OLS = "Operation Life Support," a group dedicated to saving the U.S.

television program MY SO-CALLED LIFE from cancellation.

 

--Jeremy

MS-CL advocate

 

----------------------------Original message----------------------------

On Thursday Jan. 26,  OLS took out a full page ad in both Daily Variety (on

page  21) and The Hollywood Reporter (on page 5) to publish the following

open letter.  (The word "Life" appears in italics):

 

Life Must Live

An Open Letter to Mr. Ted Harbert, President of ABC Entertainment

 

Dear Mr. Harbert:

 

     As you know, tonight at 8:00 p.m. (PST), ABC will broadcast the season

finale of My So-Called Life--the most provocative, intelligent, and heartfelt

television drama of the season.

     Since our formation on November 30, 1994, our organization, Operation

Life Support, has vigorously supported the renewal of Life.  In fifty-eight

days, we have received nearly 11,000 e-mail messages, raised over $6,000 from

individual viewer contributions, and generated a tempest of publicity

throughout the United States and Canada. In this open letter, we would like

to tell you why we strongly believe that Life must live.

     As you are aware, Life has attracted a devoted following that crosses

all boundaries of age, gender, lifestyle, profession and economic standing.

Teachers, students, doctors, lawyers, and college professors and many others

have come to care deeply about this drama and its characters.  The reasons

are many.

     Ostensibly, Life tells the story of 15 year-old Angela Chase, (played by

Golden Globe winner Claire Danes), but on a deeper level, Life is

intergenerational.  Life unites us all by portraying the common experience of

two diverse age groups:  Teenagers, coming of age, and their parents,

entering middle age.  Viewers identify with these characters facing the

challenges of adolescence--that critical period when one achieves

self-awareness and self-identity.  Viewers also identify with the characters

facing the challenges of middle age--affirming and renewing established

self-awareness and self-identity. Many viewers regard Life's characters so

perceptively real that they consider the characters to be friends--friends

whose lives have greater meaning than their own on Thursday nights.

     Life provides another kind of uniting force as well. Parents look

forward to Life nights because it is a time of their choosing when they can

spend time with their sons and daughters.  Teachers use Life in the classroom

to initiate and encourage discussions about critical issues facing teens

today. People of all ages find Rickie's (Wilson Cruz) ``Odyssey'' poignant,

honest and utterly real.  It is no exaggeration to say that this character

has saved lives. Truly, Life is more than a television show;  Life is both

art and a public service.

     Unfortunately, the excellent quality of Life and the emotions it evokes

from its audience are not  reflected in its ratings. Given the true

demographics of Life, cited above, and the time a high quality show sometimes

needs to build a large audience, we believe its time slot and on-air

promotion should be reconsidered.  We believe that an 8:00 p.m. air time may

be too early for viewers who are, and would be, properly part of Life's

audience. We further believe that ABC could increase viewership with greater

promotion. Finally, Life needs, and deserves, more than a single season to

establish its audience. as have other shows such as Hill Street Blues,

Cheers, and 90210.

     The response Life evokes from its followers is not inexplicable. It is

the response that intellectual challenge evokes in our minds. It is the

response that all art evokes in the human heart. It is the response which

transcends Nielsen ratings and the ``bottom line.''

     Accordingly, Life needs a champion. Be Life's champion Mr. Harbert, as

you have from the beginning.  When you ``make that gut call in May,'' do what

you know is right and renew Life.  We  know you believe, as we do, that Life

is too good to end.

    Sincerely,

    (signature)

    Steve C. Joyner

    Director, Operation Life Support

 

    This ad was paid for entirely by viewer contributions to Operation Life

Support, a viewers' initiative to save My So-Called Life. For further

information please write, phone, fax, or e-mail. Operation Life Support, P.O.

Box 641200 San Francisco, California 94164-1200.  Phone: (415) 292-5809 Fax:

(415) 292-4111  E-mail: [log in to unmask]

 

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