On Monday I was forwarded an email supposedly written by Heidi Lee, an officer at GLAAD detailing how the Dr. Phil show was taping a show on “healing” gay teens and GLAAD had a special arrangement with the producers by which they sought to pack the audience with allies. As I do with all forwarded press releases, I wrote to GLAAD seeking verification. Tuesday (10/5/05) Damon Romaine, Entertainment Media Director at GLAAD wrote me back:
We have not issued any press release on the Dr. Phil episode so I don’t have any information at this time to pass on to you.
Warren Throckmorton found all of this to be rather odd and launched an investigation. In his blog, Throckmorton details how he called producers who initially confirmed they had an arrangement with GLAAD and then passed him off to voicemail when he explained he was doing an article on the matter. Taping of the show was yesterday. Throckmorton cites unidentified sources but believes the show was fair to all sides and the audience really played no role.
But Throckmorton and I still have questions:
GLAAD is regularly openly involved with the content of TV shows, why are GLAAD and the Dr. Phil show being so paranoid about this?
Why did GLAAD feel the need to pack the audience in the first place?
Does GLAAD really think group of Los Angeles residents will turn ugly on a gay teen?
If XGW readers would like to know more, I encourage you to tell your favorite gay media outlet that you want them to ask these questions. Also, feel free to contact GLAAD, an organization that represents your interests, if you feel they have failed in this matter.
Damon Romine
Entertainment Media Director, GLAAD
5455 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1500
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323/634-2012
email: Romine@GLAAD.org
Daniel,I’d have to say that “packed” is your word. I read GLAAD (or, rather, Heidi Lee) to be saying that some seats (how many?) were reserved for them and theirs, and called on people to attend. I assume you’ve got some info indicating that the audience was to be overwhelmed with GLAAD-surced people or something?It is not unusual for a call to go out for particular types of audience members. I imagine that if Dr Phil (or whoever) was tackling “Islam and the Terrorists” — a topic fraught with potential for complete mayhem — and a group (who I shall invent) called MAAD got wind of the taping that a similar offer to ensure a proportion of the audience would be made.Perhaps the reason neither GLAAD as an organisation or the producers of the show have made a press release is because it wasn’t actually a particularly big deal or unusual.Until I knew that the audience was to be overwhelmed by GLAAD people I’d be keeping away from using “packed” — the word suggests a deliberate highjacking (and that is certainly what Throckmorton is suggesting.)That the show was apparently balanced in Throckmorton’s view suggests that, in fact, no such highjacking occured.
I was put on the list, but eventually couldn’t go. Stayed in to council a young friend of mine.
‘Packed’ or ‘stacked’ is a loaded word that probably did get misconstrued as an attempt to imbalance the audience.
But as someone who lives here and knows exactly how these shows cast audiences…it depends a lot on if they can anticipate who will really attend.
The ‘LA flake’ is a notorious concept for no shows, which I happened to become that morning.
I also have to state here, that as far as nationally syndicated shows that are conservative, and there are more of those than any others…the imbalance usually favors supporters who are ANTI gay.
There is little room or opportunity for a gay equality supporter to have their say, or enough say to make their point.
These forums don’t allow much dissent because their anti gay guests don’t want a challenge.
They are uncomfortable in environments or situations in which they are not in control.
Look at how a James Dobson or a Pat Robertson have their own NETWORKS or broadcasts.
And they don’t invite say, a Mel White in to talk to them.
They usually deal with people who agree with them or who they think they will.
In spite of what the public is lead to believe…the most powerful and influential networks are ALL very conservative and so are their sponsors.
I have listened to them or watched their shows.
Throckmorton can tape and watch and analyze Dr. Phil’s show on his own and check for balance.
When it comes to audiences, that’s one thing that’s harder to see who has what thoughts.
But it’s the GUESTS that have most of the floor anyway.
So then, it’s more important to see who got to have their say without interruption or derisiveness leveled at them and how the audience responds to that.