In Defense of The Wanted
It’s 24 meets Dog the Bounty Hunter.
What’s not to love about that?
NBC’s latest addition to the reality show genre, The Wanted, doesn’t premiere until July 20 at 10 p.m. ET, but it is already stirring up a full pot of controversy. And while it would be easier for me to join in the media pig-pile on NBC, touting superficial analysis of a show I’ve never seen, I have decided instead to go into this with an open mind and many questions. Let there be clarity!
The Wanted features Emmy-winning journalist Adam Ciralsk, retired Navy SEAL Scott Tyler, retired Army Special Forces officer Roger Carstens, and former U.S. intelligence official David Crane. They all team up to track suspected terrorists and war criminals living comfortably among us — “us” being quiet, unsuspecting neighborhoods all over the world.
This proximity should cause a certain level of discomfort for those of us who would prefer to think “not in my neighborhood.” Perhaps that discomfort is why this show is under fire by the mainstream media. We don’t want to consider the possibility that our neighbor finances a global terrorist organization, or that our daughter’s college professor is accused of genocide.
But psychology aside, criticisms of the show stem primarily from issues of journalistic ethics and vigilantism.
There has been some blatant bad reporting regarding the show. I have seen several articles label all members of the show’s team as journalists, while only one is. Also notable, though only mildly surprising? Despite the considerable coverage of the show to date, the cast members I spoke to have had little contact from the media.
I was prepared to write endlessly about comparisons to other “reality shows” and about how the media has covered high-profile criminal cases in the past. But I realized — again, after talking to the cast of The Wanted — that these comparisons, however valid, are also a distraction from the real question of the roles and responsibilities of investigative journalists.
Sounds like a great idea to me. It disgusts me to think that we allow islamist terrorists to live freely in America out of political correctness. Maybe after the general public becomes aware of this disgusting reality they’ll start to demand our government takes action to remedy this disgrace. Especially when they learn a lot of these sick barbarians are living off our tax dollars.
Blackwater,
If we didn’t allow Islamic terrorists to live among us, there would be two very high buildings at the corner of Church and Vessey in Lower Manhattan.
It’s September 10th again…
I don’t think anyone in the former mainstream media has courage and honesty enough to shine a light on Muslim terrorism. Instead,they lack courage and they are too dishonest and arrogant to admit it. And they have to say something. So they usually end up siding with the terrorists in some way. Or instead of saying terrorists behead people,destroy liberties and treat woman as a subspecies,the former mainstream media usually says something equivalent to terrorists take candy away from babies.
Looking forward to this show. Special Ops guys beat actors and phony scripts any day.
The terrorists among us include POTUS and the liberal team that got him elected.
Er, this is NBC we’re talking about, right? If anyone thinks NBC will be rooting out *real* terrorists, I have a bridge to sell you. Wanna bet the show targets more American right-to-life, anti-tax, pro-individual liberty types than Islamofascists?
This program seems reasonable. But it also seems like something which could very easily become distorted by viewers perceptions. Some people could see ‘SWAT team arrests convicted war criminal’ and, after a little thinking, turn this into ‘Anyone who disagrees with my political position hates america, and I must destroy these treasonous scum before they can destroy this country.’ It’s perfect paranoia fuel.
ChronicPaine: Bingo!! I bet they will focus on white “suspected” terrorists.
NBC would never, never allow their orgainzation to target peaceful, law abiding Islamic terrorists living among us. Naw!!! First, it would be unPC. Second, they are terrified about possible repercussions such as law suits and death threats from those peace loving Islamists.
Hell, just go to Chicago, FOXNEWS reported this AM that radical muslim groups are meeting at the Hilton Hotel to plan how to better recruit terrorists here in the USA. WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT OVER?!!!!
Need someone alert Napoliano or are they stretched too thin watching out for all the “rightwing terrorists” here in the heartland?
Same old, same old. If we don’t confront it isn’t there! I asked my neighbor how many Islamic mosques, schools or associations there were within ten miles of our neighborhood. He laughed and said, “none!” Actually there are three mosques and eight Muslim owned businesses.
Try it yourself. Visit the link below and enter your zip code or the nearest city larger than yours.
http://www.islamicfinder.org/
The freedom United States guarantees its citizens is precisely what will bring it down one of these days.
Just as with serial killers, the only way to neutralize Muslim terrorists is to dispose of them WITHOUT first reading them their rights.
Since the Left is a great admirer and supporter of everything Islamic, it has neither will nor standing to eliminate radicals and their malignant outgrowth, the terrorists, from our midst. Obama most certainly will not do it nor
allow others to do it.
This is our tragedy; it will soon overshadow anything Shakespeare ever conceived.
Yeah, you can bet they will be focusing on white supremacists, and abortion clinic protesters….it’s mainstreat tv, they’ll be doing it PC.
#11 It would seem that freedom would be our downfall, but I would strongly disagree. That is the logic of dictatorial states. Many people confuse freedom with weakness. Just as they confuse meekness with weakness. It is a fundamental misunderstanding of freedom. Freedom is what makes us strong. Maybe it is idealistic, but I believe the “good guy” will win even if he has one hand tied behind his back. Yes, there are a lot of cells operating on our land. Why don’t the authorities do something? They are. It is called intelligence. Let the cells operate and we will gather the connections and mode of operation.
And if the left will not respond to the threats. If and when we are attacked again, Americans will not put up with it.
Comment number 4 and number 6 are exactly on target. This is one of those shows you watch once to see what kind of “terrorists” they hunt down. If it’s legit, the show will find an audience, if it’s “right-wing” gun nuts and pro-lifer’s who peacefully picket, then the show will die really quick. This could really be a case of one man’s terrorist is another’s……..
More likely it can be soft propaganda for the poor babies while pretending to be tough. Listen closely to the dialogue.
I am watching the program at this hour. More like the show “24″. It’s informative, but it’s not what I was hoping to see. Apparently, I’ll keep on reading information and being observant. The website posted on comment#10 is a good information tool, but in my zip code it shows one islamic affiliate at a University 50 miles away. With my observation over the past years, since 2001, there are 30 to 40 convenience stores, liquor stores and hotels operated by muslims in a 15 mile radius, maybe more. There have been so many changes of men that operate these stores in the past 8 years; never see them again. They have a safe haven somewhere. Right here in the good old USA. Plotting and planning; exploiting THEIR freedom of speech and suppressing ours. NUF SAID!