60 replies to this topic

[TWoP Tennison]

This is the place to post links to reviews, articles, and interviews about the show.

[Mary Ann]

Maureen Ryan (Chicago Tribune) has a series of articles about "Swingtown." There's also a map of Chicago area locations either recreated on the LA soundstage or just referred to on the show.
This one certainly sounds snarkworthy. As a native Chicagoan I love to watch anything set in the area, even if just to see what they get wrong. So I'm going to give it a try.

Edited by Mary Ann, Jun 4, 2008 @ 12:36 PM.

[oakgal]

EW has the show featured in its POPWATCH Blog:

Not only does the lip ornament render Show completely unrecognizable as the erstwhile Jake of Melrose Place, but it also exudes '70s pornstar seediness that is perfect for his character (a swingin' airline pilot) and the show's entire suburban key-party vibe.

source

[PRgal]

Blog review (is this considered media? Will delete if not)

[TWoP Tennison]

If the blog is by some random, independent person on the Internet, most of the time it wouldn't be considered media. If the blog is part of a magazine's site or entertainment news site, then I would probably consider it media.

[TwistTie]

As expected, the Parent's Television Council has to muck about

http://www.mediaweek...b9da16d2e6f36ff

[itsjfitz]

As expected, the Parent's Television Council has to muck about

*Sigh* and I say this as the parent of a 12 yo, an 8 yo and a 5 yo--if your kids are watching Swingtown at 10 pm, that's more of a reflection on your parenting choices (or lack of them) than on CBS' standards. Would I let any of my kids watch Swingtown? No, certainly not. Does that mean that neither I nor any other adult should be able to watch it? Aw, come on, you know the answer to that...

[Actionmage]

Over on EW.com (July5), there's a picture gallery highlighting the ladies' wardrobe! Mr. Actionmage and I were disappointed at the lack of the lead gents' happening threads. (Not a big fan of the snippets on CBS.com.)

ETA:
Just read a review of ST on The Hollywood Reporter.com- the reviewer,Barry Garron- thought the show lacked "depth and heat." How many episodes/screener videos do reviewers normally get? I hope he wasn't basing this on just the pilot ep, as this show is a slow-build character study.

http://www.hollywood...i...?&rid=11212

Edited by Actionmage, Jul 5, 2008 @ 3:12 PM.

[catray]

Here's a link to an article regarding the fact that advertisers are starting to pull ads, or are thinking about it, anyway.

It's just sad because I don't think there's any raunch at all to this show-- plus, it's on after 10pm, which should be an indication that perhaps it's more adult TV anyway. I hope this doesn't bode ill for it's run this summer. I would hate for the show to be pulled.

[Colliovonhoolio]

That just bites.

[elvira7]

From the article catray linked to:

. . . [Philips North America] was rather taken aback by consumer reaction to its advertising on “Swingtown.” After advertising one of its Norelco products in an early episode, the company received five consumer complaints.

Five consumer complaints don’t strike me as a huge backlash. If Philips North America was taken aback, I can only assume they’re accustomed to receiving no complaints.

[jdoehner]

Five consumer complaints don’t strike me as a huge backlash. If Philips North America was taken aback, I can only assume they’re accustomed to receiving no complaints.

I believe it's typical for many who complain about programs of this sort to threaten boycotts and/or that they represent14 million members who will join them.
It's a heritage of our Victorian values as a society that gore and violence seem to get byes this way but anything remotely sexual in nature gets slammed.

[elvira7]

Victorian indeed. If they think Swingtown is too raunchy, those five prudish complainers should check out HBO’s Tell Me You Love Me for some much-needed perspective.

[Teagan1]

Victorian indeed. If they think Swingtown is too raunchy, those five prudish complainers should check out HBO’s Tell Me You Love Me for some much-needed perspective.

Except I'd be willing to bet that none of them have actually watched a show, or if they have, only the first one. They just heard that it was about swinging (supposedly--we who've picked it up know better) and that's something they find repulsive enough to complain.

[squeekums]

I went to the PTC website and found that there was no easy way to contact them. I was hoping to let them know just how "offended" I am that they listed Extreme Makeover: Home Edition as the most suitable show. This is because the show host was arrested for "suspicion" of DUI.

It makes me angry that the PTC has ANY sort of power at all and it saddens me that the advertisers would give in so easily to them.

Edited by squeekums, Jul 10, 2008 @ 3:48 PM.

[Alidrew]

I am a long-time lurker on TWOP and first time poster. Just for kicks, I visited the PTC website. I find the content there laughable, as they are so concerned by sex and/or violence on TV, but then add embedded clips of what they find to be so offensive right there on the website. They show the clip, describe the clip in explicit detail, etc. Kids don't need to watch TV, just visit the PTC website! I love irony....

I adore this show, but like many here, do not see it lasting long. I have faith that CBS will stick with this show. We'll see...

[Mary Ann]

From "The other campaign: For America's soul" - Pat Boone's take on "Swingtown."

Brent Bozell, founder of Parents Television Council (on whose board I serve) quotes Alan Poul, producer of "Swingtown," a raunchy, cheap new CBS program focusing on "open marriage" or wife swapping: "We're able to be more groundbreaking and more culturally subversive by putting this on a network, where more people will be exposed to it."

Yeah, Alan! Post-modern "deconstructionist" impulses for the masses! Culturally subversive!

Right! Get the big networks to participate in glorifying adulterous lifestyles, undermining our fundamental components of society – known as families – and corrupting the morals of our young married couples, the parents of our nation's kids. What a brilliant plan!

And it's all part of a campaign

that will determine the direction and morality of our young ... that quite possibly will cost America its soul ... the campaign, in the world of entertainment, to absolutely throw off every restraint, abandon every moral guideline, exploit every taboo and be free to portray and present anything human beings are capable of.

It's a conspiracy, I tell ya, a conspiracy.
And if the show lasts one more season it will be able to feature Debby's big 1977 hit "You Light Up My Life."

Edited by Mary Ann, Jul 12, 2008 @ 1:57 PM.

[Colliovonhoolio]

Yikes. It's so sad that these "family values" types underestimate the American public so much. As if seeing some group sex on tv is all of a sudden going to make people run out and do it.
Sigh.

Edited by TWoP Tennison, Jul 30, 2008 @ 9:07 AM.
Topic

[Houddy]

a raunchy, cheap new CBS program focusing on "open marriage" or wife swapping

well, there's proof that none of them have ever watched the show. The whole open marriage thing is little more than a backdrop to the focus of the show, which is relationships amid drastic social changes in society. I would hardly call it a focus when we've barely even seen it. And raunchy? The cops of CSI show more skin, the doctors at Grey's Anatomy have more sex, and the folks over at House have far more raunchy storylines and language.

I actually find Swingtown nostalgically quaint compared to the stuff that's on TV right now. AND it's on at 10PM. Any parent letting their kids watch a show called Swingtown at 10PM on a weeknight have bigger problems to deal with.

Edited by TWoP Tennison, Jul 30, 2008 @ 9:07 AM.
Topic

[elvira7]

The next time he pontificates in WingNutDaily, Pat Boone should tone down the exclamation marks. As we approach the November election, perhaps he'll get busy with his robo-calls and leave Swingtown alone.

[dnique729]

Pat Boone???? THE Pat Boone? You're kidding me. Right? This is the same guy, Mr. Upstanding who supported his former neighbors called The Osbournes by singing the theme song of their show. Ozzy Osbourne? The guy who would bite the heads off of doves. Lurch about slurring his speech. Tried to kill his wife. Had his kids prominently swearing (good thing for censors) on TV for all to see, were obnoxious, crass, and bad-mouthed the parents? Not to mention Ozzy and his wife couldn't say anything without adding an expletive. That Mr. Boone? He practically promoted their profane ways! Now he doesn't like profanity?

Yeah. Great family show. Probably more kids watch MTV than they do CBS! But, hey, that's okay. They have good family values in Pat's eyes. It's only when it suits HIM that something is bad.

Added to the list of questionable viewing and people on their high-horse about what kids could be watching. I don't see anybody whining about "Desperate Housewives." That's been on for what? Three seasons now? Houddy, I don't know who you are but love ya! You made perfect sense about those shows. There is a double standard. Too much tarted-up Disney shows with teens. Hey, how about any parents protesting to take "Zoey 101" off since that Spears girl got pregnant at 16? Lots and lots of kids watched that. I don't even want to touch the Cartoon Network. There is way too much violence on there. CBS though is the puritanical station. They brought us "I Love Lucy" and "Touched By An Angel." They also brought us "CSI" and depictions of extreme violence, grisly crime scenes, and dissections at the morgue. No biggy. "Fear Factor" had a good long run. Nothing wrong with eating coagulated blood balls and worms so as long as they are considered a delicacy in another country! Oops! That was NBC.

And people pick on "Swingtown?"

[elvira7]

Interesting piece in the NY Times on why the networks should be producing more shows like “Swingtown.”

Prime Times

[TWoP Tennison]

I've deleted or moved some off-topic posts. If you want to start a thread comparing Swingtown to other shows, that's fine, but comparisons of the morality or whatever of different shows is getting off the topic of media.

[Colliovonhoolio]

Would it be allowable to start another thread specifically to discuss the question of morality that this show's very existence seems to have sparked among certain right-wing groups? And with that would come the discussion of hypocrisy & comparisons of some of bloody, shoot em up shows that seem to be thriving and left un-questioned by those groups?

[maureen57]

Colliovonhoolio, please do start that thread: it seems to be a recurring theme in the conversation on the site.

[TWoP Tennison]

As long as the focus of the discussion is the show, that's fine. In other words, using something that some group has said as a springboard for a discussion about the show is fine and on-topic. Using the show as a springboard for a discussion about the group(s) would be getting off-topic. In other words, we're here to talk about Swingtown first and foremost.

If you have further questions, please post in the mod thread.

[araab30]

Interview with Grant Show in the NYTimes.

[kwnyc]

Heh. "Sebastian" the mustache!

[elvira7]

Article on the various challenges facing Swingtown: Networks Must Evaluate Shows on Merits as Much as Ratings