NBC rejects TV ad thanking troops

By Jim Kuhnhenn - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Dec 7, 2007 19:46:37 EST

NBC has rejected a TV ad by Freedom’s Watch, a conservative group that supports administration policy in Iraq, that asks viewers to remember and thank U.S. troops during the holiday season.

NBC said it declined to air the ad because it refers to the group’s Web site, which the network said was too political, not because of the ad’s message.

“Anybody in the world who would look at this ad would come away with nothing other than we should thankful for their service,” Freedom’s Watch president Brad Blakeman said.

The spot was to be part of a seven-figure campaign that includes newspaper ads and television commercials. The ads are to run on CNN and Fox News Channel and are running in various newspapers. The New York Times ran a full-page Freedom’s Watch ad Friday that said “Thank You!” and depicted a soldier reading a letter. The newspaper ad also contained the Web site address.

Alan Wurtzel, NBC’s head of standards and practices, said the network decided not to run the Freedom’s Watch ad because the group insisted that the spot contain the URL address of its Web site.

The Freedom’s Watch Web home page contains links for visitors to demonstrate their support for the troops. It also contains a welcoming message that states: “For too long, conservatives have lacked a permanent political presence to do battle with the radical special interests groups and their left-wing allies in government.”

“We have a policy that prohibits acceptance of advertising that deals with issues of public controversy,” Wurtzel said. “This particular ad, in and of itself, is fine. It thanks the troops for their action overseas. We asked them to eliminate a URL address where a person is asked to contact elected officials and told not to cut and run on the war on terror.”

NBC rejected a previous Freedom’s Watch ad that addressed funding for the troops.

“It’s a long-term policy, it goes back decades,” Wurtzel said of NBC’s stance of declining controversial advertising.

He suggested that Freedom’s Watch did not alter the ad in order to force NBC to reject it and thus get media attention.

“Candidly, some folks have found that you get more attention when an ad is not accepted,” he said.

Blakeman acknowledged that Freedom’s Watch wants viewers of the ad to visit its Web site and said NBC’s actions amounted to censorship.

Freedom’s Watch has emerged as one of the best-financed independent conservative groups in this election cycle.
Source

Golly! Jim Nabors to be promoted

Sept. 7, 2007; Submitted on: 09/07/2007 02:23:15 PM ;

Story ID#: 200797142315

By Mr. Chuck Little, Marine Forces Pacific

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii (Sept. 7, 2007) -- Mr. Jim Nabors will be “promoted” to the rank of honorary corporal by Lt. Gen. John F. Goodman, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, in a special sunset ceremony at Kuroda Field, Fort DeRussy, Waikiki, Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 5:30 p.m. This promotion is in honor of Mr. Nabors' years of contribution to the Marine Corps' image worldwide through the "Gomer Pyle, USMC" TV show, and will be held on the 43rd anniversary of the show's premiere. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.

On Sept. 25, 1964, Gomer Pyle marched into America’s living rooms and hearts and put a very human – and often humorous – face on the United States Marine Corps. “Gomer Pyle, USMC” proved that the Corps did indeed possess a sense of humor and could laugh at itself. The show lasted five years in prime time, and has endured almost constantly since then in syndication. That is a testament to the enduring qualities that Gomer possessed which shone through night after night on that program: honesty, loyalty, and devotion to duty, Corps and Country. These qualities remain a cornerstone of our Corps today, and in that respect, the show is no less timely than it was 43 years ago. The uniforms, the people, and some of the social situations have changed over the years, but the Gomer of yesterday is still relevant today, exhibiting our hallmarks of Honor, Courage and Commitment.

Mr. Nabors was made an Honorary Marine on Aug. 9, 2001, and received an honorary promotion to lance corporal at that time.

Famous Chef to Salute Military

America Supports You:
American Forces Press Service


WASHINGTON, June 28, 2007 – Famous television Chef Emeril Lagasse will salute the military with two programs showcasing recipes created by the men and women who keep the troops fed and happy.
Emeril's Army-Navy Contest will air on the Food Network tomorrow at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Emeril's Military Contest will air the following evening at the same time. The six winners, representing each of the five branches of the military, were selected from entries in Emeril's Military Recipe Contest.

These folks are the real heroes,Lagasse said of the servicemembers. You just can't understate the importance of what they do day in and day out in terms of morale. As (you'll) see from the winning recipes, the food they're turning out is pretty extraordinary.

What better way to head into the July 4th holiday than to take these opportunities to pay tribute to our (servicemembers) for all that they, and their families, are doing for us? he added.

From their seats of honor at the chef's table, the winners will get to chat with Lagasse while he cooks their dishes, which of course, he'll kick up a notch. He also takes the opportunity to share some of their culinary inspirations and personal stories with viewers at home.

We had envisioned one special, but there were so many great recipes and stories that we expanded it so we could give them their due, said Karen Katz, executive producer of Emeril Live.

Emeril and the show have long had a special relationship with the military but even so, we were surprised at the response to the military recipe contest and delighted with the depth of talent we discovered.

Emeril's Army-Navy Cook-off features Lagasse cooking the winning recipes from both Army and Navy food specialists, and the U.S. Army Field Band Brass Quintet performs in the studio.

Featured in this episode with their winning recipes are:

-- Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Travis Smith, Headquarters 19th Expeditionary Sustained Command, South Korea, with his Fire Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Cilantro Cream and Grilled Cajun Catfish;

-- Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Joseph Chiarelli, a culinary specialist aboard the USS Tarawa stationed in San Diego with his Cedar Plank Salmon Parmesan with Asian Reduction Sauce over Julienned Vegetables; and

-- Army National Guard Spc. Andrew Ruga, 222nd Transportation Company, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, and his winning recipe for Pecan Crusted Chicken over Field Greens with Caramel Citrus Vinaigrette.

Emeril's Military Contest, which premieres June 30, features Lagasse cooking the best recipes submitted by airmen, Coast Guardsmen, and Marines. They are joined in the studio by the U.S. Army Blues Ensemble Swamp Romp for the hour-long special featuring the winning recipes of:

-- Air Force Tech. Sgt. Wesley Williams, dining facility manager at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., who won for his Rainbow Fruit Stuffed Pork Tenderloin with Fried Cheddar Grits and a Blueberry Coulis;

-- Marine Col. Stewart Navarre, Marine Corps Installations West, Camp Pendleton, Calif., who won with his recipe for Combat Steak; and

-- Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Stacey Russell, stationed at Sector Long Island Sound, New Haven, Conn., who served up her recipe for pumpkin pie.

(From a Food Network news release.)


Photo Essay: Emeril cooks combat cuisine

Tonight on TV

Be sure to watch the National Memorial Day Concert on PBS tonight. It will be on at 8:00 pm Eastern and 7:00 pm Central. Also The Marines will be on tonight at 9:00 Central. Be sure and watch it if you haven't already. I've seen it, but I plan to watch it again.

The Marines

Sunday, May 27, 9:00pm

CHANNEL 5 (KTXT)

Director John Grant's documentary examines the culture of being a marine. Included: recruit training during boot at Parris Island, S.C.; a tour of the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va. Also: comments from retired general Michael Hagee.