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On The Tube: 'Truth' in Pittsburgh Michael Moore gives city chance to show its blue-collar stuff Friday, January 22, 1999 By Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV Editor
PASADENA, CALIF. - Michael Moore is back, and this time he brings his muckraking to Pittsburgh - at least for one segment.
Moore's "The Awful Truth" premieres on Bravo April 11 at 9 p.m. and in a segment called "Beat the Rich" he asks upper-crust Manhattanites and blue-collar Pittsburghers the same questions to see who's smarter.
"I'd never gone to Pittsburgh before," Moore said after a press conference. "For my last two books and the film tour I always asked them, why don't you go to Pittsburgh? And they'd say, Pittsburgh's not worth it. And I'm like, it's Pittsburgh! That kind of bummed me out, so for this show, I was like, we're going to go to Pittsburgh."
Moore filmed in Pittsburgh in November and found that Pittsburghers knew their own ZIP codes and the cost to Super Size a meal at McDonald's, whereas rich New Yorkers didn't. New Yorkers did better answering the question, "What's a good year for merlot?" One Pittsburgher responded, "Merlot? Who the hell is that?"
"It's the Flint of Pennsylvania," Moore said, referring to his beloved hometown of Flint, Mich., whose downfall he chronicled in the film, "Roger & Me." "It's a good place because you really see the disparity. Pittsburgh's really recovered in some ways and in other ways it hasn't."
Moore said "The Awful Truth" will continue his tradition of showing "complete and utter disrespect for people with money who hurt those that don't have money."
After striking out with "TV Nation" on NBC and Fox, Moore said Bravo has been a "censorship-free environment."
Familiar segments from "TV Nation" will return, including "Crackers the Corporate Crime-Fighting Chicken." Crackers got arrested for the first time at Walt Disney World while filming an "Awful Truth" segment about ABC's labor practices.
Other segments scheduled include a "Crucible"-like witch hunt performed on the street in front of Kenneth Starr's house, a housewarming gift for Bill Gates upon completion of his $60 million home and an air-drop of TVs on Afghanistan, which recently banned televisions. That last segment comes complete with a tongue-in-cheek self-parody by poor children pitch-master Sally Struthers.
"Just one set can bring TV to a whole tentful of Afghanis," Struthers says with mock sincerity. "Just watch their faces light up when they see a rerun of 'Dharma & Greg.' Won't you please help?"
Moore said "The Awful Truth" is necessary because of the state of America none of our political leaders talk about.
"What bothers me is when we live in a supposedly good time right now that so many people cannot share in the good time," Moore said. "Clinton talked [in the State of the Union Address] about the greatness of the economy, but he leaves out the fact that more bankruptcies were filed last year than any time since the Great Depression. There were more layoffs last year than during any year in the 1990s, and personal debt is at an all-time high ... It's that kind of disparity I'd like to see changed."
BOYS WILL BE BOYZ: Fox Family Channel president Rich Cronin defended the network's plans for two distinct spin-offs, Fox's Family's upcoming Boyz Channel and Girlz Channel, set to launch in October.
"When you've got a Golf Channel and a Puppy Channel and Premiere Horse Network and all other kinds of niches, it was amazing to us to think that a really big niche such as Boyz Channel or Girlz Channel had not been filled," Cronin said, adding that more choices are better.
Tell that to parents whose boys and girls will be fighting over which network to watch.
Cronin defended the misspelling in each channel's name, comparing it to the movie "Antz" and saying the "z" gives the channels "a bit more distinctiveness."
The Boyz Channel will carry more action-adventure programming, while the Girlz Channel will corner the market on softer, relationship-oriented shows, but with a mix aimed at avoiding stereotyping, Cronin said. Kids programming will air during the day with shows on parenting on at night.
William Damon, a Stanford University professor and advisory board member for the new networks, said they're necessary because the thinking on "androgyny as a desirable ideal" has changed. There's now more recognition that boys and girls are different.
"They have very different play patterns, very different communication styles early on in life and you can't stamp those out," Damon said. "Those differences happen long before there are parental influences on kids or social influences on kids."
JORDAN'S STORY: Michael Jordan's basketball career is barely over, but Fox Family Channel already has "Michael Jordan: An American Hero" ready to air April 18.
Based on the book "The Rise of Michael Jordan," the TV movie stars Debbie Allen as Jordan's mom, Robin Givens as his wife and Michael Jace as the basketball superstar.
Fox Family president Rich Cronin said the film would have aired at the same time even if Jordan were still playing in the NBA. A tag will be added to the end of the film to reflect his retirement.
SHARING: BBC America, once seen as a competitive threat to PBS's WGBH-produced "Mystery!" and "Masterpiece Theatre" series, has reached an agreement with WGBH for sharing British programs.
Under the agreement, the two companies will work together to bring British classics to America through 2001. WBGH will select two BBC drama titles each year for co-production with BBC America. One will premiere on "Mystery!" or "Masterpiece" and will later air on BBC America; the other will start on BBC America and then migrate to PBS.
The first program in the agreement is "The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries," starring Diana Rigg, which will first air on BBC America March 7. The second program, "Great Expectations," will air on "Masterpiece Theatre" May 9 and 10.
MORE CABLE NEWS: There's yet another animated show in the works, this time for FX with a spring debut planned. "The Dick and Paula Celebrity Special" will be animated in squigglevision (like "Dr. Katz" and UPN's upcoming "Home Movies") and follows the behind-the-scenes antics of husband-and-wife talk shows hosts. They'll interview contemporary stars, fictional characters and historical figures. . . .
After only two airings, HBO has already renewed its well-reviewed Mafia drama "The Sopranos" for a second season. Other series returning this summer include "Sex and the City," "Oz" and "Arli$$." . . .
Fox Family Channel will add two new live-action series to its schedule in April. "Big Wolf on Campus" looks like a cross between the movie "Teen Wolf" and the TV show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer. "Misguided Angels" stars Chris Farley's little brother, Kevin, as one of mismatched angelic duo who help wayward mortals. . . .
"Woman's Day with Phyllis George" moves to TNN from Pax TV beginning March 1. Based on the magazine of the same name, "Woman's Day" has aired on Pax since August. TNN will air the 30-minute program weekdays at 2:30 p.m. . . .
Harry Smith has been named the new host of A&E's "Biography" beginning in March. Currents hosts Peter Graves and Jack Perkins will retain an unspecified role with the series.
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