Letters to NBC re MOM

From
Date
May 31, 1996

Robert Wright, President
NBC
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10019

Dear Mr. Wright:

The producer , Mr. Cote, of the NBC program "The Mysterious Origin of Man"
has sent me a news release stating that the program will be rerun on NBC,
June 8,  and again presented as real science.  In fact, he now uses the
scientists' objections to it as advertising!  The program was not
science--it was pseudoscience, misrepresentation, appeal to
pseudo-authority, and distortion.  Science does not operate the way it is
depicted in that program.  As a result, NBC misled its viewers and violated
the public trust.  Responsible television should have labeled that program
as fiction, opinion, or religion (Hare Krishna, apparently), but not a
science documentary!  It was irresponsible to represent it as science!

Clearly, you and NBC need assistance when it comes to evaluation of
so-called science programs.  Please, ask one of your science reporters, or
nearly any practicing scientist, whether or not such a program is
accurately portrayed as science.  If they say no, then replay it as
something else, so that your viewers have a chance to understand what it
truly represents.

As a teacher that spends a good deal of time teaching how science is done
to university students and the public through lectures, I am dismayed that
your single program has set science understanding among NBC viewers back
significantly.  It's a shame!  Please do not repeat this program and
represent it as science.  It does too much damage to our country, as
surveys released May 23 by the National Science Foundation substantiate.

Many of us will be or are in contact with the sponsors of your program to
express our disillusionment with NBC and its acquisitions people.  We tried
NBC and affiliates, but they accept no responsibility for the rubbish shown
as science.

Feel good about your company and the positive influence it could have.
Forget about this kind of sensationalism to boost ratings, and consider
that real science is even more exciting and could improve your ratings with
your viewers and as a responsible company bearing considerable public
trust.

Sincerely,



Jere H. Lipps
Professor


Mr. Todd Schwartz
3000 W. Alameda
Burbank, CA 91523

Dear Mr. Schwartz:

I see where Mr. Cote, producer of "Mysterious Origins of Man", has a news
release announcing a reshowing of the program on NBC June 8.  I can only
hope that you and NBC will reconsider showing this pseudo-documentary as a
real science program once again.  It's not science and it does a great
disservice to our people!  Recognize, please, that you are not qualified to
judge this program as science.  Replay it as fiction, Hare Krishna
proselytising, or an example of pseudoscience.  NBC and you should take
your public trust with some degree of seriousness.

Sincerely,




Jere H. Lipps
Professor