Pubdate: Wednesday 24 June 1998
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Contact:  http://www.seattletimes.com/
Author:  Greg Braxton

SITCOM'S TEEN DRUG USE STIRS DEBATE

HOLLYWOOD - The fall TV season is still a few months away, but already
concerns have been raised over the pilot episode for a new comedy scheduled
by Fox that derives some of its humor from a group of teens smoking
marijuana.

Although they have not yet seen "Feelin' All Right," two anti-drug groups
have criticized the pilot, saying that any comedic depiction of teenage
marijuana use is irresponsible. The series is scheduled to air Sundays at
8:30 p.m. after "The Simpsons," which last year averaged about 2.5 million
viewers a week between the ages of 2 and 11.

Fox Entertainment President Peter Roth defended the series on grounds that
it is set in the 1970s, a period when he said the use of alcohol and
marijuana among young people was commonplace. " `Feelin' All Right' explores
the experience of an eclectic group of teens growing up in the 1970s," Roth
said. "While the pilot touches on the subject, there are no plans at this
time to include or imply drug use in future story lines. We are confident
that the show's creators and producers will deliver a responsible, quality
television series suitable for our viewers."

The series, a Carsey-Werner Co. production that stars a group of young
unknowns, revolves around a group of high-school students living in Point
Place, a suburb of Green Bay, Wis. In one of the first scenes, the teens,
including Eric Forman (played by Topher Grace), are gathered in the basement
of the Formans' house while Eric's parents hold a party upstairs.

During the episode, several of the teens are gathered around a table in the
basement after smoking pot. No drugs or paraphernalia are shown, but the
friends are giggling and babbling nonsensically, and whiffs of smoke can be
seen. When Eric's parents call for him to come upstairs, the boys quickly
open the outside basement door and try to fan the smoke and odor into the
yard.

As Eric talks with his parents in the next scene, he hallucinates that the
wall behind them is moving. There is uproarious laughter on the soundtrack.

Leigh Leventhal, spokeswoman for the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, a
private nonprofit coalition of communication professionals, said: "I haven't
seen the show, but it just sounds like they're treating pot and getting
drunk as if it's a light, funny thing to do. The issue is much more complex.
There are no consequences shown . . .Do we want kids to see drugs as being
hilarious?"

Said executive director Terry Turner, who also was one of the creators of
the hit "3rd Rock From the Sun": " `Feelin' All Right' is about a rite of
passage. We are concerned about the reaction to a couple of scenes, but one
of the things we wanted to do was portray the attitudes of the '70s. We are
not endorsing drug use, but for us to deny that any of this was happening
would not be right . . . We have to be more honest, to show the stupidity of
using drugs, like having the kids zone out and miss a concert they really
wanted to go to. That's more honest and real."

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Checked-by: "Rolf Ernst"