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May 27, 2012

Should Showtime Pull 'United States of Tara' Japanese Earthquake Story?

by Chris Harnick, posted Apr 7th 2011 2:45PM

United States of TaraThe characters on 'United States of Tara' often find themselves in tough situations. After all, it comes with the territory of living with a mom with dissociative identity disorder. Right now, though, it's Showtime that has to deal with a sticky situation.

On Monday, the network will broadcast an episode that will feature a Japanese earthquake preventing one of the characters from leaving Kansas (see below for further details).

Given the country's devastating earthquake, tsunami and resulting nuclear problems in March, along with news of today's 7.4-magnitude quake, should Showtime pull the episode or do some immediate altering to its content?

According to the L.A. Times, Showtime had this to say about the issue: "The current season was written and filmed last fall, long before the tragic events that have occurred in Japan. All of us at Showtime stand with the world in expressing our deepest sympathy for the tremendous loss and ongoing challenges facing the people of Japan."

Additionally, after Monday's episode the network will display a web address for the Red Cross with information on the relief efforts in Japan.

In the episode, Kate Gregson (Brie Larson), has her heart set on teaching English in Japan, but things don't go according to plan. The earthquake depicted in the show is a catalyst for her storyline, but could have just as easily been replaced with something else.

Having seen the entire season, I will admit to being a little shocked to seeing this piece of plot in the episode. I correctly assumed it was just a bad coincidence, but after learning the season was filmed months before the Japanese disaster, I do wonder why the network didn't go in and make a fix once the earthquake and its aftermath shocked the world.

Now, with today's quake in Honshu, it's especially unfortunate timing. European networks have even started editing episodes of 'The Simpsons' to remove nuclear meltdown jokes, so a precedent has been set. Should Showtime follow it?

What should Showtime do about the 'United States of Tara' Japanese earthquake story?
Re-edit.34 (9.9%)
Air the episodes at a later date.6 (1.7%)
Nothing, they have it covered with the Red Cross integration.301 (87.5%)
Something else, I'll tell you in the comments.3 (0.9%)



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Deb Mac

Wait, why should they change it at all? It actually makes Kate's storyline seem grounded in reality. Assuming that she decides to stay in the US because of it, it makes perfect sense to leave it in. I don't see how it could be construed as offensive. What am I missing?

This is a really spooky coincidence, I must say. But last week, watching the show, when the subject of Kate going to Japan came up, I though wow, it's too bad they shot the show so long ago. If they were shooting it now, they'd have to change the country she wants to go to because no one in their right mind would want to go to Japan now.

April 08 2011 at 1:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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April 08 2011 at 11:51 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
kiil

You wrote: "The earthquake depicted in the show is a catalyst for her storyline, but could have just as easily been replaced with something else."

Do you have any idea how long it takes to film a single episode. What about all the following episodes which might referecne that single episode as could very well be due to it "being a catalyst for her storyline".

What about all the actors who might be at present busy other projects let alone the sound and scene stages.

Please think before you spout nonsense.

April 08 2011 at 8:33 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
David Holtz

I don't give a damn about an earthquake. Why the F would you post this blog entry without a *SPOILER* warning? Some of us like to enjoy shows as they air, not before. Poor form, TV Squad.

April 08 2011 at 2:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Maahem Mezo

lol no its fine, they should air it. if anything it's a good thing that they have the red cross doing that

April 08 2011 at 12:03 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
OnlyTheLostBoys

No, they shouldn't pull it. That's just idiotic.

April 07 2011 at 5:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Melanie Egan

Oh for god sakes, we're a country full of *******. Why shouldn't they air it? Kate is a shallow character who's going to continue to act shallow no matter the consequences. *GASP*
THE HORROR.

April 07 2011 at 5:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
limonflavr

Yes, anything that happens in reality should never under any circumstances appear on television.

April 07 2011 at 3:31 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply

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