Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 09/13/24

Scott in charge. After roles in hit shows like Happy Days, Charles in Charge and Diagnosis Murder, Scott Baio might have had an easier time continuing to grow his career in Hollywood – if he was willing to play but its rules, particularly regarding correct politics. His conservative leanings are not in alignment with the liberal mindset that pretty much rules industry with an increasingly iron hand. His vocal support of Donald Trump for president certainly didn’t enhance his career options – though he continues to take roles that math his values as they come up.

Currently, he’s co-starring with David A.R. White (who executive produces), Ray Wise and Dean Cain in the theatrical film God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust, the fifth entry in the successful GND franchise. Baio plays Wesley (rhymes with weaselly), a cog in a corrupt political machine and aide to State Senator Peter Kane (Wise) who is determined to push religion out of the public square. A.R. White plays David Hill, an idealistic minister who reluctantly is drawn into opposing Kane for a suddenly open congressional seat.

JWK: So tell me about in God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust and what part you play.

Scott Baio: It’s really a Mr. Smith Goes to Washington story. It’s the story of a pastor who gets caught up in politics and runs for Congress against a man who wants to take God out of everything. I work for that man.  I play his campaign manager.

JWK: So, which side are you on?

SB: I’m on the bad side. I play the campaign manager for the actor Ray Wise. I try to get him elected. We try to defeat, any way we can, Pastor Dave played by David A.R. White.

JWK: So, you’re kind of a villain in the movie.

SB: Yes, I’m bit of a jerk, kind of a creep – and a villain.

JWK:  This is election season, making this a very timely film. What do you hope people take from the story?

SB: The interesting thing about the movie is I don’t think David White and his crew planned on it being so timely. I just learned this statistic. There are 40-million Christians that do not vote. That’s not a small amount of people. So, what I hope people take from this movie – and I hope Christians take from this movie – is they’ll get out and vote because I’m sure that most of them are upset or complain about the state of the country. For whatever reason they do not want to get involved in politics but, if they don’t, then the country as we know it will vanish. That’s what I believe and I think that’s what this film talks about. I don’t know what these 40-million people are waiting for or standing on what principle. Get up, get out and vote. At the end of the movie there’s a QR code where you can show your phone and register.

JWK: I guess some Christians feel like politics is “of this world” and they, you know, need to concentrate on the “other world.”

SB: Well, if politics is “of this world,” then…who cares?

JWK: What are your thoughts on the role of faith in politics?

SB: Just to go back to your (statement), John, because politics is “of the world” and Christianity is “above the world” (politics is not worth dealing with)?

JWK: I’ve heard it said. It’s not my opinion, to be honest with you.

SB: No, no, no. I understand that – but that’s what you think they’re thinking.

JWK: Some people, yes.

SB: Well, then that was my response. Then who cares? Why try to save a God-fearing nation at all? If that’s their logic, I don’t understand it. I mean don’t they have children? Don’t they have grandchildren? I do it for my child. If that’s the only reason you do it, that sure is big enough.

JWK: So, what are your thoughts on the proper role of faith in politics? Can it go too far? What’s the right balance?

SB: Well, John, unfortunately politics is involved with every facet of our lives and in everything we do. It’s unfortunate. It wasn’t always this way. I think to get it back to where it was – where it’s not involved in everything – we have to get back to what we were, back to the country that we were X amount of time ago. Get back to that place where we were just living our lives and not every single thing had a political ramification to it. So, what the balances is? I’d like to get politics out of everything other than keeping the country safe and keeping the roads open. That’s the job of the government. That’s it.

JWK: Is that maybe why there is such an imbalance? Because to one side politics is everything and the other side would rather be doing something else but is kind of reluctantly called into politics – like the character in this movie.

SB: Yes. That’s actually well put. I think the difference between – I’ll just say – the right and the left is the left is constantly on the march to politicize everything and change things and the people on the right just get up and want to live their lives. They don’t want to think about these things but everything has been infected with politics. So, I hope the people on the right – like these 40-million Christians – hopefully are gonna wake up and go to the polls.

JWK: As an actor, do you feel like you’ve paid a price for your conservative politics?

SB: Yes. Absolutely. I was cancelled…I spoke for Trump at the Republican National Convention (in 2026). I knew I was going go be cancelled. I knew it. I was okay with it – but, sure, has it affected me? Absolutely.

JWK: Would you, yourself, ever consider getting into politics?

SB: No.

JWK: So, you have no interest in politics. Films like this are still open to you. What kind of projects are you looking to do?

SB: Oh, I don’t know, John. Whatever is good. I’m thankful for David A.R. White and his company to hire me. I live in Florida now. I’m retired, maybe not. I’m on God’s good graces right now. I’m on just a wing and a prayer.

JWK: What are your thoughts about this particular election that we have coming up?

SB: That’s why I think this movie is so timely. It’s because the ramifications of this election are massive. Massive. Look I don’t think there should be millions of people here illegally. I think we need to get back to law and order. I can give you a whole list, John. I think, if the country goes the wrong way in this election, I don’t know what this country becomes. I just don’t know. You see what goes on in Colorado – where gang members from other countries that are here illegally have taken over apartment buildings. So, I guess if people in Colorado are okay with that then keep voting for those people that you have. It’s just crazy to me that people will vote against their own security.

JWK: Much of the cast of your first hit show, Happy Days, have sort of weighed in on the left side of many of these issues. Do you keep in touch with them and does that put a damper on your relationships with them?

SB: No. I don’t really talk to them all that much – for no other reason than just time goes by. My life is my life. You move from show to another. It’s like moving from one neighborhood to another. You just move on to other friends.

JWK: Speaking of neighborhoods, how do you like Florida?

SB: It’s wonderful! It’s a wonderful place. It’s free. The people are nice. Much different from California where I think it’s gonna pretty much fall off into the ocean soon. It’s a disaster.

JWK: So, what’s next for you?

SB: Nothing really right now. I’m just here with my wife and child.

JWK: Aside from the politics, you seem pretty happy in your personal life.

SB: The politics down here are fantastic! I’m happy. I’m content. I have a wonderful life. If I get hired by somebody great! I don’t have my own company anymore. I don’t want any of that. I wake up and I do what I want to do.

JWK: Obviously, you’re for Trump. What is it about Trump that you like?

SB: I like America First. I like law and order. I like lower taxes, faith, a strong military, killing bad guys. I have four things, John, that I really believe in: a God-fearing nation, a prosperous nation, a powerful nation and a safe nation. Right now we’re none of those things. To me, Donald Trump represents all of those things.

JWK: Anything else you’d like to say as we wrap up?

SB: Go watch God’s Not Dead (in theaters now). It’s a very good movie. It’s a wonderful movie. I think you’ll enjoy it whether you’re politically or religiously minded or not. It was a good movie to make. I just hope people will get out there and will go and see it. That’s all.
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Reagan rides into week three in theaters as a surprise box office hit. While Beetlejuice Beetlejuice dominated the box office last weekend, the Ronald Reagan biopic (which doubled its earnings projections on its opening weekend) actually edged out the horror comedy at 24 theater locations across the country in its second weekend, including in such politically diverse states as New Mexico, Texas, Michigan, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, California, New Jersey, Arizona and perhaps most surprisingly, Vermont, Minnesota and New Hampshire. Overall, Reagan came in a strong third place behind Deadpool & Wolverine.

Reacting to the numbers, Kevin Mitchell, the founder of film distributor Show Biz Direct, said “We didn’t expect this film to perform so well in places like Vermont and Minnesota but we’re happy to be surprised. It’s not a regional film but is doing well across the nation. We believe it’s going to have a long life in theaters as word of mouth continues to spread favorably.”

If Trump can perform as strongly in those states, he’ll be reelected President of the United States.
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Sorry, ABC. Trump had something of a point on abortion. ABC’s moderators called out Donald Trump five times for alleged falsehoods during the Tuesday’s debate but apparently had no such concerns regarding Kamala Harris, so The New York Post did it’s own fact checking. Among it’s bones of contention was this regarding abortion:

Kamala claim: “Nowhere in America is a woman carrying a pregnancy to term and asking for an abortion. That is not happening.”

Fact check: As the Daily Signal points out, Minnesota had a 2015 law that required doctors to report whether abortions resulted in the live birth of a baby. In 2021, it happened at least five times, but no measures were taken to keep them alive. In 2023, Gov. Tim Walz stripped out that reporting requirement as part of an abortion law that has no limitations on how late in a pregnancy it may happen.
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Keeping it real. An independent poll conducted for the Human Artistry Campaign between July 25th and July 29th of 808 registered voters nationwide by Global Strategy Group finds broad public concern about AI-produced deepfakes, voice clones and other unauthorized uses of creative works, pictures, and recordings of individuals. The poll finding likely will boost momentum for the bipartisan No Fakes Act which was introduced in the Senate on July 31. A House version was introduced yesterday. According to the poll, 87% of voters support new policies to protect artists’ voices and images from unauthorized use by AI developers and 89% support policies to protect all people from unauthorized deepfakes and voice clones.

• 84% of registered voters believe deepfakes and voice clones are “a problem,” including over 80% of both Democrats and Republicans.
• 89% believe AI developers should get authorization before using a person’s voice or image to make a deepfake.
• 84% of voters believe an artist’s music or vocals should not be used by AI without permission.
• 89% support requiring that AI-generated material be labeled as such.

John W. Kennedy is a writer, producer and media development consultant specializing in television and movie projects that uphold positive timeless values, including trust in God.