Today Show Goes Dark On Tim Robbins

Today Show Goes Dark On Tim Robbins

By Steve Rosenbaum, A NYC television producer

4-19-3

At 8:15 Monday Morning Today Show host Mat Lauer introduced the controversy that has been kicked up by the cancellation of the 15th anniversary of Bull Durham at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

 

In a letter made public on Wednesday - Dale Petroskey, the President of the Hall suggested that his venue was not the appropriate venue for a highly charged political expression.

 

Lauer then introduced Tim Robbins, who along with his wife Susan Sarandon, had had their initiations revoked. Lauer quizzed Robbins on free speech, and pointedly asked Robbins if he had planned to use the Hall of Fame event as a platform for a political statement. Robbins said 'of course not.'

 

The discussion went back in forth for a few minutes, with Lauer being neither accommodating nor confrontational. And Robbins' responses were equally measured. But Robbins did end up saying things that have hardly been heard before since the war began. "The message is if you speak out against this administration you can and will be punished" Robbins explained.

 

"We're sending out messages on an almost daily basis that they have no right to protest against this President" said Robbins. To which Lauer responded with a question about the Dixie Chicks and their controversial comments against the President. Robbins responded - pointing to the fact that the protest and banning of the Dixie Chicks was by Clear Channel Radio and it's connection with the Bush Administration. This conversation was unheard of in the current environment.

 

Robins was talking serious politics on a morning chat show - and clearly hackles went up. By 8:24 Robins was explaining "We're fighting for freedom for the Iraqi people right now so that they can have freedom of speech, yet we're telling our own citizens they have to be quiet"

 

Lauer could have called it quits there -but he went on "When you see pictures of Iraqi's dancing and celebrating -does it change your mind?" "No" Said Robbins - "I'm ecstatic that they feel this freedom, I hope we have the resolve to get in there and make it work."

 

It was at this point that something happened that has perhaps never happened before in the history of morning television.

 

The music swelled under Robbins... Mid-sentence answering a question that had been asked just 10 seconds earlier... "We have a terrible track record" said Robbins, clearly not able to hear that music was coming up to literally 'play him off the stage'.

 

The camera cut to a wide shot. Lauer was leaning in and very much in conversation. Either Lauer was ignoring what must have been the deluge of invectives in his earpiece, or he just determined that he wasn't finished with this line of questioning.

 

But the music ended. The bumper music ended and the studio was in the two shot as Robbins said..."It's for some reason not in our best interest to keep it going and pursue it to the next level." Lauer nodded, and the camera faded to black as Robbins - mid sentence - had his microphone turned down.

 

A conversation about free speech. An anchor asking reasonable questions. A guest responding in equally reasonable tones. No attempt to close out the discussion - to say "Well thank you Tim". This was not a filibuster. Robbins was not hogging the spotlight.

 

Someone in the control room simply decided that it was time to pull the plug. And without grace or ceremony, or even the face saving of letting Lauer say "We're out of time" as morning shows do on so many occasions.

 

A conversation about free speech and free expression was cut off mid sentence as the network went to black.

 

Television history was made, as million of Americans got to watch in real time just how powerful and inescapable censorship can be. Robbins wasn't revealing troop locations, or giving aid and comfort to the enemy. Remember the war has been won - by all accounts. He was discussing freedom, free speech, and why his appearance has been canceled at the Baseball Hall of Fame. NBC should invite him back and let him finish his thought - or admit at least who was on the phone to master control demanding that they pull the plug.

Could it be, at all possible, that the anchor ran past his time for the interview? These shows are run on precise time breaks. I have seen, in the past, where an interview is cut off because they went long. Certainly it does not occur often, but it does happen.

I find it very hard to believe that someone at the White House is watching the Today Show and somehow has the "hot line" to the control booth and then orders that the plug be pulled. I don’t know if you have watched the Today Show before but they are a little to the left as it relates to politics.

As far as the entire Free Speech discussion, actors and performers who feel their right to free speech is being violated are wrong. The first amendment of the Constitution prevents the government from restricting ones right to speak freely. What has happened with actors and performers being prevented from going to certain events is a private thing. Tim Robbins not being allowed to go to the Hall of Fame was a person saying he does not want someone of his political view to attend the event. It has nothing to do with the government. If anything, he not being allowed to attend the event has given way to a larger stage to voice his opinions. It certainly did not hurt that he was recently voted Alumni of the Year for UCLA.

The actors and performers who are crying foul have to remember in a free society we as consumers have the right to view, or listen, to whom ever we want. We can choose to watch or not watch any program we choose. As long as that is the case, those actors and performers must decide if using their influence, or position, to voice their opinions is worth the risk.

...that the author of the article is an industry insider and would know the difference between a Talent going over time and an interview being shut down. The author again note, a Television Producer, says that in his opinion this was not a normal occurrence.

Compare and contrast this with the article, also currently on the discussion board, the article on Police Officer Son of a WACO victim.

This was a major slip up all right - it showed how the press is not Free.

You are being lied to.

Read a variety of sources and not only the CONTROLLED American Press. I'm sorry but that is the way it is.

And Katie Couric is REALLY a conservative fascist, she just follows her script. Today couldn't WAIT to get Tim Robbins on, be real. The only thing better would be him and Susie.

Ah, the deluded loons of the left.

"This was a major slip up all right - it showed how the press is not Free."

It shows exactly the opposite (if indeed it was even a concious decision). The "press" which in this case is represented by a vapid morning TV show has every right, as a private enterprise, to show and give airtime to people and news stories in any way it wishes. There is no constitutional issue or danger of being "lied to" if a TV show or an awards dinner, for that matter, run by private concerns, decides to can some of Tim Robbins opinions. Our rights aren't based on being owed full coverage of all his views.

When will all of you quit whining about freedom of speech and the press when this is simply not an issue.

Tim Robbins, et.al. has been able to say anything they want and get massive media coverage for it. They've been rewarded for their views. Sarandon on national magazine covers in the last weeks; Robbins invited to the National Press Club to speak; the media hanging on every word of theirs. Even Michael Moore gets an Oscar for a "documentary" which is in large part, contrived and staged.

So save the crocodile tears. Freedom of speech has never been more widespread. Fortunately, accountability for that freedom is findly being called into play.

...you are suffering from a credibility gap.

Fact: U.S. Intel (Army) PsyOps people were caught working in CNN's News Room.

Fact: Operation Mockingbird did, and does, exist.

All major media in the U.S. are controlled by about 5 major Coroporate groups which are interconnected by virtue of interlocking directorates.

The U.S. Press has been unwilling or unable to provide a full and accurate picture.

Spend some time reading and comparing Press Outlets from different companies.

Do backgroun research.

Next time you hear a slanted, inaccurate, "News" Report on TV or Radio realize it is generally not an accident.

Fresca, the press, even a vapid TV morning show, has a responsibility to present a range of political viewpoints. This is the spirit of the First Amendment to the Constitution, that the press is free to talk about politics. The media owes the people this, because it's operating using public radio frequencies that belong to the people.

If I built a small transmitter for personal use, there are laws that regulate my individual right to encroach on others' use of those frequencies. Likewise, global media corporations should be responsible for an even greater accountability to the people they serve, because they are granted greater access and power over the frequencies. (I think these media giants are failing, and should be abolished, but, that's another essay.)

...we wouldn't want him to be able to talk about the "Emperor's Clothes".

What do ya' think this is? America or something?

speak freely on the fringes, margins and noncorp. spaces, because that's only where it's tolerated.

...listen to yourself.

For all your talk of operation mockingbird and Psyops, what we're discussing here is a case of an actor...a fucking ACTOR for Christ's sake on a silly morning TV show targetting bored houswives who was given the hook at the end of a speech about his politics. Big Fucking Deal. If you really think that this an example of a nefarious governmental "Psyops" and you feel that we as a nation have potentially missed out on some critcal info from the shackled mind of Tim Robbons...TIM ROBBINS...then you are a true deluded moron.

Think about what you're really ranting about.

Unbelievable.

Not to mention, you've completely avoided the obvious point that a private enterprise can "censor" it's guests however it wants.

Start your own damn network and you can allow any two-bit actor with a cause all the time they want. Good luck getting sponsors.

I can not believe that somehow the weight of the American Government would be behind shutting up an opportunistic actor who dislikes the president. If that were the case why wouldn't they have gone after Martin Sheen, the guy who called the president a moron?

I just can not get behind this vast right wing conspiracy.

Number 1 - They shouldn't have let him on the radio in the first place. The guy's a major jerk.

Number 2 - The sooner they pull the plug the better. Giving a jerk like Limbaugh air time is a mistake.

Number 3 - If he complains, tell him to F_ck off. The last think America needs right now is a whiner/complainer like this asshole on national radio.

No thanks. I do my own thinking.

No thanks. I do my own thinking. But only while receiving a brain scan.

Yo buss dis. A conversation 'boutfree speech. An anchor axein reasonable questions. A gues answerin in equally reasonable tones. No attempt to close out de discussion - to say "Well thank you Tim". Dis wuz not a filibuster. See what I'm sayin? Robbins wuz not hoggin de spotlight. Someone in de control room simply decided dat it wuz time to pull de plug. Today Show Goes Dark On Tim Robbins Today Show Goes Dark On Tim Robbins By Steve Rosenbaum, A NYC television producuh 4-19-3 At 8:15 Monday Mornin Today Show hos Mat Lauuh introduced de controversy dat be kicked up by de cancellation uh de 15th anniversary uh Bull Durham at de Baseball Hall uh Fame. In a lettuh made public on Wednesday - Dale Petroskey, de President uh de Hall suggested dat his venue wuz not de appropriate venue fuh a highly charged political expression. Lauuh den introduced Tim Robbins, who along wit his hoe Susan Sarandon, had had deir initiations revoked. Lauuh quizzed Robbins on free speech, an' pointedly axeed Robbins if he had planned to use de Hall uh Fame event as a platform fuh a political statement. Robbins said 'uh course not.' De discussion went back in forth fuh a few minutes, wit Lauuh bein neithuh accommodatin nor confrontational. An' Robbins' responses wuz equally measured. But Robbins did en' up sayin thins dat has hardly been heard befo since de war began. "De message be if you rapp out a guens dis adminiskration you can an' gonna be punished" Robbins explained. "We're sendin out messages on an almos daily basis dat dey has no right to protes a guens dis President" said Robbins. To which Lauuh answuzd wit a question 'boutthe Dixie Chicks an' deir controversial comments a guens de President. Robbins answuzd - pointin to de fact dat de protes an' bannin uh de Dixie Chicks wuz by Clear Channel Radio an' it's connection wit de Bush Adminiskration. Dis conversation wuz unheard uh in de current environment. Robins wuz talkin serious politics on a mornin chat show - an' clearly hackles went up. By 8:24 Robins wuz explainin "We're fightin fuh freedom fuh de Iraqi folk right now so dat dey can has freedom uh speech, yet we're tellin our own citizens dey gotta be quiet" Lauuh could has called it quits dere -but he carried his monkey ass on "When you see pictures uh Iraqi's dancin an' celebratin -does it fix yo mind?" "No" Said Robbins - "I'z ecstatic dat dey feel dis freedom, I hope we has de settle dis to git in dere an' make it wuk." It wuz at dis point dat somethin went down dat has perhaps nevuh went down befo in de history uh mornin television. De music swelled unduh Robbins... Mid-sentence answerin a question dat had been axeed jus 10 seconds earlier... "We has a terrible track record" said Robbins, clearly not able to hear dat music wuz comin up to literally 'play him off de stage'. De camera cut to a wide shot. Lauuh wuz leanin in an' very much in conversation. Eithuh Lauuh wuz ignorin what mus be de deluge uh invectives in his earpiece, or he jus determined dat he wuzn't finished wit dis line uh questionin. But de music ended. De bumpuh music ended an' de studio wuz in de two shot as Robbins said..."It's fuh some reason not in our bes interes to keep it goin an' pursue it to de next level." Lauuh nodded, an' de camera faded to black as Robbins - mid sentence - had his microphone turned down. A conversation 'boutfree speech. An anchor axein reasonable questions. A gues answerin in equally reasonable tones. No attempt to close out de discussion - to say "Well thank you Tim". Dis wuz not a filibuster. See what I'm sayin? Robbins wuz not hoggin de spotlight. Someone in de control room simply decided dat it wuz time to pull de plug. An' witout grace or ceremony, or evun de face savin uh lettin Lauuh say "We're out uh time" as mornin shows do on so many occasions. A conversation 'boutfree speech an' free expression wuz cut off mid sentence as de netwuk went to black. Television history wuz made, as million uh Americans gets to watch in real time jus how powerful an' inescapable censorship can be. Robbins wuzn't revealin troop locations, or givin aid an' comfort to de enemy, an shit. Remembuh de war be won - by all accounts. He wuz discussin freedom, free speech, an' why his appearance be canceled at de Baseball Hall uh Fame. NBC should invite him back an' let him finish his thought - or admit at leas who wuz on de phone to mastuh control demandin dat dey pull de plug. Sheeit!

I received a brain scan the other day and it showed no measurable activity.

Fred, it looks like you are taking the classic Tory approach - of course you have free speech. All we are asking is that you not try to exercise it. Otherwise, you will suffer the consequences.

By the way, your idea that censorship is only censorship when the government does it, but perfecly ok when employers, private networks, associations and so forth do it show the absurdity of the Libertarian positition that all tryanny comes from the state. Most of the oppression people experience in America comes from private entities.

Diogenes, why are you always searching to find some loop hole in everything when it clearly isn't there? This time, you are reaching, and badly.

Again, you question every seemingly right sided news source. And yet again, I AM ASKING YOU, where do you get your perfect little news? This question you've avoided again and again. Try answering us and enlighten us on where to get such pure and clean news, untainted by the satanic right.

This shows more than any of your earlier posts that you are nothing more than a conspiracy theorist. Your credibility has slipped severely.

I am now beginning to wonder if you even exist. I mean, is there REALLY someone out there that is honestly having these thoughts and opinons? Or, are you a myth? a fantasy? Someone that is made up to post outlandish points of view over and over again, each one outdoing the last for the purpose of spawning more debate, chatter and traffic on this website? either way, your opinions are hardly worth the read anymore. You should have been a writer for the X Files.

Thanks for letting us indoctrinate you.

Pete, you made some good points but please.....cut and paste on word then try the spell check....also feel free to make that a couple of paragraphs. I got done reading your post and had to go get some advil and rest my eyes.......

The point is "employers, private networks, associations and so forth" have the right to censor what we say. The government does not. If I work for Acme parts and I make statements which are contrary to the company they have the right to tell me to stop or suffer the consequences. Then I make a decision about how strongly I feel about my statements. As a public figure I am selling myself. If I make a statement then the public has the right to decide if they want to buy my product (me). One point that is being missed in a lot of these arguments is that some people don’t care what Tim Robbins has to say and they will not boycott his movies no matter what he says. This, as with many things in life is far from black and white.

I am like The Shadow. I am everywhere.

Fred, whether you realize it or not, you have just given one of the most important reasons why capitalism is in conflict with human freedom and why it has to be abolished.

Pretty witty there Diogenes...."I am like the shadow. I am everywhere". But back on planet earth, you have still failed to answer my question yet again. What sources do you get your news from? Or better yet, what sources would you deem reliable? Please let me know, I'd be very curious to investigate them.

I am trying to engage in some sort of dialogue with you Diogenes. Why do insist on repeatedly schluffing me off? Answer my question please.

Please keep watching Fox News. And buy my book, too.

Stop begging.

The D man is busy. He doesn't have justify his work for your approval. Debate the sources or do your own research.

"...why capitalism is in conflict with human freedom and why it has to be abolished."

So, exactly how do you plan to abolish capitalism?

You do realize, don't you, that not everyone is going to be tickled with the idea, and will not want to play nice and share their toys.

Are you cacheing weapons?

And how is Brian supposed to research Diogenes' sources if Diogenes doesn't post them?

"The D man is busy. He doesn't have justify his work for your approval."

Whattaya know...Diogenes has an entourage.

The best weapon is the use of argument; I guess you military types are hung up on force and don't realize that the pen (and the computer) are mightier than the sword and the tank. When the minds of the majority are won over by argument and by the inevitable disasters of war and economic depression that this system is going to run into the other kind of weapons will be ours as well if we need to use them like Abe Lincoln did against the reactionaries of his day.

...you're gonna talk us to death.

Way to spring into action!

Good luck.

Go spit shine some combat boots. Leave the debating to adults.

...dumb fake guy/Voice of Alleged Reason/Meyer London.

...kill some Muslims!

You are a sick man.

Anyone who scoffs at the use of argument and debate to change minds and still claims to be for "democracy" is indeed sick. I guess you think we should all just follow orders like you do in the Air Force, Daveman.

Follow the orders of our commander-in-chief. You're either with me or against me. Everything is either black or white.

I just don't think you're going to win any hearts and minds in Indymedia, is all. Too small an audience.

Occasional writer, if you can't tell the difference between me and the fake daveman, you're not paying enough attention.

I pay enough attention to know that you are indeed a sick man.

...the "kill some Muslims" comment.

Had you been paying any attention AT ALL, you would know I don't say things like that.

occasional writer, the fake Bush Admirer, etc, Fox News......

We all recognize "its" signature.

Besides, who cares what the 12 people who actually read LA-IMC think. We're here to ridicule and make fun of the left. This other thing tries, but I'm thankful its on the other side of the aisle, cause its a failure.

You people make ridiculing the right too easy. I like a challenge. I have yet to find one. Too bad conservatives are so small-minded.

"who cares what the 12 people who actually read LA-IMC think."

Hee hee! You're right...let the fake guy post away using whatever names he can spell.

If anybody believes it's the real thing, to heck with 'em.

Set phasers on "ridicule" and FIRE!

>You people make ridiculing the right too easy. I like a challenge. I have yet to find one. Too bad conservatives are so small-minded.

Son, in a battle of wits, you're completely unarmed.

While capitalism is not perfect what system would you replace it with?

Hopefully other people are reading some of these posts...See you can disagree without challenging each other’s sexual orientation or calling each other KKK members.

Way to go, ow. Whenever we conservatives have nothing intelligent to say, we can always be condescending. It really shows our lack of maturity and debating skills. Great job!

It's only condescending if it's not true, which wasn't the case here.

Way to go, ow. Whenever we conservatives have nothing intelligent to say, we can always try to rewrite the meanings of words. It really shows how detached we are from reality and logic. Great job!

occasional writer

Lancer, thanks for you comments. However, Diogenes does have to justify his work for my approval, if he wishes to retain any credibility. I have read Diogenes bash almost every news source you can name time and time again and that is ok. BUT, if you are going to bash every news agency out there, and are not someone on the "front line" of reporting yourself, then yes, I am curious as to where you get your information from which you base your opinions. Wouldn't you be? Or do you suggest we just take everything at face value? Don't answer for Diogenes, he's a big boy, I'm sure he can formulate an answer on his own.

Please keep watching us.

I don't mean to suggest that FOX news is any more or less credible that Indymedia, I'm just curious what Diogenes would consider a "fair and balanced" news source.

Attention Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon and Natalie Maines and the rest:

"To those Sarandonites who gripe about backlash, I have only two words: John Rocker. Until you start crying over him, leave me alone."

I deserved the backlash. I'm an ignorant, unedumacated country bumpkin who don't like colored people. I am a conservative.