Studio 60 and Billy Graham

Last night, Scott and I watched the pilot episode of "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip", the new Aaron Sorkin (of the West Wing and Sports Night) drama that will be on NBC this fall. Scott got a copy of the pilot off of Netflix, as NBC decided to stir some early interest in the series (as if there wasn't already enough buzz) by releasing the pilot early on DVD. Anyway, it was awesome. Not that I expected anything less from the Aaron Sorkin/Thomas Schlamme (tommy schlamme) duo, but I was stunned with how much I liked it. Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet, Brad Whitford, DL Hughley, Sarah Paulson, and Steven Weber all star in the show, which is about an SNL-type network comedy sketch show and the behind the scenes action. It airs for real on NBC Mondays this fall (yay! I don't have class on Mondays!!). You can see a good preview of it on YouTube, or on NBC's website, or get the pilot for yourself.

The most interesting thing about the show to me thus far is that one of the main characters, Harriet, played by Sarah Paulson, is one of the main sketch comedians in the show. And she's a Christian. And you don't even have to guess that, because they mention it like 10 times in the pilot. It was interesting to see how they treated a very Christian character amidst the world of potentially offensive sketch comedy. The character is very autobiographical on the part of Sorkin, in that he recently dated and broke up with Kristin Chenoweth, an actress (the original Glinda in the Broadway production of "Wicked", I love "Wicked"!) who has made no secret of the fact that she's a committed Christian (and broke up with her for the exact same reason as the characters in the show broke up!). I loved that in the show, they didn't shy away from making it obvious that Harriet is a Christian, and that she's one of the main characters, so it will not be a little issue. But it remains to be seen how they treat the topic of Christianity as the show progresses. It's one of the things that I'm perhaps most hopeful about the show, but I know from previous experience that I must not have too high of expectations. It's difficult for network TV or Hollywood in general to deal with the topic of Christianity. So we shall see.

In my life, this topic of Christianity has fallen into focus for me lately. It was brought up again by the show last night, but it was started for me by reading the latest Newsweek, which had a cover article with Billy Graham. It was such an excellent article, I wanted to write a letter to Newsweek and thank them for publishing it. I've never wanted to write Newsweek a letter! I was so blessed by reading about Mr. Graham, who is truly a great role model for Christians, and seems to be a lovely man. I love elderly people, so the fact that he sleeps in a separate room from his wife because he is in a hospital bed, but goes in to her room every day and reads the Bible and prays with his wife, as they memorize Scripture together brought me to tears. The article contrasted him with other noted Christian representatives of today, the infamous Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and his own son, Franklin Graham. It was interesting to note that those other highly political representatives really do not represent many Christians. I know that they certainly don't represent me. But Billy Graham, yeah, I'd be okay with someone asking me about his faith. Because in the article, he said some beautiful things about Christianity, and about people in general. He said that as he's gotten older, he's realized that God has not called him to be in politics anymore, and he has refocused his life on the importance of Christ, the impending journey of death, and enjoying every day as a gift from God. I took a quiz online yesterday, and I am 30% conservative, and 70% liberal (highly scientific (!), of course, but still interesting). Not at all what people think of when they think of Christians. And what Billy Graham said resonated within me. The world has been given a false picture of Christianity, certainly some people agree with it, but we cannot be generalized into fear-based agendas and conservative think tanks, and it is up to the rest of us, those who are concerned with social justice and love and mercy above judgement and condemnation, to make sure that we are represented in the public opinion.

I watch with interest how the media handles the issue of Christianity. I am thankful to Billy Graham for being an articulate spokesman. I am thankful to Newsweek for putting him on the cover. And I am thankful that "Studio 60" has decided to prominently portray an honest, real Christian character. It remains to be seen how well that actually represents some of us, or most of us. I am hopeful, for we have seen dark times as Christians in how we are portrayed in the media. May God bless and guide these small steps forward.