[stylist] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #148- Reality Check

[ben micek]

i thought you weren't doing these anymore? 

Benjamin micek 


 
> From: newmanrl at cox.net
> To: stylist at nfbnet.org
> Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:22:27 -0500
> Subject: [stylist] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #148- Reality Check
> 
> STYLIST members
> RE: Reality Check 
> 
> The newest THOUGHT PROVOKER is one written by a guest author. In fact, this
> is David's 3rd TP. This guy is a sighted gent that has a passion to write
> about blindness, via short stories and novels. He has a pretty good handle
> on what we within the NFB know is correct about the human potential to live
> with blindness. Check out his thought provoking TP, "reality check." If you
> have not read the PROVOKER, it follows. Recall that I collect responses and
> post them upon my web site for all the WWW to read and learn from and that
> URL is- Http://thoughtprovoker.info <http://thoughtprovoker.info/> If you
> wish to receive THOUGHT PROVOKERS sent directly to you, just write me and
> ask, at- newmanrl at cox.net 
> 
> THOUGHT PROVOKER 148
> REALITY CHECK
> 
> By Guest Author
> David Lafleche
> 
> "Well, what do you think?" Mister Jones asked hopefully.
> 
> Mister Smith, the network programming director, shuffled through the stack
> of scripts with a puzzled look on his face. This was not a good sign. He
> finally replied, choosing his words carefully. "It's an unusual idea for a
> show, but it will never work."
> 
> "Why not?" Mister Jones asked. "You said the writing was good, and the
> characters were well-developed. What's wrong?"
> 
> "It's the characters themselves," Mister Smith sighed. "I mean, come on.
> It's bad enough that your male lead wears glasses; but the blind girls? Two
> handicapped people in the same show?"
> 
> "Their blindness is hereditary," Mister Jones explained. "Caroline could
> serve as a role model for Rhoda. Besides, I figured that a disability would
> add depth to the characters, expand possibilities for plots and dialogue,
> and so on."
> 
> "Maybe so," Mister Smith grudgingly agreed. "But our focus groups don't
> like it. People who might watch this show would be creeped out by having
> two handicapped people to look at."
> 
> "Ah, but I've countered that!" Mister Jones rebutted. "Caroline and Rhoda
> are always working, smiling, or teaching something. They try to be
> constructive. What's so creepy about that?"
> 
> Mister Smith struggled to excuse himself. "Well, uh, two handicapped
> females with an upbeat attitude? Yeah, right. Besides, you've made these
> girls too smart! Handicapped girls aren't going to be popular; but giving
> them high I.Q.s? That's way over the top. Now, this 'Caroline' character
> is blonde, right? So make her a bit more dumb. That's funnier. And Rhoda
> might work, if she dressed up in Goth style, and frowned a little more."
> "I know where you're going with that," Mister Jones objected. "Caroline
> will not be 'dumb.' I want her respectable. And Rhoda may be blind, but
> she isn't bitter. I don't do that 'Disease-of-the-Week' stuff."
> 
> "Can't you at least make them some kind of superhero team?"
> 
> "It's been done."
> 
> Mister Smith finally cracked a smile. "That's what sells."
> 
> "No, that's what you hope sells. What's the point of doing a TV show, if I
> have to write like everyone else? I might as well Xerox everything."
> 
> "My sentiments exactly, Mister Jones. There's no point in you trying.
> Nobody will believe your show in a million years."
> 
> "Oh, sure," Mister Jones rebutted sarcastically. "But put a British geek on
> a flying broomstick, and THAT they'll believe."
> 
> "Fantasy gives younger viewers hope," Mister Smith replied. "But
> handicapped people are unnerving. Two of them is too much."
> 
> 
> 
> Robert Leslie Newman 
> Email- newmanrl at cox.net
> THOUGHT PROVOKER Website- 
> Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info
> 
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