Unhitched

I just found this.

Ratty Kisses

Jackie
Ably Hindered by The Buck House Crew

"Behavioral psychology is the science of pulling habits out of rats."
Dr. Douglas Busch

> Crosspost: show is tentatively called "Unhitched
> ============ ========= ========= ========= ====
>
> Hi All,
> Last night Barbara Henderson saw a promo for a new TV show on the Fox
> Channel called "Unhitched." They showed a scene where 2 boys put a
> rat into a microwave oven and turn it on. Then it shows their faces
> as they supposedly watch the rat being cooked. At they end, one of
> them says, "That was the longest 9 minutes of my life," and the other
> one says something like, "It looked like he was enjoying it for the
> first few minutes."
>
> Obviously we want to prevent this show from airing. I'm going to be
> contacting as many organizations as I can, such as HSUS, American
> Humane, etc. for their help, as well as newspapers, and even the
> FCC. I'm going to contact the Associated Press and tell them we are
> going to raise a big stink over this.
>
> I need your help. First, log on to http://www.fox. com/links/ and
> click to find your local Fox station, then call them on the phone and
> complain about this promo. You can also email Fox at askfox.RemoveThis@fox.com
> Please use polite language, but you can say things like "We're afraid
> this will encourage children to put small pets in the micowave"
> and "We are not going to sit by and let this air" and "A scene like
> this is totally unacceptable. "
>
> Please email me personally to let me know if you have any other
> ideas.
> Thanks.
> Debbie "The Rat Lady"
>
> UPDATE:
>
> I just finished talking with the CEO of our local Fox station, and he
> gave me a phone number for the Fox Viewer Comment line which connects
> with an answering machine. He says they take calls to this number
> seriously. It is not listed on their website. I think people can only
> get it if they call their local station to complain about something.
> The number is 310-369-3066. I have already left a message there. I
> told them I have the support of hundreds of other rat owners, so I'm
> sure it would make a big impression if you all call and leave a
> message.
>
> Remember, please use polite language, no swearing. Tell them the
> scene
> is reprehensible, irresponsible, etc.
> Thanks.
>
> Debbie "The Rat Lady"
>
> UPDATE:
>
> I wanted to give you an update about what I have done and found out
> so far today. I just got a call back from Fox saying they got my
> phone call complaining about the promo and are passing my complaint
> on up the chain to the powers that be. So it is true that they do
> monitor their Viewer Comments phone line quite closely, as I only
> called about 2 hours ago.
>
> The new show, which is tentatively called "Unhitched", not "Unhinged"
> as I reported earlier, isn't scheduled to run until March 23. The
> contact who called me said that because of the writers strike that is
> a tentative date. So it's good that the show is not scheduled to
> start right away, but we sure don't want even the promo to be aired
> any more.
>
> I have also talked with the woman at American Humane who is their
> contact with the TV industry, and she is working on it from her end,
> but she said that public response is very very important, so please
> be sure to call the Fox Viewer Comment line at 310-369-3066 and leave
> a polite message.
>
> Please also post these messages to as many other groups as you can,
> and let all your friends know. The more calls they get, the more
> seriously they will take us.
>
> Thanks all,
> Debbie "The Rat Lady"
>
> P.S. In case you missed it, the promo shows a scene where 2 boys put
> a rat into a microwave oven and turn it on. Then it shows their
> faces as they supposedly watch the rat being cooked. At they end,
> one of them says, "That was the longest 9 minutes of my life," and
> the other one says something like, "It looked like he was enjoying it
> for the first few minutes."