Gotta Be Cruel To Be Kind

Newcastle Herald

Saturday March 3, 2007

GR

A few steps away from the set of Fox's 24, an unlikely alliance of human rights activists, the dean of the US Military Academy and veteran interrogators with experience stretching from Saigon to Abu Ghraib gathered.

The group was there to meet with some of the creative forces behind 24 and advance a simple plea make your torture scenes more authentic. By that, they did not mean bloodier or more savage. Instead, they wanted 24 to show torture subjects taking weeks or months to break, spitting out false or unreliable intelligence, and even dying. As they do in the real world.

"We're not opposed to having torture on television, but 98 per cent of the time when it is shown, it's 'Bing, bang, boom,' and it works," says David Danzig from the New York-based organisation Human Rights First. "Frankly, it's unrealistic and it's kind of boring."

More troubling were the social consequences of TV's current version of torture and who is performing it.

Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 prime-time television has seen a surge of torture sequences. From 1996 to 2001, there were 102 scenes. But from 2002 to 2005, that figure had jumped to 624. 24 has accounted for 67 such scenes in five seasons, making it No. 1 in torture depictions.

It's also the most prominent show to have its main character choke, stab, or electrocute among other techniques information out of villains. "It's unthinkable that Captain Kirk would torture someone." Danzig says.

V8 SUPERCARS CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Saturday and Sunday, 1pm to 5.30pm, Prime

Catch some of the biggest names in Australian motor sport when round one of the 2007 V8 Supercar championship gets underway this weekend.

Matthew White will host the event live from Adelaide, with Grant Denyer, Mark Beretta and newcomer Daniel Gibson.

The V8 Supercars is the fastest growing sport in the country, drawing a television audience of about 12 million in Australia alone. Holden fans will be eager to see if reigning champion Rick Kelly can take out the series again.

UGLY BETTY

Sunday, 7.30pm, Prime

Betty proves to her colleagues that living in Queens has its ups. She uses her connections to lure big-time photographer and former Queens boy Vincent Bianchi to shoot for Mode.

But when Bianchi insists that the pair meet at a posh restaurant, Betty decides she needs a makeover.

COOL AID: THE NATIONAL CARBON TEST

Sunday, 8.30pm, Southern Cross Ten

This world premiere television event, hosted by Sandra Sully, considers the devastating effects that excess carbon has had on the planet.

Viewers can also discover how they can help reduce greenhouse gases.

There will be exclusive interviews with former US vice-president Al Gore and Australian of the Year Tim Flannery.

© 2007 Newcastle Herald

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