At the end of the movie, when pressed for comments by reporters on the Public Enquiry of Charles Van Doren, a visibly annoyed Howard Stempel remarked: “You people (meaning: the press) never want to leave the guy alone unless you leave him alone.” What can we make of his comment here?

He means you have blackened his reputation enough; Just leave him alone, does he deserve all these.  And the truth is that revealing his lies is not their only goal. In fact, its not important for the reporters at all. Because the scandal news was very shocking and hot, they wanted to use him to gain news and increase their own channel’s viewers and so on.
Who do you think is to be blamed on this deception (lies): Television? Howard Stempel? Charles Van Doren? The sponsor? (Geritol – a pharmaceutical

Producers of Twenty One had given Charles Van Doren the answers, so they are the most likely people who started giving the offer of lying. I am not saying that Charles himself is not guilty, of course he is because he accepted this offer but the people who started this lying are the most guilty people.
6. Are there different sets of moral exist between academic and entertainment? Why and how so?
I guess unanimously every one agrees that sets of moral between academic and entertainment are ABSOLUTELY different. Academic affairs are about serious things but entertainment ones are simply entertaining. But I still can say that there are still scandals among academic places including matches, exams etc

Seyed Mohammad Shirani ,1271119726

Do you think other TV programs; either American or elsewhere could have some kind of cheating in their programs? Suggest one; and why you think so.

there you go, i found this on net:

New TV phone-in scandal: BBC kept £100,000 of Children In Need cash for itself

“The BBC kept more than £100,000 viewers had pledged to charity for itself.

Staff knowingly withheld money that should have gone to causes including Children in Need and Comic Relief.

In another hammer blow to TV’s reputation, the corporation has been ordered by its own ruling body, the BBC Trust, to apologise for the scandal on air.”

So, i guess it’s better to be more skeptic about what we see on tvs and what we hear on radios.

Reference http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-565090/New-TV-phone-scandal-BBC-kept-100-000-Children-In-Need-cash-itself.html

1071118945 seyed behnam razavi

1)  i think, the sentence is mean the people will talk and ask him about the problem even thought he has talked in court . This is like a artist have done something wrong, so the  public always Talked, disturb and ask to the artist and Charles Van Doren position is a Artist.

2). Crime? what are they killing someone?  Violating ?  of course that isn’t a Real crime, but what they are did just a part of television program where to get high the viewer and a popular television program is just a entertaiment

3) the actually i don’t know for the answer, because never happen to me. if just a guess, i guess i would do, because viewer must know the actually and honestly, Charles Van Doren is very brave and smart, because he can chosen of difficult choose.

4) no body one’s lie,this is like i said first if what they are did just a part of television program and bussiness and  my opinion television is just a legitimate theater

5) penangkap hantu (Ghost hunter)  indonesian television program, because the Ghost hunter crew ever came to my friends home and before start, the crew talked to my friend for did like pretended possessed (by spirit) when the program in middle progress.

6) there are have different, Moral academic is more too formal, and follow the rules academic. Moral entertainment is more  informal, and free.

7) no, because for this generation viewer can accept and they are knowing if that’s one just a part of television program show.

8) isn’t like jake said, i will vote the confession part as the most memorable scene in the movie, as it was a really happy, and funny.

by

Randi Himawan

1071113137

I enjoyed the movie. It takes me on a journey to the 50’s. I can feel the atmosphere and culture of that era. I feel that people of that era is really dorky, but that was what I respect them for. But I talk about that later.

And my opinion on the points is:

1.  He said that, seeing how the press vicously attack the Van Doren family. I think Herbert Stempel didn’t think of the scale of humiliation that Charles VanDoren received. Maybe he is feeling guilty of being a part of it.

2. This happens in the 50’s, so maybe that time the production and producers can get away with cheating. It’s the same case today as how the cant do anything about illigal software or movie downloader (eg CyberTracker). Nowdays you are sure to be charged of scamming.

3. I think its a right move by Charles Van Doren, as it shows that he is very sorry for the mitake he has done. To me, he is a mere victim. Yes I would do the same. If you lie in TV, then its the TV audience you should confess to.  It would take a mountain of courage, but if you made a mistake, then you should be prepare to take responsibility.

4. Everyone is to blame. It’s because of the society which is driven by profit. But if you want to punish someone, the producers should walk the plank first.  

5. We can only speculate that there are some sort of cheating going on in TV program. Until they are caught, we may never know. But I had a feeling once, that an “idol search” reality show is cheating in its voting system. I’ve tried voting but the vote just kept on rejected. Its strange as my other friends is also having the same problems and it has never happen before. Care to know the name of the show? I’m not sure if I should tell, because its just a speculation…

6.Academic and entertainment are two different world. But sometimes both can represent each other. But the fact that they subscribe to different moral code cannot be change. Academics might be strict on morals, but entertainment industry may not take moral too seriously. As long as they profit, they’d do whatever it takes. Sometime’s they do cross the line and commit an offence, and most of the time, they get away with it.

7. When we expect the show to be honest, ofcource we’d face the same problems. The main problem is how to detect these sort of scam, and how to deal with it.

8. Most memorable scene is the ending. Where the press bombard Van Doren family with questions and humiliate them. It was a very emotional scene as I pity their fate. I cant imagine going through the same situation. It would be the end for me.

Are there different sets of moral exist between academic and entertainment?  Some one will said same, some one might not. In academic, it might be serious for those, but in entertainment, it might just for entertain, not all people will talk about it, so I think both of those are different.

If talk about the quiz show, I think we won’t have the same problem if a program still doing the same like Twenty One, because, people nowadays would become more aggressive, if some program still stick with those scandals, what will happen ? people might protest, and caused a heavy problem to the TV Station. Media will start make the problem become bigger, attract many people attention, so people will talk about it, and what might happen ? Whole TV Station might be banned for broadcasting TV program or something… The last one, what is the most memorable scene ? of course the confession part, I can see that he is really sad.

Yong Keen Sen

1071119980

1.For my opinion,Charles’s meaning is the press would never let go any popularities that are hot in the topic for their benefits to earn money.The press will leave the guy alone when he is not popular than before.

2.If i were Charles Van Doren’s shoes,i would do the same thing as he did.It wouldnt harm anyone and in the end u entertained your audience and also earn the money.It is both beneficial,why would u give up the rare opportunity?It is not everyone could have the chance to be the public eyes and win the heart of the society.The production people were cheated but were not punished.This is due to their cheating action is basically for the purpose to entertain the audience in front the television.This can also be said as their jobs and duty.There is no people harmed in the end of the incident too.

3.If i were Charles’s shoes,i would take the same action as he did.I will confess everything.It is because there are no use continue to lie when there is someone already found out.

4.I think all of them are to be blamed.Television is the media that transfer the message to the publics.So,it holds the most responsible in this deception.Howard Stempel should not cheat even after he knew that the whole thing is a wrongdoing.I dun respect Howard’s character in the quiz show because he still did the wrong thing after he knew it is all a scam.His attitude sucks!He is a faker but luckily he felt guilty and admit all in the court.However,he is too likable to everyone include the judge and jury.He was found innocent for this case.While Charles was too clever to be in the quiz but was force to answer incorrectly for the question he knows.Upon dissatisfaction,he strives for the answers and solutions to popularize himself back.Charles is a bit of a sophisticated spoiled brat and he confesses that in the end. I think he really did learn a lot about himself but it’s sad that he had to learn the hard way because he is a genuinely good person. NBC took advantage of his weaknesses and they destroyed his life, which is wrong (obviously). I think ultimately the network should have been blamed for their deception, but its right that Charles had to learn his lesson.

Punishment is complicated. We, as a nation tend to rake celebrities and politicians across the coals for things that we do every day. We think little of abusing them or “bringing them down”. But, how do we know we’d act differently in their situation? We might just do the exact same thing. Sometimes, I think that’s why we are so self-righteouss about it, because at the end of the day, we’re all the same. We’re all selfish.

6.There arent any difference between them.First of all,morals for academic must have disipline in students.Their time is very important also,the timing should manage well.They should respect to the elders especially the teachers in school and parents in homes.While,entertainment,people that involved should not neglect their own studies.However,teenages will go out for fun such as clubbing,attend parties,hang out with their friends and neglect their studies.They should also handle their own time properly.

7.Ya,we would have much problems if there are the existance of Quiz show today.

8.The memorable scene for me would be the scene when Charles Van Doran was forced to answer the questions wrongly.He had to make a big decision for act dumb in front of the crowds.I really admire his attitude to fulfill their’s(his and the sponsor) promise.If i were him,i would still answer the questions right even been forced to.I would never give up any chances to win or stand out in the publics.

References
http://www.answers.com/topic/cheat-1
Wu Si Jie
1071120345

1) What he probably meant was that the press would bother the person or subject until they lose interest in them. In other words the press won’t leave you alone until they lose interest in you. They want a great answer that than can accept.

2) For me cheating in the television is wrong but can’t be considered a real crime. Besides the fact that the producers can’t actually be charged for their scheme, they already made a scapegoat out Charles Van Doren because he was also linked to them.

3) If I were in his shoes, I would have confessed because I would feel like my life wouldn’t be peaceful and the money I get wouldn’t be from a good source. I also wouldn’t be happy because it is not my hard work that is getting the money.

4) All of them because they are not being honest with the people and especially themselves. They also didn’t feel guilty with the viewers.

5) Roda Impian the Malaysian game show because they bribe the other two contestants to let their chosen contestant to win the thing.

6) No because all moral values can be used in all aspects of life. So there shouldn’t be a difference between the two because in one way or another a bad thing is still a bad thing no matter how nice you make it sound.

7) Of course we would. We would just have it in a different method but in the end, it would be the same problem repeating itself.

The memorable scene that I can’t forget that when Herb Stempel lose the quiz. I feel like why he follows the crew. He should answer the correct answer. Any way I pity of him.

• This movie is based on the social condition of the 50’s where the culture and attitude was different our present era of digital lifestyle. Would we have the same problems if there is such a program (like the Quiz Show) today?

Yes the most recent one was in BBC channel in 2007.In this scandal the channel fines about 160 million dollars because of cheating.The winners were chosen before the competition .This shows cheating still continuous in medias .I think in this era cheating has become easier .

Reference :http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/10/19/1192301044180.html

Seyed Mohammad Shirani

1071119726

——-

Change the categories plzZ!

Lets review the story in n documentary

• The movie examines a popular Television program which was said to
  be cheating. If they (the production people) cheated, why would you
  think that they were not punished?

Because they just want to entertain people . This is their jobs .It doesn’t matter how .They job is entertain people and they did best in their job .But the people who takes part in competition are biggest losers in this scandal . For example Charles Van Doran was forced to resigned from college .

• If you were the one in Charles Van Doren’s shoes, do you think you would do the same? (Confess your guilt on TV)

Well maybe yes maybe no.It depends that how I powerfull to confess my gulit. I hope i  wont be in situation like this .

Refrence :youtube

Seyed Mohammad Shirani

1071119726

,,,

well, let’s go ahead step by step:

1. I think he meant just leave him alone, and to some extent he wanted to aim the press for just being ruthless about people (here “Charles Van Doren” ) lives and reputations.

2. well, i guess its because this was the first time such huge scandal was exposed. one more thing, they did not say “HEY PEOPLE OUT THERE, WE ARE TELLING THE TRUTH” but after this scandal certainly rules and bills were approved to be punishing such behavior in case of happening again.

But, despite all i said just now, i am not with Jake’s idea that TV programs are not to tell the truth and their objectives are simply getting the highest rank of viewers. EVERYONE expects the information or any sort of exposed program on a MASS MEDIA like TV to be based on truth unless the guiding information is provided. Even in the beginning of the movies that are not based on truth we can see sentences like ” this movie is not based on truth “. but one point that is made is that lot of movies exaggerate and/or lie but no one finds it out… .

3. Well, to be honest with you, I wouldn’t have started lying in front of millions of viewers from the very beginning till it comes to 50 millions of viewers (imdb). It’s against my virtues to even continue lying after i had already started it… .

4. well, like i said before, it was first time that such huge controversy and scandal was being revealed to the people. Thus, let’s be a little kind to them, they have just made a mistake that was seemingly not going to be exposed. Anyway, i guess the producer or the person who was starting the lying affair behind the story is the one who should be blamed. I mean the producer who is likely to be the guy starting to give the offer of lying.

5. well, i don’t watch these programs very often but as i said before, nowadays lies and exaggerations in cinema and TV are likely to be a lot but since we are not looking for their criticises or due to other reasons we don’t see scandals EVERYWHERE. One more thing, don’t forget that due to propagation of media and media investigators (people searching for lies in mass media to reveal) they don’t dare to do such stuff very much unless they do it as professionally as possible.

6. Yes, I believe it is and it should be different when it comes to educational or academic affairs. As far as it is about entertainment it’s simply easy for entertaining people and when they understand the scandal behind it, they just get shocked and feel like they have been betraying to. But when it is an educational matter, it gets serious and its about quality of many lives. In this case they even have the right to sue the people lying… .

7. Well, I think as it is mentioned in the question itself, our problems due to such scandal today will be different as well. Take ” American Idol ” as an example. It is really popular because from 50’s era media has spread incomparably stronger until today. But in that time there were no other media like internet. So if people find such problem with American Idol today, they won’t get upset like that but the aftermath will be much heavier.

8. well, seems like just like Jake said, the confession part was the most memorable scene of the movie, very sensational and heart breaking… .

Seyed Behnam Razavi

1071118945