From: WAND_M@gold.colorado.edu
Subject: 'Overkill' omission related to Amendment 2 impact?
Followup-To: amend2-discuss@cs.colorado.edu
Originator: doherty@ucsu.Colorado.EDU
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 05:39:04 GMT

When the CBS movie "Overkill: The Eileen Wuornos Story" aired nationally on Nov. 
17, it became the network's second-highest-rated original Tuesday night movie 
of the season.

Critics praised the performances of Jean Smart and Park Overall in the drama, 
based on the true story of the first American woman convicted for serial 
murders.  Some said Smart deserves an Emmy.  The movie aired to a mostly 
positive response, but Denver viewers didn't get to make up their minds.  This 
was the only major market where the movie was not broadcast.

CBS affiliate Channel 7 chose not to broadcast "Overkill," instead rerunning an 
old Perry Mason movie.

Locally, Perry Mason came in third in the time period, whereas nationally 
"Overkill" tied ABC's sitcom lineup to share the night's top ratings.

The buzz in the industry is that there was a political motive for the station's 
decision.  "Overkill" vaguely depicted a lesbian relationship.  Cynics, 
including cast members, say the movie's pre-emption was in reaction to 
Colorado's passage of Amendment 2 two weeks earlier.  A CBS spokeswoman said, 
"You had to know the (real) story to know they were lesbian lovers."  The 
on-screen depiction was "subtle."

People in Hollywood are saying that the station decided not to risk running a 
movie with a subtext that would upset proponents of the amendment that repealed 
anti-bias laws protecting gays.

"If that's what it was, that would be highly unconstitutional," actress Park 
Overall said by phone.

Channel 7 General Manager John Proffitt denied that Amendment 2 had anything to 
do with it.

"I had to get a run out of Perry Mason before December due to our contract," 
Proffitt said.  "Perry Mason" was scheduled six weeks prior to CBS releasing 
the title of the Nov. 17 movie."

Proffitt said "Overkill" will be repeated by the network and will be broadcast 
on Channel 7 in the next six months to one year.  We'll be watching for it.

Amentment 2 has been a focal point in local newsrooms, causing semantic debates 
reminiscent of the pro-choice/anti-abortion arguments.

On election night Channel 9's Ed Sardella gave viewers a clear definition of 
what Amendment 2 would do: He noted it would allow discrimination against gays.

Now Channel 9 has two versions of "agreed upon language," according to News 
Director Dave Lougee: EITHER the amendment "prohibits laws that protect the 
rights of gays," OR it "prohibits laws giving gays protected status."

At The Post, Executive City Editor Todd Engdahl issued a memo sayng reporters 
should avoid the phrase "anti-gay-rights," since it has too many hyphens, and 
quit saying that the amendment "outlawed civil rights for gays," which is not 
quite accurate.  "If you need a very short boilerplate phrase," he wrote, "the 
neutral wording 'gay-rights amendment' probably is fine."

Fortunately, columnists don't have to be neutral.

Newsrooms will continue to struggle with this one, particularly as the mayor 
attempts damage control in the national media after the passage of Amendment 
2--you know, the amendment that gave a black eye to gay rights.

By Joanne Ostrow, TV-Radio columnist
The Denver Post, December 7, 1992

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