Author
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Topic: Challenger disaster used as comedy
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edmk5000 Member Posts: 49 From: Homestead, FL USA Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 01-23-2006 11:37 PM
I was watching the spanish-language television network, Univision and caught the opening to a "comedy" show called, "La Hora Derbez" in which they use footage of the Challenger exploding in a comedy bit.In the first minute or so of every show, they use footage of a shuttle launch, cut away to an actor aiming his sling-shot in the air, and cut back to actual footage of the Challenger explosion, as if the actor hit the shuttle. They actor then makes an "oops" face. Canned laughter and "Beethoven's Ode to Joy" plays as if the destruction of the vehicle and deaths of seven people is funny. The show can be seen weeknights at midnight(est) on Univision (most major cities have a local Univision affiliate, in Miami, it is WLTV-23). DirecTV carries it on channels 402/403. Most cable companies also carry the network. Are there enough readers here bothered by this to start some kind of letter-writing campaign to the network or to other news outlets? I am not sure if Univision would acknowledge, respond, or appologize to our letters, but it may be worth a try to organize something. Using the actual footage of the explosion is (in my opinion) worse that when GM/OnStar used the Columbia just sitting on the pad last year. What was the result with that, anyway? I know the ad didn't run long. If I am being a "crank" for bringing this up on this board, I appologize. Also, I do not have anything "against" the spanish-speaking community (my wife is Cuban) just the use of the video of the death of seven people as a comedy bit. Finally, if anyone wants to see this bit, I can send or post the video. edmk5000 [This message has been edited by edmk5000 (edited January 25, 2006).] |
KSCartist Member Posts: 2896 From: Titusville, FL USA Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 01-24-2006 11:41 AM
edmk-You are not over reacting. To use this footage especially this close to the anniversary is beyond tasteless. Robert- If we can get a electronic petition going. I'll sign it. I'll also contact the local media to make them aware. Tim |
Madon_space Member Posts: 667 From: uk Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 01-24-2006 11:51 AM
Count me in too, i would deffinatelt put my name to a petition.------------------ Best Wishes ROB http://hometown.aol.com/robc2412/madonspace.html |
John K. Rochester Member Posts: 1292 From: Rochester, NY, USA Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 01-24-2006 02:19 PM
Using Columbia in the ad mentioned may have been a mistake in editing....but to use the footage of Challenger for a tasteless comedy bit is too obnoxious and uncaring to ignore. Request your cable channels or dish provider to drop the offending channel from its menu. |
trajan Member Posts: 109 From: Chester, Cheshire, UK Registered: May 2004
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posted 01-24-2006 04:09 PM
I will happily contribute to a petition or write / e-mail in, whichever is more appropriate.Jason |
edmk5000 Member Posts: 49 From: Homestead, FL USA Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 01-24-2006 10:07 PM
Below is the contact information for Univision's corporate office, Univision's Investor Relations, and the Miami affiliate. Most US cities have a Univision broadcast and/or cable channel.Before we write, we will need to organize what we are going to include in the letter. Also, because it is a spanish-speaking network, my wife has volunteered to translate our letters into spanish so that we can send our letters in both languages. If we only send english letters, they may not be very responsive as we are not their target audience. Please email me with any letters for translation. CORPORATE OFFICES: Ray Rodriguez President and Chief Operating Officer 9405 NW 41st Street Miami, FL 33178-2301 Telephone: (305) 471-3900 Fax: (305) 471-4065 INVESTOR RELATIONS
Univision Communications Inc. Attn: Investor Relations 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 3050 Los Angeles, CA 90067 310-556-7665 Fax 310-556-7615 IR Contacts Diana M. Vesga, Vice President Phone: 310-556-7695 Mariana Correch Phone: 310-556-7665 Public Relations Stephanie Pillersdorf / Brooke Morganstein Citigate Sard Verbinnen Phone: 212-687-8080 MIAMI AFFILIATE: Luis Fernandez Rocha -- General Manager Helga Silva -- News Director WLTV-23 9405 NW 41st Street Miami, FL 33178-2301 Telephone: (305) 471-3900 Fax: (305) 471-4065 MORE CORPORATE INFO: http://www.univision.net/corp/en/board.jsp Again, the show using the Challenger disaster as a comedy bit is on a show called, "La Hora Derbez" at 12midnight (Eastern time) on Univision network stations. I have the video on Tivo and will transfer it to an mpg or avi file, tape, or DVD if anyone wants to see it or include it with their letter. Thanks for the support on this. Ed |
tegwilym Member Posts: 2331 From: Sturgeon Bay, WI Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 01-25-2006 11:44 AM
quote: Originally posted by edmk5000: Again, the show using the Challenger disaster as a comedy bit is on a show called, "La Hora Derbez" at 12midnight (Eastern time) on Univision network stations. I have the video on Tivo and will transfer it to an mpg or avi file, tape, or DVD if anyone wants to see it or include it with their letter.Thanks for the support on this. Ed
I'd be interested in seeing what it is, can you send a link? It sounds pretty tasteless, so you can send it directly to me if you don't want to post it publicly. As for the Columbia ad, I just attribute that to the general public and media who can't tell one shuttle from the other and just used some stock video. I guess they didn't know that Columbia was the only on with the black panels on the wing leading edges. I haven't seen that commercial in a while, so I guess someone took care of that. Tom
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KSCartist Member Posts: 2896 From: Titusville, FL USA Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 01-25-2006 11:57 AM
I stayed up to see it last night. Unbelievable that anyone could think the idea of blowing up a shuttle is comical, let alone use actual footage of a national tragedy for laughs. I emailed a reporter for a local TV station and asked him to look into this. I figure if our letter campaign doesn't work, then negative publicity will. Tim |
edmk5000 Member Posts: 49 From: Homestead, FL USA Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 01-25-2006 09:15 PM
I have placed the video (.wmv format) on my "personal web server" for viewing/downloading. Note that I have not built a website and the file is sitting on the server by itself. http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-edmk Please also feel free to email me and I will email the file to anyone who requests it. Since the show that the clip comes from is copyrighted, I included the original copyright notice in the video. Also, according to the "Fair Use" doctrine of the US Copyright statute, "it is permissible to use limited portions of a work including quotes, for purposes such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, and scholarly reports." In this case, I am using a portion of the copyrighted work for commentary and criticism so it seems to be legal to post and download. Ed |
randy Member Posts: 2176 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 01-26-2006 12:32 AM
Count me in, too. I think it's very inappropriate.[This message has been edited by randy (edited January 26, 2006).] |
Scott Member Posts: 3307 From: Houston, TX Registered: May 2001
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posted 01-26-2006 03:43 PM
That idea of calling TV stations is a very good one. With the upcoming anniversary, I can see a lot of stations reporting on this if they are informed of it. |
David Stephenson Member Posts: 294 From: England Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 01-26-2006 03:56 PM
Hello, im disgusted by this ad and will put pen to paper over it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. David |
mjanovec Member Posts: 3811 From: Midwest, USA Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 01-26-2006 05:29 PM
The thing that bothers me is that there is plenty of footage (old and new) of unmanned rockets exploding. Why did they have to choose a flight that ended in the deaths of seven people?I can't even imagine what it would be like to be a surviving family member of one of the crew and to turn on the TV and see this "comedy" flash by on the screen. |
edmk5000 Member Posts: 49 From: Homestead, FL USA Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 01-26-2006 10:04 PM
I have posted a draft of the letter and press release I am sending concerning the Challenger video on my webserver. Please feel free to copy, modify, and send the letter and/or press release. http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-edmk I will be faxing and mailing the letter (and cc's) tomorrow.
[This message has been edited by edmk5000 (edited January 26, 2006).] |
zee_aladdin Member Posts: 781 From: California Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 01-26-2006 11:06 PM
I watched the footage and it is not just tasteless, I think it is an ATTACK on American Technology... I think whoever did this is INTENTIONALLY Trying to belittle and make fun of the American Space Program, which is Just UNACCEPTABLE to me or to any decent Human Being! |
edmk5000 Member Posts: 49 From: Homestead, FL USA Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 01-27-2006 03:45 PM
Since tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of the Challenger disaster, many cities around the US are having "memorials" and tributes. Here in Miami, FL, a memorial is being held at a Challenger memorial statue downtown and I will be making those in attendance aware of Univision's video.I plan on bringing the press release describing the issue, a list of people to write, a laptop computer with the video, and a petetion to sign. Since the local news media will also be covering this memorial, I may try to make contacts with them as well. This seems like a good opportunity for all of us to get this video cut from the air. Ed |
edmk5000 Member Posts: 49 From: Homestead, FL USA Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 01-27-2006 04:57 PM
UPDATE! UNIVISION COMES THROUGH!I just received a telephone call from Ray Rodriguez, President and CEO of Univision Communications. Mr. Rodriguez says that the video will "never be aired again on his network." Mr. Rodriguez offered a sincere apology and said that the video was "ridiculous and couldn't beleive that video was still airing" and is personally ensuring us that the video not be aired again. Mr. Rodriguez told me that after he read my letter, he hoped I was wrong. A while back he says, that they had removed this clip, but somehow by "human error" the video resurfaced. I will also be removing the video clip from my server (unless the video resurfaces). My next letter will be a thank you letter to Mr. Rodriguez. Ed |
Scott Member Posts: 3307 From: Houston, TX Registered: May 2001
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posted 01-27-2006 05:37 PM
Kudos to you, Ed! You have demonstrated again that one person can really make a difference. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-27-2006 05:52 PM
I'm not particularly sure how I missed this thread until now, but I am very happy to see its outcome. Congratulations Ed, on a job well done.[This message has been edited by Robert Pearlman (edited January 27, 2006).] |
randy Member Posts: 2176 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 01-27-2006 06:39 PM
Great job Ed! |
zee_aladdin Member Posts: 781 From: California Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 01-27-2006 09:23 PM
Great Job Ed ... you deserve a Medal!- Zee |
David Stephenson Member Posts: 294 From: England Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 01-28-2006 05:22 AM
Well Done Ed, nice to see someone taking a stand can still make a difference. David. |
KSCartist Member Posts: 2896 From: Titusville, FL USA Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 01-28-2006 05:57 AM
Ed-Great Job. I'm going to be at KSC today for the anniversary and was going to speak with Joe Allen of is now Chairman of the Board for the Challenger Center. I'm glad I checked in before going. Thank you for your effort. Tim |
spaceman1953 Member Posts: 953 From: South Bend, IN Registered: Apr 2002
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posted 02-02-2006 06:17 PM
Thank you Ed.. |