The Dentist Dethroned Donahue
Theme for the Week: Mind Food
Norvel Young
Wednesday, October 31, 2001
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: Because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path (Psalm 119:128).
Bonus Reading: Psalm 119:97-104, 121-128
When Phil Donahue, "the king of TV talk shows," left the air, much of the credit went to Richard Neill. By long-term diligent, determined efforts, he chipped away at Donahue's throne, by organizing letter-writing campaigns to the program sponsors, appealing to senators and representatives, and finally appearing on the Donahue show himself, at Donahue's invitation.
Here's how one prominent advertiser responded to Neill's letter: "We are stopping all advertising support of The Donahue Show. Dr. Neill, we have to ensure that our brands are advertised on quality television programming, and we share your concern for children's viewing. Thank you for your efforts to encourage better television."
In 1996, after hundreds of advertisers and scores of stations had dropped his show, Phil Donahue announced that he was leaving the show permanently.
Is Richard Neill an extraordinary man? Not really. He's a dentist, a husband, a dad who got tired of taking it from television and decided to take it on. Yes, you can take on the networks and win. The consumer is king; we just aren't exercising our power.
Norvel Young in Living Lights, Shining Stars My Response:
One way I could support wholesome values in my world is .
Thought to Apply:
The answer [to television] is more families who will turn off the trash, boycott the sponsors, and hold the executives responsible.
Bill Bradley
Adapted from: Living Lights, Shining Stars (Howard, 1997) with permission.
For your convenience, Living Lights, Shining Stars is available in the ChristianityToday.com bookstore.
Copyright © 2001 by the author or Christianity Today, Inc./Men of Integrity magazine.
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Forgive me, Lord, for loving the world too much. Set my affections on You and help me to recognize and resist the temptations of television.
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