MovieChat Forums > VeggieTales (2006) Discussion > No God on NBC?

No God on NBC?

posted 18 years ago by TesubCalle
12 replies | jump to latest

So those Nothing But Crap network heads are at it again...

Bob Unruh of WorldNetDaily news breaks a story about NBC doing some creative editing of Veggie Tales for Saturday morning consumption, and NBC claims the editing is due to 'time contraints'.

Excerpt from article:

In a statement on the Broadcasting & Cable website, NBC said its edits of the kids' shows were focused on airtime limits only.

"VeggieTales was originally created for home video and, in most cases, each episode is over 30 minutes long. As it appears …. VeggieTales has been edited down for broadcast without losing any of its core messages about positive values," the network said.

Phil Vischer, the co-creator of the characters, said that comment was "interesting."

"As a guy deeply involved with the project, I know that statement is false," Vischer wrote on his own weblog. "We sent them our first episode for TV, which was already edited to EXACTLY the right length, and they rejected it because, at the end, Bob the Tomato said, 'Remember kids, God made you special and he loves you very much.' They demanded we remove that line. The show wasn't too long, it was too religious."

He said the second also was sent edited for perfect timing. The response from NBC was an e-mail with a list of lines that needed to be removed, "each of them containing either the word 'God' or 'Bible,'" Vischer wrote.

Full article at http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52068

I once boycotted NBC because they were just moronic when it came to cancelling shows I happened to enjoy.

I was thinking of watching some new shows on that network because they looked promising (i.e., they looked like they wouldn't be cancelled mid-season!)...

But now? I'm flat out boycotting them for this anti-God garbage. I will never watch another new NBC series. Good-bye NBC. Hope you enjoy remaining at the bottom of the ratings cesspool.

[–] imyourham 18 years ago

I don't know if this means anything, but I saw an episode a few weeks ago where the old pea said something like, "God wants you to be kind to others."

[–] graceflowsdown2006 18 years ago

Ok, I see this thread needs an update, so here it goes:

First off, I suggest going to http://www.philvischer.com for a full explanation of the NBC situation and bankruptcy of Big Idea (go to the thread "All Together, From The Beginning" to start with). This is Phil Vischer's - creator of VeggieTales - blog. It explains everything there.

#1. Yes, NBC basically cut out lots of Biblical or God references. I'm a Christian, and it bothered me a bit, but understand the media here. I'm not defending them, but did you expect anything else? Christianity in the media is looked down on, which is a shame and a bit odd, seeing as VeggieTales is the highest grossing direct-to-video series of all time. It shouldn't have happened, and their excuses were along the same lines of a child blaming their missing homework on the pet. They threw something out as a defense that they knew wasn't true. But thankfully, things have progressed a bit the past few months for the Veggies. I wish I could say the same for their primetime shows.

#2. Not all references were cut. A Veggie could say something like "The Bible Says..." or "Didn't you ever go to Sunday School?" But anything giving credit to God - such as "God gives us courage" or "God made you special and He loves you very much" - was deleted. That's why you'd hear the word "Bible" or even "God" sometimes in the previous episodes. Which brings me to...

#3. NBC has ordered the last batch of the Veggies WITHOUT ANY EDITS. Just the same as the videos show - God and all. Apparently there were enough e-mails that NBC changed their attitude. So turn the tube back on for Veggies on Saturday mornings! Christians need to be known for more than complaining - we need to thank NBC for listening to us. Perhaps the media will let up a bit after all...

For the whole story, go to Phil's site. It'll answer all the questions you have.
www.philvischer.com

[–] Kimberlyjeana 18 years ago

I watch and tape this weekend show every Sat.

I love it and it has started showing more of its Christian roots.
My favorite show is the one that sounds like Dr. Suess. It talks of a small snoodle who is mocked by the other snoodles and he finds himself on Mount Ginchs where he meets an old man.
Since the small snoodle was told by all the other snoodles how he is silly and untalented. The other snoodles draw him pictures of how useless he is. So he is so unhappy he leaves town. walk far far away till he finds himself on Mount Ginchs
and there is an old man on mount ginchs who asks him why he is so sad. Our snoodle tells him "I am puny, I'm silly & I am not smart, I can't use my wings and I'm no good at art." The old man asks him who told you these things how do you. Our snoodle says "these picture I have in my pack tell me so" The old man says "Let me look at this art that makes your pack heavy and weighs down your heart." Then he tells him "Dear boy these pictures look nothing like you and into the fire the pictures he throw."
"My dear snoodle wait there you'll see that what you need most is a picture from me." When he comes back he shows the snoodle a picture that looks like him but much bigger and stronger with big long wings. When the snoodle says I'd like believe you that that picture is me. The man on Mount Ginches says
"I know who you are for I made you." He then tells our snoodle that he gave him the special gifts (his pack and paint and his wings) He tells our snoodle the paint is to paint the things he sees. But most other snoodles use their paints to make others feel small. He tells our snoodle that he made all the beautiful things in the land for the snoodles. He then says (about the picture) here's what you look like here's how I see you keep this in your pack and you will find it will free you from all the pictures and all of the lies that other made up to cut down your size. Lastly your wings you know what there for but not just to fly I want you to soar. once the snoodle heard these words he found he was inches off the floor and realized he could fly. Soon he is flying all over and he goes to the center of town to tell the other snoodles what he has learns.

It ends with Bob saying "When you know how wonderful you were created How special you are you can ignore the boy who calls you a dork because it just isn't true.

I love this show and watch it often not just with little ones but ever my big tough HS football playing 17 year old son loves it.

I truly is the message we have been hearing from Veggietales for years.

If you love Veggietales on TV make sure NBC hears you love it

Kimber

[–] TesubCalle 18 years ago

Thanks for the update, grace. I'm amazed people even saw this thread I started, and pleased people took the time out to comment and investigate for themselves.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] TesubCalle 18 years ago

You can always turn off your TV, just like I turn off my TV when I see something I deem offensive.

And I'm not into those giant faith-healing stadiums. I am not an Evangelical Christian. I'm not a Christian Fundamentalist, either. I do not support any 'church channel' with any of my hard-earned money. I'm also not white. So of course I don't advocate a return to 'all white' schools like back in the 50s or something. I also don't even live in the US. But isn't it nice that we can express our opinions without fear someone's going to beat down our doors and kill us for being different?

[–] Drdsr 18 years ago

that's America, land of EQUALITY

It's very interesting that you earlier state broadcast channels should be "SECULAR," and argue that Christians cannot have access to them...and yet you go on to talk about a land of "EQUALITY."

Do you see the irony?

Next you'll be wanting ALL WHITE schools like back in the 50's or something.

Again, there's a great irony here--you want all things Christian taken out of the public sector, which is more akin to your statement above than allowing a (censored) children's program on television.

[–] BlazeFox 18 years ago

Where's the 24 hour Satanist channels? The 24 hour Wiccan/Pagan channels? Where's the 24 hour Jewish channels? All I ever see is christian this, and christian that and "prayer in school means CHRISTIAN prayer, not muslim prayer, or any other kinda religion"

[–] Drdsr 18 years ago

Where's the 24 hour Satanist channels?

I don't know. Are you asserting that Satanist channels have been banned by the FCC (otherwise your statement makes little sense in context)? Perhaps they simply aren't interested in devoting their efforts or money--or, more likely, they know that there is not a large audience for such a station.

The 24 hour Wiccan/Pagan channels?

See above.

Where's the 24 hour Jewish channels?

Again, are you asserting that Christians have somehow blocked attempts at such channels? Do you have any documentation for this?

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] shanb232003 18 years ago

Great post. And don't Jews run most of Hollywood anyway??? I don't see Blazefox point, or lack thereof.

[–] e25171971 16 years ago

Unless the FCC has banned it(%$&* THEM!) then, uh...it's their own fault for not setting up one. I've always wondered what a satanist church looks like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0a62ZO0mjg
Stay. Bad newbie. That's a very bad newbie.