Howard Beale

IN his review of NBC's new drama "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" ["It's Deja vu in 'Studio 60,' " Sept. 18], Paul Brownfield compares Judd Hirsch's role to that of Howard ("I'm mad as hell ...") Beale from Paddy Chayefsky's "Network." Fair enough. What is not fair, though, is the appearance of an ethnic bias against the character and the actor when he adds, "Only this time Howard Beale is so Jewish he's actually Judd Hirsch." Brownfield goes on to label him "an old guard lefty" although there is nothing about the character's political leaning in Aaron Sorkin's script.

Where is the searing insight of Paddy Chayefsky when we need it? If ever a screenwriter could put troubled times in perspective it was Chayefsky. Two of his finest screen tonight at the Aero Theatre, a one-two punch to the gut that kicks off with 1976's "Network." A study in prescience, "Network" envisioned the perils of reality TV years before it existed as millions tuned in to watch Peter Finch's newsman Howard Beale self-destruct in front of them ("Jon & Kate Plus 8," anyone?). Faye Dunaway's icy producer forever running the numbers would win her an Oscar, one of four the film would take home.

Where is the searing insight of Paddy Chayefsky when we need it? If ever a screenwriter could put troubled times in perspective it was Chayefsky. Two of his finest screen tonight at the Aero Theatre, a one-two punch to the gut that kicks off with 1976's "Network." A study in prescience, "Network" envisioned the perils of reality TV years before it existed as millions tuned in to watch Peter Finch's newsman Howard Beale self-destruct in front of them ("Jon & Kate Plus 8," anyone?). Faye Dunaway's icy producer forever running the numbers would win her an Oscar, one of four the film would take home.

IN his review of NBC's new drama "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" ["It's Deja vu in 'Studio 60,' " Sept. 18], Paul Brownfield compares Judd Hirsch's role to that of Howard ("I'm mad as hell ...") Beale from Paddy Chayefsky's "Network." Fair enough. What is not fair, though, is the appearance of an ethnic bias against the character and the actor when he adds, "Only this time Howard Beale is so Jewish he's actually Judd Hirsch." Brownfield goes on to label him "an old guard lefty" although there is nothing about the character's political leaning in Aaron Sorkin's script.

Thank you for attributing the "mad as hell" quote to screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky (Letters, March 29). It indicates you are artistically well-intentioned, but--sadly--misinformed. Howard Beale, as the "purists" you have addressed are no doubt aware, never said, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!" though others, especially in the latter half of "Network," did. What he said was: "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!"--a slight variance, perhaps, but with this innocuous error you have committed the journalist's cardinal sin: You have not checked your source.

The 1976 release of Paddy Chayefsky's prophetic "Network" was met with wounded yelps from television executives indignant about the bite he took from their hides in his blistering satire of their industry. Many were as publicly critical of the movie as it was of them. And no less than Herself, Barbara Walters, worried aloud that the public would infer from "Network" that television news was "show business." The very idea!

In the 1976 movie "Network," newscaster Howard Beale, played by Peter Finch, tells the nation, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore." In real life, a Fresno sportscaster, Mike Bryant, did sort of the same thing last week. In the movie, Beale became a ratings success. In real life, Bryant got fired.

At times"God Bless America"feels more like an assault weapon than a movie, possibly an AK-47. This funny, sick twist of social satire is certainly locked and loaded, even if its aim is sometimes off. The central character is Frank (Joel Murray), a vigilante of virtue who targets the irritants of modern times - reality TV stars, bratty teens, people who check cellphones in movies and a judge on a talent show who sounds a lot like Simon Cowell. The commentary that runs through Frank's head is accompanied by a ton of blood and guts splattered all over the place because, frankly, writer-director Bobcat Goldthwait has a lot he wants to get off his chest.

Re "Outfoxing Fox -- Take 6" (March 6): Last year I finally had my Howard Beale "I can't take it anymore" moment and fled CNN for the Internet. Now instead of emoting windbags (they call them anchors) and stenographers embedded with the Bush administration, I actually get incisive reporting from around the world. Like the Democratic Party that's racked up electoral defeat after defeat by trying to be Republican-lite, so will CNN keep losing viewers in pursuit of being Fox-lite. If one doesn't want to watch Fox's faux news, why watch its kinder and gentler imitator?

Most people imagine government-sponsored conferences to be dull events. But when Edward L. Menning DVM, executive vice president of the National Assn. of Federal Veterinarians, spoke at a food safety summit hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington March 31, the audience encountered the Howard Beale of the food world.

The 1976 release of Paddy Chayefsky's prophetic "Network" was met with wounded yelps from television executives indignant about the bite he took from their hides in his blistering satire of their industry. Many were as publicly critical of the movie as it was of them. And no less than Herself, Barbara Walters, worried aloud that the public would infer from "Network" that television news was "show business." The very idea!

Thank you for attributing the "mad as hell" quote to screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky (Letters, March 29). It indicates you are artistically well-intentioned, but--sadly--misinformed. Howard Beale, as the "purists" you have addressed are no doubt aware, never said, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!" though others, especially in the latter half of "Network," did. What he said was: "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!"--a slight variance, perhaps, but with this innocuous error you have committed the journalist's cardinal sin: You have not checked your source.

In the 1976 movie "Network," newscaster Howard Beale, played by Peter Finch, tells the nation, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore." In real life, a Fresno sportscaster, Mike Bryant, did sort of the same thing last week. In the movie, Beale became a ratings success. In real life, Bryant got fired.

Mad as Hell is an occasional feature, starting with this issue, in which readers may express their views on issues related to the arts and entertainment. Let the phrase uttered by Howard Beale (as portrayed by Peter Finch, left, in the movie "Network") be your guide: "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!" Violence Against Women It is estimated that four of every 10 children in America are being sexually molested. Every five minutes a woman in the United States is raped; 16% of these women are over 60 years old. In one week the number of women portrayed on TV who are murdered, raped and dismembered is staggering.

For the last two years, the 24-year-old son of NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol and his wife, actress Susan Saint James, has lived rent-free in the guest apartment above Lilly Tartikoff's large garage. "I am the ultimate mooch," says Charlie. "I am so aware of how completely ridiculous the situation is." Lilly wouldn't let him pay even if he tried. "He's my godson!" she exclaims.