*American Atheists Action Alert!*
March 8, 2005
http://www.atheists.org/action/alert-08-mar-2005.html
*ACTION NEEDED NOW! ENCOURAGE ABC NETWORK TO AIR "WIFE SWAP"
*
* SEGMENT FEATURING ATHEIST AMBER FINLEY*
The ABC television network was planning to air a segment of its popular
"Reality" show "Wife Swap" on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 featuring Ms.
Amber Finley, an Atheist. Ms. Finley is co-host with her husband
Reginald Finley of the infidelguy.com internet radio program.
"Wife Swap" showcases wives from diverse families who move into each
other's households. They take on the chores, shopping, meal preparation
and interact with their new charges. Ms. Finley was to exchange places
with a "god fearing" woman married to a Pastor Stonerock.
It promises to be a worthwhile episode that for millions of Americans
may put a "human face" on Atheism and Atheists! (Visit:
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/wife1.htm)
But no sooner had word been released about this particular episode of
"Wife Swap" than ABC mysteriously announced that it was being replaced
with another installment. The substitute program features a "low-tech,
stay-at-home mom who" who lives in a treehouse, and will swap roles
with a "high-powered, plugged-in career mom" weary of suburbia. An ABC
spokesperson says that the Finley/Stonerock episode "will air" at some
point in the future, but added that future "Wife Swap" shows will also
be preempted by other programs coming out of the ABC network production
pipeline.
ABC is owned by the Walt Disney Co. entertainment conglomerate. The
firm has a relatively progressive policy in terms of employee
relations. At this point, we cannot say why ABC programming officials
decided to remove the Finley/Stonerock episode of "Wife Swap" and
substitute another segment. But ABC/Disney needs to hear from Atheists
and other concerned viewers about the situation. We need to encourage
ABC and its parent company to air the Finley/Stonerock installment!
*_CONTACT
DISNEY/ABC_*
The president of the Disney-ABC Television Group is Ms. Anne Sweeney,
who is responsible for all Disney broadcast properties.
We encourage you to send faxes or "snail mail" to
Anne Sweeney
Co-Chair, Disney-ABC Television group
The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA. 91521
FAX: 1-818-560-1930
PHONE: (Main Disney Switchboard) 1-818-560-1000
Be sure to mark all of your faxes "Attention: Ms. Anne Sweeney,
Television Group"
For updates on this story, visit
http://www.atheists.org/action/alert-08-mar-2005.html
*_TALKING POINTS & WRITING TIPS_*
** ** *ABC has not, at this point, indefinitely canceled the
Finley/Stonerock segment of "Wife Swap." Nor has it announced why this
segment has been replaced by another segment. The network and parent
company needs to be encouraged to show the particular episode (which
has already been filmed and edited and is ready for airing) featuring
an Atheist.
Letters/faxes and phone calls should be polite and courteous. Inform
Ms. Sweeney that you would like to see ABC carry the Finley/Stonerock
segment of "Wife Swap." Point out that the network should not hesitate
to air this installment simply because one of the participants is an
Atheist. "Wife Swap" has featured a wide segment of American families,
and an Atheist household should not be singled out and eliminated from
the show any more than a religious family.
* If you are sending a letter or fax, /*be sure to ask for a reply to
your concerns!* Request that Ms. Sweeney provide, if she can, a date
when the Finley/Stonerock installment of "Wife Swap" might air./
// /* /Send copies of your letters/faxes to American Atheists
(http://www.atheists.org/action/alert-08-mar-2005.html) and we will
post them, along with any responses.
* Distribute this action alert, share copies with your friends!
* Look for updates on this site!
** (AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil
rights for Atheists; works for the total separation of church and
state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.)
--
--
Larry Mundinger (aa#451) American Atheists Internet Representative
<irep @ atheists.org> <http://www.atheists.org/>
<http://www.americanatheist.org/> <http://www.atheistviewpoint.tv/>
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