Studio 60 and the Crazy Christians

Television has been knocked around pretty good in most Christian circles for a good while, thanks to books like Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death as well as countless warnings from Ft. Dobson and any number of watchdog organizations who constantly remind us that people not like us are trying to brainwash us.

Truth be told, alot of Postman's stuff is legit and if you can wade through the apocalyptic nature of much of what passes for 'upholding family values', there actually is some truth to what we're hearing about the lunacy of television.

So my interest was peaked when I read a quote by Alan Sorkin, discussing the opening sequence to the pilot of his new series on NBC, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, which communicates 'how TV has failed society.'

Early in the episode, the producer of the fictional sketch-comedy show (played by veteran actor Judd Hirsch), fires off the following tirade:

This is not going to be a very good show tonight. And I think you should change the channel...Better yet, turn off the TV. I know it seems like this is supposed to be funny. But tomorrow you're oging to find out that it wasn't, and by that time I will have been fired...

This show used to be cutting-edge political and social satire, but it's gotten lobotomized by a candy-assed broadcast network hellbent on doing nothing that might challenge their audience...We're all being lobotomized by this country's most influential industry, that's just thrown in the towel on doing anything that doesn't include the courting of 12-year old boys...

There's always been a struggle between art and commerce. But  now I'm telling you art is getting its ass kicked. And it's making us mean...It's making us cheap punks. People are having contests to see how much they can be like Donald Trump. We're eating worms for money...Guys are getting killed in a war that's got theme music and a logo. That remote in your hand is a crack pipe. We're pornographers. And it's not even good pornography...just this side of snuff films. And, friends, that's what's next. Because that's all that's left.

Now interestingly enough, the reason that Hirsch's character fires off that salvo is because a network censor cuts out a skit entitled 'Crazy Christians,' fearing the power of a potential boycott. The skit becomes a recurring undercurrent of the episode, that also introduces us to a major character who is an evangelical Christian and just broke up with her boyfriend (the guy who wrote the 'Crazy Christian' skit) because she had appeared on Pat Robertson's 700 Club (the boyfriend - played by Matthew Perry of Friends - calls Robertson a 'bigot,' which is actually kind of funny given the rather obvious intolerance of Robertson's accuser).

Now I'm pretty sure that Sorkin will screw this up (I'm not a huge fan - I thought that The West Wing was a rather pompous show, but that just might be because Martin Sheen comes off as remarkably pompous) but I'll give him this: he has the guts to put the issue on the table.

Here's the question I've been thinking about this afternoon: what does it look like for Christians to renew culture within the television media? Is it redeemable and worth investing in, or should we just trade in our flat-screens and boycott the small screen?

Comments

[Mark McAndrew]

For me personally (and I have no idea if I'm right) I have been really convicted about most all of my TV watching because it tends to seem to be such a waste of time. I just have trouble seeing how watching Friends, or 24 or whatever, is going to help me say, better evangelize the kids sitting next to me in class at college.

R. Kent Hughes, in his book 'Disciplines of a Godly Man', when talking about avoiding lust, writes:

"Men, it is the 'legal' sensualities, the culturally acceptable indulgences, which will take us down. The long hours of indiscriminate TV watching, which is not only culturally cachet [acceptable] but is expected of the American male, is a massive culprit of desensitization."

Then a few chapters later mentions TV again, saying:

"It is impossible for any Christian who spends the bulk of his evenings, month after month, week upon week, day in day out watching the major TV networks or contemporary videos to have a Christian mind. This is Always true of All Christians in Every situation!"

Then he adds his own advice for how to 'have Christian minds':

"Stop watching television. I mean that sincerely! Not watching TV will liberate so much time, it will become virtually impossible not to become a deeper person and a better Christian."

Then he quotes Psalm 101:2-3,

"I will walk in my house with a blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing."

And for me his argument makes sense, but also I realize that we are to be 'culturally relevant' and all, but TV just seems like too big a commitment of time, too big a temptation to lust (and/or commit other sins), and too small a help in evangelizism for me to even want to mess with it much, if at all...

but I'm not sure.

[I also realize that Paul, in Acts 17, walked around the Areopagus, and in his words: 'I was passing through and Examining the objects of your worship' - so I know don't really know how that plays into TV watching and movies and stuff.]

[d hunt]

But Paul also knew enough Greek philosophy to bridge the gap between the Athenians' (mis)understanding of the world & the reality of the God-created and God-ruled world. Watching TV (not excessively or mindlessly) does provide some insight in the way our culture understand things or the way that media would want the culture to think. I think it's both/and not either/or. It's more of a symbiotic relationship.

[Allison Carluccio]

Speaking as one who went without TV for all of last year & now having it- and being a female (b/c i'm sure guys have different issues)- I think TV can be mastered for good- with the help of a little discipline & a lot of the Holy Spirit! Watching some shows at night has been a great bonding time for me & my new roomate- we gather to watch a show, but we end up talking all about our lives- granted she's a christian too, so we can hold each other accountable. Watching the Bacholerette (terrible show), however was a really natural bonding time with my nonchristian roomates in the past. but, it took hard work not to be pulled into the criticizing comments- & as women, I think we have to be careful not to covet beauty, etc. with shows like that. I do have to make goals not to turn it on in the afternoon when i'm by myself, or else i'll waste tons of time- I guess it all has to do with the intention behind it & the awareness of what you're watching.

[george]

And there is the whole artistic side of the argument. Art, and participating in art can be valuable. As Christians, recognizing the prominance of the medium in our culture and the artistic opportunity that the medium itself provides, we should be very ingtersted in how we can contribute quality art in the television format. Contrary to what some of my friends may think. http://mumblety-peg.blogspot.com/2006/03/tv.html

[Matt Adair]

Mark - One of the questions I'd have is whether our intake of culture exists solely for the purpose of evangelization/relevance or can it also exist simply to be enjoyed?

David - You used the word 'symbiotic.' You are an intelligent man.

Allison - Guys and girls have different issues? I've never noticed...

George - Dude, that exchange on your blog was crazy! I'm with you on this one.

[george]

Thanks, I was beginning to think I was on crazy pills after that one.