Skip to main content

Today's Poll: Was it appropriate for ABC to cancel 'Roseanne'?

By Howard B. Owens
Rich Richmond

I strongly disagree with what Rosanne said. On the other hand, it is nothing new for her, as Rosanne always has been opinionated and crude.

The hypocrisy of ABC and the President of ABC Entertainment, Channing Dungey is on full display with their selective outrage. For example, ABC's program, "The View. "

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2018/03/08/joy-beh…

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2018/02/13/view-panel-mocks-mike-p…

Joy Behar recently mocked Christianity and alluded to Christians-people who pray, as being mentally ill.

Google "Joy Behar's outrageous comments." and following phony apologies.

Where is the outrage from ABC? Why hasn't the show been canceled, and at the very least, why does Joy Behar still have a job?

May 30, 2018, 10:48am Permalink
Jason Crater

Criticizing a religion and criticizing a race are two entirely different things, IMO. You can choose to be a Christian...you don't get to choose your race.

May 30, 2018, 11:15am Permalink
Tim Miller

Quite frankly, ABC/Disney/ESPN would have been hypocritical if they had NOT cancelled Roseanne... They whacked Jemele Hill from her ESPN show after referring to Donald Trump as a "white supremacist".

I was thinking... If I went into my local beer place and referred to one of the customers who is African American as an ape, I'd be asked to leave. Because I am a good customer, I *might* be given a 2nd chance... but then Roseanne has spewed her racist crap multiple times already... no 2nd chance.

May 30, 2018, 12:00pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

It's one thing to say somebody who believes the CIA has implanted a radio transmitter in his head has a mental illness. It's another to say a Christian has a mental illness.

Religious faith is something deeper and more meaningful to most people in any particular faith than many other things people might believe. It's for many, it's tradition, family, culture, and deeply woven into how they view themselves as a person.

I think that should be respected. There should be some penalty for a TV personality who says a public person of faith has a mental illness.

No, it's not the same as making racist statements but that hardly makes it any better.

Respect for other people's faith is a hallmark of a pluralistic, civil society. It hardly advances that ideal to expect people of faith to respect people who don't share those beliefs and then turn around and disrespect them.

May 30, 2018, 12:48pm Permalink
Jeffery White

I don't see anything wrong here, nothing more American than disrespecting people in power while at the same time getting outraged about disrespect to the people who operate in the margins.

If you can't handle being at the top in the US you have no business being there.

May 30, 2018, 1:23pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

ABC is a business that depends on traffic to be profitable. When public opinion pertaining to its programming suggests viewers are reacting negatively to something ABC aired or personalities identified with ABC's programming the network will react to protect its viewer-base (profits/advertisers). In some cases controversy benefits viewership. People tune in to see what an obnoxious loudmouth like Morton Downey, Jr. will say next regardless of how offensive he was. Racism is not one of the controversies network execs want to gamble on as being a driver of popularity. Religion (AKA Christianity) would have been equally taboo for broadcasters 50 years ago. Generally speaking, religion has been satirized forever. You can find examples of it in Ancient Egyptian graffiti. The devolvement of American Christian right and the resulting irony has fostered a new wave of religious satire.

May 30, 2018, 2:42pm Permalink

Authentically Local