Monday, February 02, 2009

Paddy Chayefsky was a prophet


Paddy Chayefsky, when he was writing it, thought "Network" was a biting bit of satire. The movie trailer branded it "outrageous."

As a high-school student in 1976, I know we all thought so. We were trying to figure out how to get in the "R" movie.

I SAW "Network" again last night on Turner Classic Movies. I wonder, had he lived, how Chayefsky would have reacted to his unintended role as prophet. (Note: This IS an "R" movie, with "R" language.)


FOR THAT MATTER, I wonder how television -- how today's mass media -- would deal with a prophet being prophetic? Even a mad prophet like Howard Beale.


UHHHHHHHHHH . . . never mind.

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