[Tsunshine]

I received this email and thought I would pass it on in the forum. I think it's important we stand up and protest especially shows that so balantly discredit our beliefs.
HBO's new series, "Big Love", is about a polygamous family and is set in a Salt Lake City suburb. About the likely impact of this sexuallydriven show, the New York Times said, "We may never look at Utah and think white bread again."

Parodies of beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints occur- belief in priesthood by a man blessing his hunting rifle, belief in personal revelation from the Holy Ghost by dramatic visions that the polygamous leader discusses casually with a friend. Talk of "celestialkingdom", "free agency", and the "Choose the Right" slogan are included. There is a brief disclaimer stating that the polygamists don't have an active connection with the LDS Church. But if the writers don't intend for viewers to make the connection, one wonders why they set the show in Salt Lake City, the Church's world headquarters, and why they included
distortions of LDS beliefs.

NBC recently cancelled a show about a dysfunctional Episcopal priest who saw a "Jesus", after almost 700,000 people emailed and complained.
Couldn't we do the same for this show? If you agree, will you:
forward this email to at least 8 people
email a polite protest to HBO:

Go to www.hbo.com, scroll to bottom of page, click Contact Us, click on The
Sopranos (unless Big Love is listed when you do so), scroll to the light blue box near page bottom, on the line just under Submit an Email, click on Contact Us.Then enter your information, specify it's about Big Love, and leave a message asking them to cancel this offensive show.

One or two sentences is all it takes. Or feel free to copy or edit this message:

I am offended that you would produce the series "Big Love". It demeans and distorts sacred beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. By setting the show in Salt Lake City, it blurs the line between the Church and the long renounced practice of polygamy. Additionally, it is morally reprehensible to showcase an abusive family situation as entertainment. Please cancel "Big Love" immediately.

[workingdad]

Pressuring a pay-tv service is not as easy as pressuring a network broadcasting company. HBO is not as dependent upon the advertising dollar as NBC is. HBO is more willing to accept the criticism you suggest.
I am not a Mormon, don't have cable, and have no personal interest at stake in HBO's program. I tend not to support actions like what you suggest because many people who claim to be offended by a tv show or movie or book have not actually viewed or read it, and I believe you can't be offended by something you've not really observed. But of course, offended groups who have really seen this show have every right to complain.
I suppose I've already done the great boycott by pulling the cable plug.

[lpelham]

I don't have HBO, so I cannot watch the show, but it doesn't make me feel any differently abou the LDS church. I know that there are polygamists that think they are still part of the Mormon church. I also know the Mormons don't condone polygamy. And it seems that most of those that do this live in Utah because they still think of themselves as part of the church. So, I don't know. I don't think Big Love condemns the Mormons anymore than The Book of Daniel condemned the Episcopalian church (wasn't he Episcopalian?).


Libby

[writerchick]

The idea of the show Big Love makes my skin crawl because I am LDS and hate the association of the Mormon church with polygamy. I just hope that most people know Mormons are not polygamous, and it would be great if the writers would make sure that they are not sending an untrue and negative message about the LDS church.

But that's as far as my beef against the show can go, unless it falls in to the same category of all the other shows I hate on TV - lewd, no morality, potty humor, bad language, inappropriate sexual content....But unfortunately, the best place to set a show about polygamy is in Utah. I lived there for a few years and my neighbor had two wives. One upstairs and one downstairs. (Everyone fought all the time. It was completely disfunctional...the stuff of a sitcom?) Anyway, as much as we hate it, there is truth in portraying a polygamous family in Utah. Where else would you put them? In Florida? I've lived in many states, and the only polygamous neighbor I ever had was in Utah.

As much as I hate it, I would hate it more if writers all had to censor themselves to make sure they didn't propogate any negative impression of any group -- no terrorist could ever be portrayed as a Middle-Easterner, no mob boss could ever be played by an Italian person, etc....can we really say no polygamist can ever be portrayed by someone who lives in Utah? 'Cause that's where most of them are.

In my humble opinion, unless the writers are saying these are Mormons, or are otherwise putting immoral crap on TV, we should be quiet, not cause any hype to publicize the show, hope it gets crappy ratings and dies a quick death in obscurity.

[shoshanna]

I'm a Christian, not LDS, but I am still offended by the idea of that show. That's terrible! I'll bet it will get cancelled after a few episodes. It just doesn't sound like something that will make it.

[scrapbookguru]

I saw the commercial for the show too and was highly offended. I too like Shoshanna am Christian but that doesn't make the "offense" any less.
The premise is slightly disturbing, however again - taking on a big network like HBO is pretty void. Ah well....it will just get filed under things to never watch.
Good luck with the boycott.

[andi3]

I too saw the commercial for the show and I was very offended. It is very disturbing, though I agree that taking on a big network like HBO is going to be more difficult than something like NBC. Good Luck

[mcmama]

I saw the show while on vacation and it is really horrible. It is really offensive, and has very little to do with either modern LDS or polygamist communities that I have seen on TV - it is just about sex.
Broadcast TV is more sensitive to advertising boycotts - HBO can keep this show on demand and on DVD for years. Probably fuels some perverse famtasy for some people. You can live it down by being everything the show is NOT - and proclaiming your faith openly.

[hennypenny]

I am not a mormon, but my fiance used to be and his kids still are. It's a pet hate of ours that mormons get the polygamy stereotype also. I'm not familiar with the show (I'm an Aussie), but I wouldn't worry too much. The reason being, shows like this spark debate, and discussion, which will give everyone more chance to shatter these myths about polygamy, which could hopefully be a positive thing for you guys.

[Kevaleta]

You really shouldn't take the show so personal. I watch it and am a fan. I think its funny and entertaining. It is a TV show and it is FICTION. IF you don't like it, just do not watch it. When I watch the show it is obvious to me that the show has nothing to do with LDS.