of at war with itself. Personally, I think the broadcast/entertainment side of the company would benefit greatly in the ratings by adopting the Establishment-challenging voice (yes, Wokism has become the Establishment) of its cable news sibling. I don’t think you could say the same about the reverse.
So, here’s my heartfelt advice to Fox Broadcasting. Open your doors to the many talented actors, animators, directors, producers and writers who reject the Woke domination of pop culture and want to create quality content that doesn’t subtly (and sometimes not so subtly) ooze disdain for traditional faith and American values. How about some dramas and sitcoms with intelligent, diverse and compassionate conservative characters, including African-American and other none-white conservative characters? Fox News personalities could also be tapped as a source of programming. For example, how about a limited series based on a Brian Kilmeade historical bestseller? How about finally challenging SNL with a Babylon Bee-like late-night comedy that dares to poke fun at Woke absurdities? How about a prime-time news magazine that does 60 Minutes-style deep dives into some of the legitimate issues raised by Fox News commentators and includes conservative among its inspiring profiles? How about a legal drama where the conservative lawyers defending individuals from aggressive Woke government and corporations are the ones on the right side of history? How about sci-fi that spins futuristic allegories warning of the danger of totalitarian thinking? And, of course, what about cartoons (both those aimed kids and adults) that offer clever commentary and satire that prick leftist pretensions?
Step One: Free Seth. He’s got plenty of places to go that share his perspective. Television viewers should have as much choice.
Meanwhile, pop programming of the kind provided by broadcast networks and streamers (as well as movie studios) continues to play a central role in the Woke drive to seize and control every facet of the culture. That’s a point that I think is quite well made in this video from Dave Cullen: (Warning: Some of the clips within the video contain crude language.)
Encourage one another and build each other up – 1 Thessalonians 5:11