Thursday, July 07, 2005

Radio callers have bones to pick with Hollywood

Columnist Martin A. Grove, writing on The Hollywood Reporter online, says:
Disconnect discussion: In speculating about why moviegoing is down this summer insiders are starting to ask if there's a disconnect between the public and Hollywood over politics and social issues.

Studio executives have already cited weaker product, pre-show commercials, high ticket prices and DVD competition as contributing to the summer slide. What's even more troubling is the possibility that audiences are being turned off by their general perception of Hollywood's morality and politics. To some observers it seems that as more and more movie stars go public with their personal views on national and international issues, people across the country are starting to take offense.

Although I've heard the thought expressed privately in conversations with insiders, I was surprised to see how vocal the public is starting to be on the subject when I guested Saturday afternoon on CNBC anchor Ron Insana's syndicated Westwood One radio program. In the course of a one-hour conversation, in which MSNBC entertainment editor Dana Kennedy also took part, caller after caller complained about the movies Hollywood is making and the headlines the stars are generating....
Full column

hat tip: Best of the Web Today

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