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Montel Williams is Fired for "Supporting the Troops"

News Type: Opinion — Seeded on Thu Jan 31, 2008 4:54 PM EST
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A sad statement about our celebrity obsessed culture...

For just over three minutes on Saturday morning, TV talk show host Montel Williams owned the hosts of Fox and Friends. A former Marine and Naval officer, Montel lectured the stunned hosts on the stupidity of spending air time on the death of Heath Ledger, rather than covering the war in Iraq. It was a spectacle rarely seen on live cable television, as Montel exposed and condemned both tabloid "news" shows and much of American culture for what they have each become: shallow and greedy.

Three minutes into this awkward segment on Fox, one host cut off Montel in order to go to a commercial. Montel did not return after the break. Four days later, after 17 years as a television host, Montel lost his job.

And a sad statement about how our media suppresses truth...

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{"commentId":1422863,"authorDomain":"atonhunter"}
atonhunter

Watch the clip! Suddenly, I have gained a whole lot of respect for Montel.

{"commentId":1422863,"threadId":"211985","contentId":"1269475","authorDomain":"atonhunter"}
  • 1 vote
Reply#1 - Thu Jan 31, 2008 5:07 PM EST
{"commentId":1423405,"authorDomain":"thecastle"}
Josef KDeleted
{"commentId":1424717,"authorDomain":"atonhunter"}
atonhunter

You raise a true point. But, you have to admire Montel. I get the feeling he's fed up being a paid actor. We get theater disguised as "news."

Maybe he snapped. Maybe he was just fed up with years of it. Yes, he violated the rules of entertainment. He decided to make a stand and be ... HUMAN.

{"commentId":1424717,"threadId":"211985","contentId":"1269475","authorDomain":"atonhunter"}
  • 2 votes
#1.2 - Fri Feb 1, 2008 3:50 AM EST
{"commentId":1424729,"authorDomain":"thecastle"}
Josef KDeleted
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{"commentId":1432147,"authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}
MinnieApolis

Atonhunter --
AlterNet has put up a short news bit on this, too.
Do you know that Montel put in 22 yrs in the military? So he probably felt very strongly that the veterans have not gotten their due in media coverage this winter. We have hardly heard any mention in MSM about those killed in action this year. Is that supporting the troops?

How many of us even know that 28 more were killed this January?

I have to give Montel pts for standing up for the veterans, for the troops, and for truth.

If you want to see the video again or send a message to FOX, you may go here --
Thank you.

{"commentId":1432147,"threadId":"211985","contentId":"1269475","authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}
  • 2 votes
Reply#2 - Sun Feb 3, 2008 5:53 PM EST
{"commentId":1434685,"authorDomain":"atonhunter"}
atonhunter

You and me both. Whatever Montel does on his show is a side point. The media apparently has strict rules about trying to inject "news" in the entertainment industry..

Try to be something more, as Montel did for a few minutes, and they will make an example out of you.

Speaking of entertainers, this quote was in your link:

It was a rather heavy-handed punishment even Sylvia Brown didn't see coming

The author must have forgotten the Sylvia Brown is also an "entertainer" and nothing more...
:-)

{"commentId":1434685,"threadId":"211985","contentId":"1269475","authorDomain":"atonhunter"}
    #2.1 - Mon Feb 4, 2008 1:49 PM EST
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