Desperate Boo-Boo

I have long deleted the "Desperate Housewives" from our DVR to make room for the fresh shows this fall. In my opinion, the show has already jumped the shark last season anyway. Therefore, I didn't get to view their 3rd season's premiere episode last Sunday and was blissfully unaware of the huge ruckus it caused especially among the Filipino viewers. I first learned about it in a posting in the Friendster Bulletin, urging the public to boycott the show. A petition was also circulated demanding an apology. Of course, I got curious and searched Youtube for the video clip. Note: To view the video clips below, click on Pause on the Radio Blog to stop the music from playing at the same time.

Apparently, it was the brief scene (blink and you'll miss it) where actress Teri Hatcher's character uttered a blasé line which implied the ineptitude and lack of quality of the medical schools in the Philippines. This interpolation was obviously deemed an unequivocal affront to the Filipino medical communities and a racial slur to the Filipinos in general, triggering a diplomatic incident.

The gaffe outraged and provoked the ire of so many Filipinos and Filipino-Americans that it resulted to the ABC network issuing this apology: "The producers of Desperate Housewives and ABC Studios offer our sincere apologies for any offense caused by the brief reference in the season premiere. There was no intent to disparage the integrity of any aspect of the medical community in the Philippines. As leaders in broadcast diversity, we are committed to presenting sensitive and respectful images of all communities featured in our programmes."

From reading the comments in various websites, the throw-away line surely incited a gamut of feedbacks ranging from indifference and mild annoyance to being indignant and livid. Despite the request for forgiveness, a number of Filipino dignitaries and politicians are still demanding for more acts of contrition and rectification. Whether the TV network will be forthcoming or not, the damage has been done. The scope of the repercussions is arguably a subject for more discussions.

In any case, the episode has shed the spotlight on the Philippines once again. In case you've been living under a rock during the summer, the latest Pinoy-related media furor was about the Youtube hit video of the Filipino prisoners from Cebu dancing in sync to a Michael Jackson song. Positive or negative, such attention brings awareness to our country and culture. Just so you know my stance on this delicate matter, let me reiterate through an excerpt from a previous post.

"...It is disheartening that the Filipinos are not being as represented in the media and entertainment business like the other Asian cultures. It was indeed refreshing when one of the contestants from last season's Survivor: Cook Islands, Jenny, was a Filipino-American from Chicago. On the other hand, there was a scene in an episode ("Four Dreams") of Medium that showed a prostitute who spoke Filipino but was supposed to be in Indonesia. What gives? I was baffled and disappointed that the writers didn't even bother to be accurate about this. Perhaps they surmise that our language is obscure and unpopular enough that nobody would know the difference.

Who knows what other shows and movies are out there that are depicting the Filipino language and culture quite liberally and erroneously. At the movie "Jarhead", Jake Gyllenhaal's character mentioned "...studying of phillipino mail order bride catalogue" among one of the suggested techniques for the marine to use in the avoidance of boredom and loneliness (including masturbation, rereading of letters from unfaithful wives and girlfriend, cleaning rifle). Not exactly the best picture to project about Filipinas. Hearing that, I think I must have sunk in my seat in the movie theater, feeling very self-conscious. Maybe I was just being overly sensitive but it was not a great feeling indeed. "

This blunder might become old news soon but I'd still like to know your insights and opinions. I'd encourage you to be candid but also consider that some of us had been guilty of stating a few unfavorable commentaries on other nations and cultures. The only difference is that we don't have the nationwide coverage and global reach of television as a platform for our views. Instead, we have the internet at our disposal. Therefore, I urge you to utilize it wisely and appropriately.

Comments

[Len and Jim]

Hello Rose,finally - I can psot a comment after a long time! Friendster wouldn't let me post comments for a very very long while! Anyways, about Desperate Housewives, this isn't a very impressive TV series anyway. It doesn't have any values at all. It's all about sex, sex and sex. All I can say is, in the process of all this hullabaloo, they are becoming more popular - or should I say notorious? I think we should just stop watching it...it doesn't deserve clever, intelligent viewers! Like you and our other kababayans, I am fed up of all this shit that people are saying about Filipinos. I am experiencing the same in my own life.Nice post, Rose.

[Rowena]

So glad Rose for the wonderful tip (click refresh) you gave me about leaving a comment on people's posts. I also shared the tip to Len since she's having the same problem.

Anyway, back to the show Desperate Housewives. I have heard all about it on Fox News. Truly, that was uncalled for what Terri Hatcher did. Is the show getting so "desperate" for lines that they (the writers) had to lean on using derogatory remarks toward us Filipinos? What about the actress Teri Hatcher? Where's the maturity on her part, choosing instead to participate in ridiculing us than saying "no...this is not right."

I am not a nurse nor a doctor but to all the Filipino nurses and doctors out there...keep plugging on. You have done so much caring for this country's sick. I hope you who look down upon these worthy citizens would soon realize that.

[anthony]

sana lang e mademanda sila.. that kind of statement could/have ruin filipino credibility.. speacilly for us nurses na magsisimula pa lang/ try / would like to have the oppurtunity to work here in the u.s.

[Den]

It's a sad fact of life that discrimination exists. But making disparaging remarks about the actress, the show, or white Americans in general & making comments about our supposed superiority doesn't solve anything, it just goes to show our own discrimination. Ika nga, two wrongs don't make a right.

I think whenever something like this happens, the right thing to do is make an official complaint. But more importantly, we should analyze ourselves as well & guard against making any judgments about other people, too.

[Michael]

WOW! This the first time to your Blog - Cool ! Mauh!

Yeah, I'd love to take Teri Hatcher out tie her up in bondage, gag her, and beat her butt! But she's probably just get pleasure out of it! LOL

What travesty! Jerks! Hey, and thanks for the Article about H&M Department Store Incident.

Nice blog! I love the title too :D Peace and and love the sky gate shots!

[sTeL]

OMG... i love Desperate Housewives... and yet this blunder disheartened me...

My father always said that Filipinos, regardless of their education whatsoever, are one of the smartest people one could ever encounter. But who amongst other races would admit to that fact?

As much as i would like to be angry at their ignorance, it's a pity they can NEVER understand anything because they believe at their own superiority.

[jed]

after viewing and hearing what she said, shows their being insensitive about the feeling of other cultures, I am deeply hurt, because of their ignorance, well some Americans believe that they are stupid, and for the script writers of that series shows lack of education and false upbringing, well its not their fault to be stupid sometimes bec. it’s a given fact

['ruby']

no comment

[Maya]

Like I said in my blog, the apology is appreciated and accepted. However, the apology whether sincere or not cannot rectify the damage it has wrought. I personally believe we can move on and get past this if we accept one salient fact: media mirrors the society. The line delivered by Teri Hatcher is by no means, a reflection of how certain people really regard us

[Richelle]

That was a very hateful remark...a very tetanus shot...and it wasn't funny! By the way, where did Marc Cherry get his degree? This is one desperate show...just so desperate to collect more Emmy trophies. Guess, I'm just too sensitive. We haven't seen the episode here in Korea. Thanks for sharing this, Rose.

[AJ MaO'Brn]

I just saw it last night when another friend told me about the fuzzzzz. Well, I stopped watching just this season before Terri had a sneak pooh!

They too are ignorant and stupid just as the whole system that administered the show.