Debut of "The Awful Truth"

Mike's Letter

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March 26th, 1999 12:00 AM

Dear Friends,

Sunday night, April 11, at 9pm (10pm on the west coast), we return to the land of television with our new series, "The Awful Truth." We will be on every Sunday night for 12 weeks (with repeat showings every Friday night at 10pm) and I can't wait for you to see some of the stuff we've shot. Yes, the Chicken is back. Yes, the cops show up, a millionaire industrialist sues us, we pay a visit to Ken Starr's house, and I drive a Winnebego full of gay guys around the country in what we call "The Sodomobile."

"The Awful Truth" will air on the Bravo channel on cable. It is too controversial for the free broadcast networks to handle so we are fortunate to have Bravo (the Film and Arts Network) courageously willing to air it. I don't have to tell you that it is not an easy road we are on, trying to get an alternative voice on American television. It has been over three years since "TV Nation" ended -- and it has taken this long to make its successor, "The Awful Truth," a reality.

I have received a number of letters from people who would like to watch our show, but their local cable system doesn't carry Bravo. I have two suggestions that may help some of you.

You can get Bravo if you sign up for a satellite system like DirecTV which uses a tiny 18-inch dish you attatch to your window, the side of your house or apartment, or on your roof. DirecTV currently has a special offer where they will give you three months of "Total Choice" programming for FREE -- or, in other words, the three months "The Awful Truth" is on the air (April-June). You can cancel after that with no penalty. They will also pay for the installation of your dish (which would normally cost around $100) if you buy the dish at one of their authorized dealers (like Radio Shack or Circuit City or others). Thus, the only cost is the dish which you can get for as low as $89.-$150.

To find out more about this, you can call DirecTV at 1-800-347-3288 or click here:
http://www.directv.com.

DishNetwork has a more expensive offer that includes a free dish but you have to sign up for a year (even though you get more channels). You can find out more about them by going to http://www.dishnetwork.

If you don't have the hundred bucks for DirecTV dish, why not consider chipping in with a bunch of friends and holding a weekly "Awful Truth" party or potluck? We used to get great calls and letters from people at "TV Nation" viewing parties.

If you want to organize something larger for your community, Bravo is giving "The Awful Truth" to several communities that want it but can't get it. Free. If you want to host weekly screenings of our show in your union hall, student union, community center, church or other gathering place, Bravo will pay for the satellite dish and its programming. All you have to do is provide the TV set and a place that's open to the public. Then get the word out to come and watch "The Awful Truth" on Sunday (or Friday) evenings. For more information, visit Bravo's website later today at http://www.bravotv.com and tell them how you would set it up. Bravo will pick 12 cities where they'll provide the free satellite dish and "The Awful Truth." They need to hear from you in the next few days in order to set up the dish in time, so write now.

I want as many people as possible to see "The Awful Truth" as I am very proud of it. You won't want to miss what will be the most provacative show to air on American television this year (hey, I know what I'm talking about... I'm watching an episode right now in the editing room where I am face to face with Defense Secretary William Cohen and challenging him to an arm wrestling match...oops -- here comes the Secret Service guy...don't worry I'm not going to spoil the ending for you -- it will air in Week 7).

I will write to all of you each week, from now until the end of the series, so I can alert you as to what to expect on "The Awful Truth."

Take care and we'll hope to see you seeing us begining April 11.

Yours,
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com

P.S. I was just wondering... if the new rule of waging war is that it's OK to bomb another country if they are oppressing citizens in a certain state in that country, does that mean that NATO should be bombing the mayor's mansion in New York because many citizens of a certain ethic background have been shot dead by the mayor's police force since he took office in 1994? Just wondering...

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