TV stations afraid of the word “vibrator”

Renegade Theater Company has been having trouble landing interviews on local television stations for their upcoming play, In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play, because of the word “vibrator” in the title. The odd thing is that other plays that have dealt with subjects as diverse as incest, menstruation, torture, murder, marijuana, drug use, and so on have had no trouble getting airplay.

So, Duluth media, what’s that all about? Why does a vibrator scare you more than any of these things? Why the sudden prudery?

8 Comments

[email protected]

about 11 years ago

Local media are _expected_ to cover plays?

That's news to me.

andrew

about 11 years ago

The local talking heads realize theater doesn't get ratings and would rather cover women who give birth without knowing they were preggers.

They don't give a shit about "vibrator."

Lawrence Lee

about 11 years ago

Well, David and Andrew, you'd have a point if they didn't as a matter of course do interviews on upcoming productions. If this wasn't an exception, do you think it would be worth mentioning? I've opened 3 shows in the past year and there has been no shortage of desire on the part of the press for interviews. So, yeah, I think it is significant.

[email protected]

about 11 years ago

I'm sure you do think it's significant -- why else post?  And I sympathize -- there may be something to the anxiety you speak of.

On the other hand, I can't find a single mention on KBJR/NNC of "William Shakespeare's Land of the Dead," and only two mentions of Renegade plays in the last two years.  WDIO did mention the zombie masterpiece.  Maybe the Play Ground gets better coverage than Renegade.  It certainly gets better coverage than many groups in town, if your account is accurate. 

As someone involved in three nonprofits in town, each of them struggling for media attention of any sort for years, I am just more accustomed to an old adage:  the media call you when you will say what they want to say.  They never call to hear what you want to say, but instead to hear you say what they will expect you will say, that suits their agenda.  This is as true in national Sunday talk shows as it is for local news.

So, what can they say to their audience by covering your play that suits their needs, not yours?

adam

about 11 years ago

The Play Ground is now The Underground.

Also, reference to my old, cumbersome post: "This is Your Passion; This is Their Day Job."

Barrett Chase

about 11 years ago

Their post doesn't specify this, so I'll ask here: did representatives from TV stations specifically tell them that the reason their play wouldn't be covered was because of its title and/or content? Because I can think of dozens of cultural events that go uncovered by local TV every week.

Lawrence Lee

about 11 years ago

Barrett, yes. They received an email from at least one station declining to do an interview because the word "vibrator" was in the title.

Paul Lundgren

about 11 years ago

Vibrator isn't the only v-word causing panic.

From the Ashland Daily Press:

[img]http://www.perfectduluthday.com/wp-content/uploads/comments/vaginal-daily-press.jpg[/img]

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