More political US madness seen at Showbiz Data where it is reported that Steven Bocho (of NYPD Blue and Hill Street Blues fame – two of my favourite TV shows) has been asked by FX Network to produce a…and to quote the article here…drama series on the Iraq War.
Now is this just me, or is this complete madness. Creating a TV series based on an ongoing war which the world is divided on both politically and morally, and where casualties are increasing on a daily basis somewhat…well, wrong?
I couldn’t have seen this question being raised during the attacks on the Trade Centre, so why on the War? With some intelligence surely you would look at setting it on a previous conflict, or waiting until troops were out of Iraq before bringing a fictional story to life in the style of NYPD Blue.
Let me give Mr Bocho some credit here, when this story was originally reported by the Wall Street Journal, he did tell the newspaper:
…he had reservations about the project since he questioned his ability to produce it “without exposing your political feelings about [the war] in one way or another.” He said that he decided instead to focus on the troops and their families, something that would enable him to produce a program that was “completely apolitical.”
Rightly so the Wall Street Journal had similar comments to mine, although much more toned down(!):
“unclear whether a drama from a gritty producer like Mr. Bochco can avoid politics at a time when U.S. troops still face danger and the country is divided over the war.”
I think this is totally the wrong time for something like this. Okay, granted, maybe start development work, etc., but don’t go and start showing a dramatised version of an active war where people are dying day after day.
A recent videogame idea was tackling the idea of escaping and saving people during disasters and it was to be based on real life events. One of the scenarios was the Trade Center. There was outrage following that, and I haven’t seen much of a good word to be said (view the article and posted comments at Eurogamer.
I think it’s hard to see the difference between the two “entertainment” ideas.
