richard whiteley's death - tv comments?????

[joko]

I have just seen an old episode of QI on UKGold, and Alan Davies made a joke about Richard Whitely nearly having a coronary when interviewing 2 strippers, and it being hilarious.

No problem with it, (I'm sure AD wouldn't have made the joke after Richards death) but it just occurred to me to wonder whether TV execs have a screening process for programmes with content that may be sensitive at that time, particularly with re-runs on cable TV.

Its about a month since Richards death, but I wonder if had that episode had been scheduled to be shown. say the day after he died, would they have even known about the comment?

do they keep notes or screen them first?

I know some films where changed after 9/11.

Any one know?

(I should know this, I work in the industry LOL!)

[Supernick]

I asked a very similar question after a Simpsons episode was aired which had a song and dance number about what a hell hole New Orleans was, right at the height of the crisis. So I'd be interested as well.

[nicola_red]

This is an obscure thing to remember, but I recall shortly after Jill Dando's murder C4 issued a short apology before a screening of the now defunct quiz show Fifteen To One cos it included a Q about her, clearly filmed before her death.  I thought it was a bit unnecessary and just drew attention to the Q which would possibly otherwise just have glided by unnoticed.  So some of them obviously pay attention to these things! 

[Johnmof]

I think sometimes the programme planners are over sensitive to some events, and are too quick to cancel films because there's been some disaster/murder and the film contains some superficial similarity to what's happened. The thing that surprised me was that they got away with releasing Lord of the Rings; The Two Towers not long after 9/11. I was expecting the political correctness brigade to insist on some other title.

[CT]

The p.c. brigade in America did try to get the LOTR:The Two Towers changed but Peter Jackson wouldn't let them. It was decided that it was just different enough by virtue of the Americans usually refering to the world trade centre as the 'twin' towers. I think that's how it went.

[joko]

I only noticed it because it joked about him having a coronary - which is what happened to him, wasn't it??

Can't recall now if thats the exact reason, but he did collapse.

To ban merely mentioning them is a bit over the top, though I suppose it depends on what's being said, if its tone is derogatory, or a bit close to what's happened to them.

[Morrisonker]

The whole 'two towers/'twin towers' thing annoyed me, yes, it's similar but that book (and film) were produced well before the event.  What exactly was the directer supposed to change it to?

I agree that sometimes people can be too sensitive.  If you ask most people I'm sure they'd say that they'd like to be remembered with smiles not tears.  most people can see the funny side of things and when you're tlaking about TV i think that most folk don't take it too seriously.