Dear ABC: Thanks for the lifetime of memories, but GOODBYE!

[liberalhistorian]

Dear ABC:

I am 41 years old and just a few short months away from the second year of my 4th decade. Throughout most of my life, you have entertained me, educated me, moved me, spurred me to action, made me think of and realize things I'd never known, taken me on journeys around the globe and to places I'd never have been able to visit otherwise, made me cry, laugh, stamp my foot in indignation, and made me glad, overall, that you were a part of my life.

As I endured the travails, travesties and troubles of junior high and high school, (an era I wouldn't relive for anything, no matter how much I may wish I were younger again at times), your Afterschool Specials, as hokey and melodramatic as they could sometimes be, gave me the escape I so desperately needed and, as bad as my homelife was at that time, took me into the world of those my age who had to endure far worse. It showed us some teenager-ish mistakes to avoid, and the possible consequences if we didn't, but also showed that there was always hope no matter what we did, for redemption and starting over. In a world where most TV programming and movies focused on adults and their problems, something we would experience soon enough and were often in too much of a hurry for, your focus on us and our world through the Afterschool Specials was especially welcome and timely.

Your comedies that aired throughout my childhood, such as Happy Days, Mork and Mindy, Laverne and Shirley, etc., not only provided many hours of hilarious entertainment, but brought my family and I together, to enjoy experiencing the shows and laughing together, in what were often tumultous times for us.

Throughout my adulthood, while your star has faded somewhat in favor of (I'm sorry to say) frankly better cable programming and the programming of the other networks, you have still been a worthy companion, for the most part, at times taking the lead in risks to challenge and involve audiences.

And what I call your "great comeback", in the form of producing some of the most watched and popular shows in the past few years, including Desperate Housewives, Lost and Grey's Anatomy, (the last two being among my absolute favorites of current TV shows), was wonderful to see. You were returning to form, and your Sunday night lineup was almost like being a child again. Considering that we generally feel the same way about Sunday nights-Monday mornings as adults as we did as children, that was quite an accomplishment!

But no more. As of this week, after a lifetime of such wonderful memories, you and I are FINISHED. DONE. OVER. FINI. Your blatant and deliberate exploitation of our national tragedy of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, in the form of the deliberate distortion and hatchet job you have disingenuously titled "The Path to 9/11", has finally done it. To take one of the most tragic days of our history, and the most vicious attack we as a nation have endured on our own soil, and deliberately twist and distort it to place blame where it doesn't belong, has finally done it. Your deliberate fabrications of scenes and events from whole cloth, and your refusal to change anything despite being strongly advised of such fabrications both by the people involved, some members of te 9/11 Commission, and even many conservatives who saw right through your political exploitation, has finally done it. Your arrogance and hubris in not only dismissively brushing aside these legitimate criticisms, but in failing to disclose the blatant political agenda of the show's writer, and your tell-tale sending of the show to right-wing blogs and media pundits for viewing before anyone else, has finally done it. Your inexcusable pandering to the right, when you KNOW you've deliberately fabricated, distorted, and twisted events and information, and misleading your fellow Americans on the eve of one of our greatest tragedies, has finally done it.

So, goodbye, ABC. You are no longer worthy of this country, and are, therefore, no longer worthy to be watched. I am ashamed, appalled, disgusted, and dismayed. And so, I assure you, are far too many of my fellow Americans who, like me, considered you a part of their childhood and adolescence, and a continuing part of their adulthood. I know several first-hand, who, like me, will no longer even consider watching you. As bittersweet as it is, such is your loss, not ours.

[Erika]

1. Many of us have not clicked on ABC since their partisan

debachle of Path to 9/11 nor will ever do so again.

Thanks for the excellent post.

[liberalhistorian]

10. I hope that's the case; I know several

people first-hand, my mother included, who are no longer watching it. It may not change any minds at ABC in the long run, but it's really a matter of principle.

[liberaldemocrat7]

89. Very good letter. Time to hit other GOP friends in their wallets.

Hit as many GOP friends and contributors in their wallets.

It does not make sense to give part of your money to the GOP through purchases of products from companies that give money to the GOP.

It also does not make sense to ask GOP office holders while they hold majorities in the house and senate directly for legislation that we want. Why not ask the friends and contributors of the GOP for the legislation since they depend on money spent by you and I.

[annabanana]

2. nice letter

I don't think they care, though.

[bliss_eternal]

5. Unfortunately I think you are right...

I just canceled my WDW vacation...not a word from them about it. Oh well. Their loss. There's other places to travel to that are happy to take my money. Too bad ABC/Disney doesn't seem to realize it or care about it. :)

[bluerum]

3. Net gain for you liberalhistorian. One more step towards freedom!

[burythehatchet]

4. I also have fond memories of

the little fairy tapping her wand three times over the castle.

Today I would put a noose around Mickey's neck.

[liberalhistorian]

11. I know, and that's exactly how I feel!

I, too, remember the wand-tapping fairy over the castle, among many other images.

[bliss_eternal]

6. Great letter, liberalhistorian!

Thanks so much for sharing! :)

[Why Syzygy]

7. wow. you know a lot

about ABC. They should put you on the payroll. Interesting post.

[blm]

8. Correct 40th decade to 4th decade.

Good job on the overall thrust of the letter. It's very moving.

[liberalhistorian]

9. OY! You're right,

I didn't catch that, lol! I may be getting old, but not quite THAT old. See what happens to us when we age? :evilgrin:

[Gabi Hayes]

13. not as old as you think: Disney was on NBC when you were a kid:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney_anthology_series

couldn't agree more with your sentiments, though

goes the same for all MSM outlets, including PB$

[liberalhistorian]

17. Are you SURE about that?

I distinctly recall it being on ABC.

[Virginian]

26. They were still on NBC when they went color.

I remember the peacock in the intro to Walt Disney's wonderful world of color.

Not sure when they went to ABC. I don't think it was in Walt's lifetime.

[liberalhistorian]

29. Yikes, I'm afraid you're right.

Guess the 'ol memory cells are showing their age! The editing period has passed, but I really wish the mods would let me take out that paragraph that refers to the Wonderful World of Disney, since it obviously doesn't belong there. I could have sworn it was on ABC!

[chat_noir]

90. speaking of pee cock...here's commander codpiece

……….


WWW.AWOLBUSH.COM






DESERTER: THE STORY OF GEORGE W. BUSH AFTER HE QUIT THE TEXAS AIR NATIONAL GUARD http://www.glcq.com/bush_at_arpc1.htm















$10,000 reward was never collected




Cheerleader action doll hahahaha

[il_lilac]

28. sorry, but it is 5th decade

I should know- i'm at the end of mine

[GOTV]

69. And I'd say the 3rd year n/t

[AllieB]

12. I also will never watch it again

No more "Desperate Housewives" for me. I liked one of the shows on our local affiliate here called Chronicle but I won't be watching that anymore either. I'm back to WBZ-4 (CBS)for my news.

[sendero]

14. I've bought gasoline..

... at Exxon or Exxon/Mobil stations exactly twice since the Valdez incident, and both were basically emergency situations where I had no choice.

I have a long memory and I hold grudges. I have removed ABC and everything associated it from my Tivo preferences. I will not watch ABC television, purchase any product produced by Disney or any affiliated studio, or even view a Disney/ABC related movie at the theatre. And I WILL check.

And I have a long memory.

[yorkiemommie1]

42. i hold grudges and have a long memory too

ABC and Disney are no longer in my universe and I will make sure I tell people why.

[Demit]

15. Hate to break it to you, but you're in your fifth decade.

You completed your fourth decade at age 40. :)

[liberalhistorian]

16. ARRRRGGGHHHH!

You just HAD to say that, didn't you! I'm still having trouble getting my head around the fact that I'm out of my thirties, when they seemed to go by like nothing!

[Berry Cool]

21. And unless the wiki entry is wrong, you did watch Disney on NBC as a kid.

Me too--I'm just a few years older. I remember when it was Disney's Wonderful World of Color. The show, although it began on ABC as Disneyland, was on NBC from 1961 to 1981, which would effectively span your childhood years of viewing with ease.

[Demit]

40. LOL! Sorry. But hang on to them there forties, cus guess what's next...

I'm somewhat ahead of you, so I do understand your anguish. Eventually, though, your mind will stop struggling to resist & you will resign yourself to being undeniably old (the mirror will help you in this regard). Shortly after that you will realize fuckit, who cares, and you will feel more relaxed than you have in years. That any better? :)

[liberalhistorian]

43. I'm sure you're right, and I am in pretty good

shape overall. I'm in good health, I try to eat right and exercise, I take vitamins and herbal supplements, etc., etc., etc. I've got the beginnings of arthritis in my hands and right knee, and mild fibromyalgia, but I do my best to keep them under control so I'm still in pretty good shape.

[BlooInBloo]

19. That's cold. I wasn't gonna tell him. Give the 1/2 centurion his bubble...

... to live in, sheesh!

lol!

[BlooInBloo]

18. I must say: I'm SO glad Monday Night Football is on ESPN now....

... it makes leaving ABC behind feasible for me.

:)

[Berry Cool]

22. Um, you do realize that...

...ESPN is part of ABC/Disney?

Of course, I'm not boycotting. If I did, I'd have missed Keith Olbermann's wonderful tirade against The Path to 9/11 on ESPN Radio!

[liberalhistorian]

31. Yes, KO was fantastic, wasn't he?

I teared up listening to him, thank God at least someone in the MSM has the guts to tell it like it is, regardless of the shit storm that will assuredly come his way.

[BlooInBloo]

44. It doesn't matter. Dropping espn isn't feasible for me....

... Which is why I'm glad it got MNF - now I can easily drop *one* of them, even if I can't drop both.

:)

[liberalhistorian]

46. Lucky for me I'm one of those

"un-American" Americans who doesn't give a damn about sports and who gives even less of a damn about watching them on TV or anywhere else!

[BlooInBloo]

52. More power to ya!

[mikelewis]

20. Hoo-rah!!!

Nice letter... I like it because it sort of softly lifts you up before it kicks you in the balls. Nice job. You must mail this to them.

[liberalhistorian]

27. Well, thanks, but I'll obviously

have to take out the references to watching the Wonderful World of Disney! I feel like an idiot, I really could have SWORN it was on ABC! Unfortunately, it's too late to edit the original post since it's beyond the editing period.

[Truthiness Inspector]

23. Your letter is incredible. n/t

[kaygore]

24. I have blocked ABC from my cable selections & am boycotting all

things Disney.

I hope that others will have the will to do so.

Thank you.

[ClayZ]

25. K and R

[Justice Is Comin]

30. If you are not a Nielsen family,

the best way to hurt them is by blackballing the local news on the ABC station. Then send the station a letter telling them that you are an ex viewer. That directly affects the affiliates bottom line local advertiser revenue.

If you happen to know of any companies who regularly advertise on the local news, copy them with this letter as well.

This then starts a domino effect of the local affiliate complaining to corporate. The last thing corporate wants is unhappy affiliates.

LiberalHistorian, you are not losing a friend, you are dumping an enemy.

[liberalhistorian]

33. Good idea!

I think I'll do just that. And I just sent an email to a mod asking if I can take out the paragraph referring to the Wonderful World of Disney, since the editing period has expired. Hopefully, I'll hear something soon.

[grizmaster]

70. Hit the local news advertisers is definitely the way to go

It's the straightest line to making the affiliate take notice

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

32. Since presumably the OP is swearing off both ABC AND Disney

it doesn't really matter what network Disney ran on initially - and yes, it was NBC. Perhaps ABC owns the rights to those programs now, and that is what the poster meant when they said "your" Wonderful World of Disney"? Don't know. But as of right now, these 2 companies are tied together in the P911 fiasco.

My husband has ALWAYS wanted to vacation at Disneyworld. No more. We are going to do Nashville instead. And the maybe a trip to San Francisco. There are lots of other places to go than a fake city that is homage to a cartoon rodent.

[liberalhistorian]

35. "A fake city that is homage to a

cartoon rodent!" :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

That's one of the best and funniest references to it I've heard in a long time! I've never really had much desire to visit Disneyland, and I consider it vastly overpriced for what you supposedly get. If other people want to waste their time and considerable money there, then go for it. But I've never considered it a loss that I haven't been there.

[Mend]

60. you will be missing 2 hour lines in 93 degree heat at DW...oh well,

you could always find a sauna with a treadmill to get the same vacation effect as a theme park in Florida. We are loving our boycott.

[proud2BlibKansan]

34. Wasn't the Wonderful World of Disney on NBC?

LOL

Great post!

[liberalhistorian]

36. Yes, read through the thread, we've

been through all that. I really, really, really could have sworn it was on ABC. Guess that's what happens when you age!

[proud2BlibKansan]

58. It was a great rant

:)

[liberalhistorian]

81. Thanks to flamingyouth for responding to my

email to mods asking for the "Wonderful World of Disney" paragraph to be deleted, as I found out too late I had the wrong network. Much appreciated!

[bobbieinok]

37. my favorite soaps are all ABC

One Life to Live, All My Children, General Hospital

And General Hospital celebrates the 25th anniversary of Luke and Laura's wedding this November (after the election).

[liberalhistorian]

39. LOL! I don't think I've watched any of those

for at least twenty years although I do remember getting caught up in General Hospital's Luke and Laura craze while I was in high school. Good Lord, are they still married, lol. For a soap, that has to be a world record.

[bobbieinok]

45. of course not ---- ever notice how every regular in a soap ends up

married or in a relationship with every regular of the opposite sex (I don't think soaps do gay relationships).

I watched recently and was very confused, so I checked the story line for some characters on the internet. Luke and Laura have 2 adult children (the son is trying to get off drugs and his marriage is a mess; the daughter is pregnant by a Quartermaine grandchild b/c the condom the Quatermaines manufactured was part of a defective lot); Laura has a child by a Cassidine; Laura is in an insane asylum and has been for x years; Luke is/has been married to Tracy Quartermaine (!?).

[liberalhistorian]

48. Luke is married to

Tracy Quartermaine??? Good Lord, I'm glad I don't watch that anymore, lol. No wonder Laura is in the loony bin if that's the case. :rofl: :rofl:

The story lines sound so damn stupid now as an adult, I can't believe I wasted so much time in high school and college with it. I wasn't the only one, though, I well remember classmates, friends and roommates obsessing over it as well. I hope they're over it now!

[bobbieinok]

51. I thought it was an eternal given --- Spencers + Quartermaines = enemies

[bobbieinok]

47. it's claimed more people watched L and Laura's wedding than

ever watched any other soap event (6 million plus).

A neighbor at the time said her junior high daughter and friends spent their fall break watching the wedding.

[Dinger]

38. Wow, LiberalHistorian - It's Like You Read My Mind! K & R!!!

Excellent, kick-asss post!!!!

[yorkiemommie1]

41. excellent!

most excellent!

[Supersedeas]

49. I'll second that -- very well done L

[mnhtnbb]

50. Nice letter. No more ABC for me. Dancing with the Stars was only

show I watched. No more. Not even for Emmitt Smith--and I adored Jerry Rice last year.

I wrote ABC to tell them. No response.

[samsingh]

53. i've totally avoided abc and disney since they supported that shit movie

[philly_bob]

54. I'll REMEMBER I hate ABC & Disney

I'm sixty-some years old, and I've never bothered to learn the difference between the three networks. They've been indistinguishable. Bland talking heads. Chucklehead local news. And wildly divergent quality in their shows, most recently marked by cheap-to-produce Reality Shows.

Which means fumbling moments with the TV listings every time I have to figure out which is which.

But no more. I'll always remember which network is the right-wing network that ran PATH TO 911. ABC. Disney. Got it. ABC. Disney. Republicans.

Just two networks to go.

[Citizen Seattle]

55. No more ABC for me.

Was watching a bit of George Stephanapoulis this morning and had similar experience. Can't do it. Never had to think about which network he was on before this week. Can't separate George from ABC. Can't trust ABC, can't trust George. Goodbye George.

[Chipper Chat]

56. welcome to DU Citizen....

"Sorry Charlie..only good networks get to be" on my TV screen - ones that are fair, well, ahem, fair as we can expect.
ABC had my heart when I was a 50s teenager (American Bandstand!). It's a shame about "The Untruthful Path to 9/11."

[newyawker99]

64. Hi Citizen Seattle!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Ino]

57. What's ABC?

I went through a week's worth of ABC programs on my TIVO, giving each a 3-thumbs-down. Then removed it from the "Channels I Receive" list, so I never even see an ABC program listed and TIVO won't automatically record any.

Disney's dead to me as well.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

59. AMF to ABC

[mod mom]

61. Does anyone know if Steve Jobs of Apple has spoken out about this? He is

on thier board and a major stock holder.

[liberalhistorian]

86. That is, indeed, a very good question,

we should do some digging and try to find out.

[dogday]

62. Here is my reply

Great letter, I am glad you let them know what sleaze-bags they are...

[AngryAmish]

63. ABC gave us "Battle of the Network Stars"

[specimenfred1984]

65. Rec'd! ABC is Propaganda and Worthless

Their crockudrama just further proves it.

[ananda]

66. There's not that much to miss, really..

.. just Grey's Anatomy and two or three other shows.

Netflix is great!

Sue

[DKRC]

67. Call 212.456.7777 to tell ABC you're blocking them

We did this the next day after their POS movie ran. There's a comment line & you only have 30 seconds to speak, but it is worth it.
I blocked ABC from our TV so it's out of the channel lineup. None of our money will be going for anything even remotely connected to Disney/ABC from now on.

[Citizen Seattle]

68. Thanks Chipper and Newyawker, for the welcome

I've been watching this site for two years. Thanks for the sanity.

[indepat]

71. 5th decade: don't short yourself

[Kurovski]

72. K&R(nt)

[kerry-is-my-prez]

73. and Boston Legal is coming up..... "sniff"

n/t

[peekaloo]

75. maybe I'm weak but

'BL' is one of the few shows that hold a similar political bent to mine, so I shall continue to watch.

I'm convinced ABC doesn't want people to watch this show since it's been pretty much buried since its inception. (changing schedules, limited reruns, constant pre-emptions and little to no promos).

Or maybe I'm rationalizing.......}(

p.s. It's now up against the strongest Law and Order franchise so it may have a short shelf life.

[Jack Rabbit]

74. I'm an old guy

I remember watching Cheyenne and Maverick.

[liberalhistorian]

80. My parents remember that as well,

as do my aunts and uncles. Some of them are quite conservative, while others are furious with ABC right now. While you might think that that makes for awkward family gatherings, fortunately we've always been able to put all politics aside and enjoy being together, which is the way it should be. And whenever someone does bring up something political, we usually are respectful enough to have reasonable debates and discussions without things turning nasty. In fact, that sometimes makes things really interesting.

That's my dad's side of the family. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for my stepdad's side. I love his daughter, my stepsister, dearly, (we're the same age and have practically grown up together since our parents married when we were three years old), but I really get angry with her when she and her husband and his family start in on their tirades about public education when they know damn good and well that my mom and stepdad are sitting right there and that they've devoted their lives to working hard as teachers, work that my stepsister definitely benefitted from while growing up.

[Vidar]

76. Excellent letter.

[deaniac21]

77. I LOVED that "hokey and melodramatic " line!

[liberalhistorian]

82. Well, they sure could be both

at times, couldn't they? Then again, teenagers love that kind of stuff, which was why they did it.

[rrasile]

78. ABC

So you along with millions believe that Lost is a great show. I never understood all the excitement when it started. Myself I felt that they were writing it as they went because the network wasn't going to commit to the series.
If you want to have some fun buy the Cd's and run the last first. It's not much better that way but it's not any worst.

[Uncle Joe]

79. Hear Hear! Outstanding letter, thank you for posting liberalhistorian,

you captured my feelings exactly. Kicked and recommended.


:kick:

[NanceGreggs]

83. All I can say is WOW!!!

This brilliantly worded letter sums up, succinctly and passionately, what so many former ABC viewers are feeling.

In just a few well-chosen paragraphs, you have conveyed not only the sense of outrage we feel now, but a nostalgic look back at the invaluable part many TV networks once played in our growing-up years.

But, as you so wisely pointed out, it is their loss, in the long-run, and not ours.

Thanks for speaking so eloquently for the many.

:applause:

[liberalhistorian]

85. Thanks, Nancy, coming from you,

that is very high praise, indeed! :hi:

And you're right, it is definitely their loss and our gain!

[wiley]

84. Still boycotting, still spreading the anti-Disney/ABC message

And people are very interested in why someone would despise the little rat.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

87. Maybe the freeps will boycott too because of Rosie O'Donnell - the irony!

I'd still have to boycott ABC....

[Cha]

88. You're inspiring with your excellent

letter. I, too, am giving up Desperate Housewives because of abc/disney's showing and not qualifying what "path to 9l/11" really was all about(lies and propoganda).

Sad really because I'm betting the actors on Desperate Housewives hate what bush and his pack of jackals are doing to our country.