HBO has several original movies coming out in 2007, and the first of them will be Longford in February, which stars the versatile Jim Broadbent and Lindsay Duncan as Lord and Lady Longford -- both of whom campaigned in the UK for the release of Myra Hindley, a notorious child murderer. It's based on a chilling true story about Hindley who assisted Ian Brady in brutally murdering five young boys and girls in the 1960s. Longford and his wife both believe that she had been reformed, and petitioned for her release.

The Hitler-obsessed Ian Brady is portrayed by Andy Serkis (who unfortunately wasn't here for the panel) and he looks eerily perfect in this role. This story hasn't received widespread attention in the United States, but what they've shown here looks really intriguing. Jim Broadbent looks great as Lord Longford, and Samantha Morton, who plays Hindley, deserves to win an award for her portrayal. It's creepy, but extremely well done, like most of the offerings from HBO Films.

Yet again, we are reminded of the awesome power Oprah has over all of us.

A man in the UK who was raped along with his sister in the '70s (his younger brother was also molested) did not confront his abuser until 1995, attacking the alleged pedophile by punching him and stomping on him. A trial is currently underway, during which the jury was told the victim decided to confront his attacker after seeing an episode of Oprah about victims confronting those who had hurt them in the past. The man who abused the three children was a teenager at the time. It wasn't until 2005 that one of the brothers went to the police about the abuse they had all suffered as children.

[via Digg]

(S03E09) Hurray, Bree finally threw Orson out! Not, mind you, that I think he is completely guilty (I think that is where we are being led, but I think it's too obvious. I am hoping for a twist). I am just happy that that storyline is moving forward. Boo, it looks from the previews like she lets him come back next week!

Dateline NBC's journalistic integrity is being called into question after it was revealed that the network paid an organization to set up a pedophile sting for an ongoing investigation titled "To Catch A Predator." An organization called "Perverted Justice" was paid by NBC to set up a sting operation in which sexual predators were lured to a house in Ohio where they were caught by officials. NBC is insisting it did nothing wrong, and that Web-based crimes require new ways of approaching stories. Others disagree, claiming that by money exchanging hands the credibility of the story was affected.

The USA Today piece also had this quote: "NBC said it received at least 15,000 letters or e-mails in response to its February story. Not one parent complained about the journalistic methods used to film the piece, [Dateline NBC executive producer David Corvo] said." Well, they certainly didn't receive any complaints about NBC paying Perverted Justice, because no one knew about it when the segments aired.

Hoo boy. A few articles have come out recently reporting that a large number of alleged pedophiles are also avid Star Trek fans. Of course, this has resulted in much speculation over what it is exactly about the show that appeals to sexual deviants. Some think it has something to do with Star Trek occupying a world where social attitudes have "evolved" beyond today's thinking, but Ellen Ladowski in the Huffington Post points out that sexuality has always been portrayed in a rather cartoonish and innocuous manner, especially on the original series. To me, the answer is much more simple: Pedophiles tend to be outcasts, and outcasts have always been attracted to shows like Star Trek. Trying to find some direct correlation between pedophilia and Star Trek seems a bit foolish.

[via TV Tattle]