@BillRM,
Quote:So A&E play GLAAD and Jackson as fools as well as their gay and black employees?
What on earth are you talking about?
A & E didn't play anyone for fools. They sat down with the parties concerned about Robertson's remarks, and listened, and discussed, and the discussion seems to have been productive and satisfactory. And, it's my understanding that the Robertsons also listened and discussed.
The ones who were played for fools were those who listened to Palin, and Cruz, and Jindel, who tried to play this as a "freedom of speech" issue--which it never was. TV networks aren't bound by the First Amendment, and no one has a right to a reality show. And Christianity wasn't under attack, certainly not from A & E. In order to rev up their religious "family values" base, these right wing Republicans need an enemy to focus on, so they manufactured one--A & E--with Phil Robertson as some sort of victim. Except that wasn't going on. Robinson freely voiced his opinions, and his job and his show was never in jeopardy.
The Robertsons are always on hiatus from their show this time of year--it's duck hunting season--and that hiatus is part of their contract. So the "suspension" meant nada. And the new season is 90% completed and ready to air. The alleged "suspension" was all for show, and it gave A & E time to sit and talk with the activist groups to satisfy everyone's concerns.
The ones resorting to coercion, rather than discussion, were the types influenced by people like Palin, the people who bought her battle cry that A & E was attacking Phil Robertson for his Christian views, and they had to fight, and pressure, A & E to keep him on the air.
A & E never had any intention of dropping Duck Dynasty, nor was Robertson's job in jeopardy. This is their most successful show, and they've been working with the Robertson clan for several years now, and they've managed to keep the show itself clear of contentious social or religious issues, and they likely don't want to change that.
They had to figure out a way to deal with Robinson's offensive comments and to keep the show from being a lightening rod for other peoples political fights, but getting rid of Phil Robertson was not in the picture. The Robertsons signed a new multi-year contract with A & E this past August, after a several month salary standoff on the duck clan's part. So, the two parties were apparently happy with their working relationship, and neither of them was going to toss aside something that's extremely lucrative for both of them. The pressure tactics from Phil's supporters were unnecessary, A & E was never going to drop Phil, and, meanwhile, the manufactured "suspense" and the whole brouhaha helped to fuel more free publicity for Duck Dynasty than A & E could have ever wished for.
So, Phil Robertson isn't returning to A & E, because he never left A & E, and A & E still does not support, or agree with, his controversial remarks. And, as a way of holding on to their integrity, they will be promoting a public service campaign about tolerance and acceptance across their programming spectrum. And all of this buzz has certainly hyped interest in Duck Dynasty, just in time for the start of the new season.
You're the one whose been played as a fool. This really just was about a reality show. And the hoopla is over. Let the new season begin...