Parents Group Objects to Show About Serial Killer

By Aurelio Sanchez JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A Parents Television Council spokeswoman said she’s disappointed that CBS (KRQETV, Channel 13) has announced it will begin airing “Dexter” on Sunday, despite an effort by a public TV watchdog group trying to marshal public opposition.

“I think our message is resonating with the American TV watching public. I think a lot of people share our concerns,” Melissa Henson, director of communications for the Parents Television Council said in a phone interview.

“Dexter” is a graphically violent show about a “hero” who is a serial killer. It has aired for two seasons on the premium cable network Showtime.

The Parents Council, a nonpartisan education organization advocating responsible entertainment, has provided information on the show, and links with which parents and others can register their opposition to local media outlets.

Through e-mail or phone, opponents are saying they don’t want the program shown on publicly-owned broadcast airwaves, Henson said.

Because of the recently settled writer’s strike, CBS decided to use the Showtime cable program to fill programming, but the parents organization and many members objected to its heavy use of violence, some nudity and profanity.

Henson said her organization is stepping up efforts to contact station managers and advertisers so they can be made fully aware of the organization’s objections, and to try to get the show cancelled.

Though she had no specific numbers for the campaign, Henson reiterated that she believes their message is taking hold that “Dexter” is not appropriate for publicly broadcast television.

“Our community does not need a series that glorifies a sadistic serial killer coming into our homes,” Martin J. King of Placitas, one of the signers of the online petition, said in a phone interview.

(c) 2008 Albuquerque Journal. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.