browncoat2x2 | Jun. 15th, 2006

So, this came across the Canadian Browncoats list I'm on, posted by the list owner, and I thought I would share. Seems a media group here in Canada is starting up a new TV show about Fanatical fans, and they approached the organizes of the Serenity Now/Equality Now charity screening up here to ask if they could film us all being 'fanatical' at the event. Here's a look at what they sent as a description of their program:

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FROM THE LIST OWNER OF THE CANADIAN BROWNCOATS:

Hi all,

I wanted to share this with you.

I was recently approached by a production company looking for
whedonverse fans for a new TV show called FANaticals. They wanted to
film people within our fan group.

In order to calm my nerves and to persuade me that they were not
going to poke fun of fans or show them in a bad light, they kindly
sent me this show description and told me to share it with my entire
group, which I did. I was horrified when I actually read it all the
way through.

When I said - no thanks and told them I was horrified by the
description - they told me they sent the wrong description in error,
that it was an older draft and sent me a new one.

In case they approach any of you, I wanted you to see both copies.
Which is the real way they are going to show fans? Who knows.

Please pass this around to any other fan groups.

-

----------------------------------------------------------
( The First Copy, Sent in Error )

( The Supposedly REAL Version )

Needless to say, our group has answered with a resounding NO. This just screams WRONG on so many levels.

Notice how much shorter the 'edited' version is...basically took out the things that were reported to them as most offensive. Looks to me like they've got two separate descriptions to mail out, one to 'fans' to try and sucker them in... and the honest one to prospective buyers, I'd bet.

How is this show supposed to show fandom in any positive light when they expect they "ikely will find is that their fanaticism has taken its toll – dissolved relationships, lost jobs and broken dreams."??? Whatever!! Let's compare that to say, oh, that JOB you work, or maybe that soccer game you play, or maybe the poker games you organize... *rant rant rant*

Also note that in both instances, they couldn't even get Leonard Nimoy's character correct - DR. Spock??? Wrong field of expertise, guys. Waaay wrong. *G*

Anyway, just thought I'd share... I'm sure they'll get their hands on *some* Browncoat, and I don't doubt they'll show up at the charity screening anyway... Jerks...