Thanks, but we really don't need the help

Apparently, some of my fellow Kansans are a bit worried. It seems that ABC is planning a sitcom this fall called "Back to Kansas" and they're afraid the movie may make fun of the state.

Officials in Kansas are expressing concern that the planned ABC sitcom Back to Kansas will make the state and its citizens the "butt of some jokes" and otherwise bring them into disrepute.

Of cource, they don't seem to take into consideration that Kansas officials have already managed to that all on their own, with such things as the brilliant decision a few years ago to take any questions about evolution off the state school exams (thus making it unlikely that teachers would bother teaching evolution, since they generally "teach to the test"), and laws that do thing like reduce the penalty for statuatory rape cases between teens who are fairly close in age - but only if they are of different genders. Homosexual teenage couples still face the full penalty for statuatory rape, even if they are only a year apart in age (with only one being over the legal age of consent).

Luckily, we seem to have one official in Kansas who might have a clue.

Kansas Travel and Tourism director Scott Allegrucci told today's (Friday) Kansas City Star that he has advised would-be protesters to hold off. "I suggest that any protest on the part of any entity in Kansas will simply confirm the stereotypes that some fear the show will focus on," he said. Moreover, he indicated, just having a TV show on the air with Kansas in its title could be valuable publicity. "This can only be good for Kansas -- even if the show is a dog."

Posted by thorswitch at June 6, 2003 03:56 PM | TrackBack