Wallace and Grommit rule. In fact, they should be in charge of MSNBC. Certainly better than the buffoons running it now.

I agree with Kristen about Wallace and Grommit... Okay, honestly, it bugged me that the chefs were chastised for their language. It's a reality tv show! you don't get more real than a bunch of passionate angry chefs who've been sitting in the Not So Glad room for six hours with copious amounts of booze. I love Chef Tom, but I was like, what are you, their &#*!$%@ mother? I think the 'interviews' on the show are completely different from truly professional interviews. I don't think less of them because they have filthy mouths. I did think less of Tom for chastising them, though.

I've been buried in revision deadline...but now that's behind me, I think I need to click out to MSNBC

Mel, we should have been watching this show together. Can you imagine our conversation? I don't care that people curse, I was thinking like a mom...I'd kill my kids if they talked like that on tv. :)

The worse offender in reality TV is Hell's Kitchen. Cursing belongs between friends or antagonists. It does not belong in a public forum nor a message board. I find more and more people, especially the young, using it in all parts of life. I don't think its appropriate. I guess in another 10 or more years, what we consider curses will no longer be curses and there will be a whole new set.

Barbara -- thanks for posting about the MSNBC poll. I voted yesterday, despite the insulting poll language, and today I sent them an email with my two cents about their misogynistic dismissal of the genre -- and it IS misogynistic since romances are primarily written by and read by women. Hopefully they got a ton of emails! -- Marcia ;-)

Boy did I give them heck. I did use some imaginative languagePointed out that most bodice-rippers were in the 80s and invited them to the millenium. Agree with the television swearing. I keep trying to attribute it to British culture but that isn't working for me. I did have a library user try to convince me that the F word isn't swearing. Good grief.

I broke down and wrote them a letter. Maybe we'll get through to them!

I broke down and wrote them a letter. Maybe we'll get through to them!

Not sure how I posted twice. I guess I just got soooooo excited!

I did not write to MSNBC yet. Am planning on it today. I figure several days of email will get their attention. I'll let you know if they deign to respond. As to the cursing... Several years ago I actively listened to myself and was horrified by my lack of creativity in language as well as my overuse of certain verbs (grin). I started on a project to clean up my language. Now when I curse, people pay attention because I do it so rarely. Of course, I use "you odious dirtbag" a lot too. And if I've been reading too many Regencies, I'm apt to tell a bad driver that they are an ill-mannered boor. I like the looks I get back. (bad author, bad!)

If you want to see some action, google "msnbc bodice" and see what others are saying about MSNBC's gaffe. Looks like they managed to tick off a whole bunch of very literate folk. snicker

I have to say, chefs are NOTORIOUS for their "creative" use of language in the kitchen. Read anything by Bourdain to underscore my point.

Someone, please post an email address that will get to MSNBC. I want to register my disgust that they worded their poll as a slur, and I don't have time to search for addresses they DON'T want us to use. Lynnette Baughman

As for Top Chef--Good for you. I am also sick of the lowbrow trash-talk that has become common fare on the television menu. As for MSNBC--I agree. They should hire a professional to design/write their poll questions. But then, with their dismal ratings, maybe ad revenue is too low for them to afford quality work.

This was a great blog, Barb!! What a comic connection!!

How to reach MSNBC? In the blog, if you click on the words email MSNBC, it will get you to the email site with their address. Good for you!

I finally got my letter finished. Grin. I'll let you know if anyone answers.

I gave MSNBC Heck. Unfortunately, I don't think I gave them enough heck. I'm glad to hear others are picking up my slack.

To me the sad part is they never seem to let the reader know how much money is made in the mass market fiction market by romance fiction. The amount is incredible and they are clearly the leader in mass market fiction. But they never seem to write about why millions of readers mostly women read romance. The reasons are plentiful but what they don't bother to talk about is why so many women chose to read romance over other fiction. That's the real story, may it address a need that is missing in women's lives and maybe the men don't want to address that failing as it one of theirs. Though I read the article I had wished that they had chosen another author as D. Steele to me is more along the lines of Jackie Collins and not really a representative of the Romance Industry. Reality is we don't need their ( MSNBC or their ilk) to justify what we read and why.

Hi Barbara, I voted, I emailed, I haven't heard back. I don't get on my high horse very often. People either like romance, or they don't, and I feel no need to change their minds. But when they deliberately make every answer a negative, so that there is NO positive way to respond... well yes, that insulted me. And it's insulting to their interviewee, a well known and well respected writer, to phrase their responses that way. Idiots. Marcia James - you rule girl! :-) Hugs to all! Lori

I emailed them that same day. I doubt we'll hear anything back or even an apology buried on the website. I'm glad I wasn't the only one with my knickers in a twist. By the way - I emailed the letter to: today@msnbc.com

Thanks to everyone who took the time to email MSNBC. Now let's see what they do about it. (If anything)

I don't know if my comment got through to MSNBC. If I don't see an apology posted somewhere, I'm not watching their channel anymore. As simple as that.

Prime example of why I turned my TV off several years ago. I just got tired of news outlets pissing me off on a daily basis. I was a news and political junkie. Now I'm a Quality of Life Junkie, but I did go add my 2 cents. :]
Funny. I had to literally FORCE myself to finish Catcher In The Rye recently, it nearly tortured me to death. But I stayed up last night to finish my second Nora Roberts (Angels Fall).
Yet, it's hard to top To Kill A Mockingbird or A Tree Grows In Brooklyn.
Who decides what's "classic"? I hope it's not MSNBC or we are in big trouble.

I just wonder if anyone has said anything to Danielle Steele or Jackie Collins since they are prominently featured around that poll? If I were them I would be greatly offended!

Hi Barbara, Unfortunately it is not just this poll where MSNBC has clearly shown their disdain for romance. After doing some digging, I found four different examples where MSNBC referred to the genre in derogatory terms. One was in a fashion article, one was in an article about Nigerian women writing fiction, one was in a movie review for Elizabeth The Golden Age, and the last one was in an article about an Ivy League student who used her history degree to write a "bodice ripper." I can post the links to the articles if you would like.

Hi Barb. Thank you so much for bringing this MSNBC poll to my attention. I did send them an email because what they did is insulting and offensive to all of us who enjoy reading romance. I'll definitely let you know if I get any response.

Chessie, the comment section will stop any links from being posted, but if you email them to me, I'll put them in Monday's blog. barbaravey@gmail.com
Thanks for the research.

Thanks Barbara for the MSNBC info.--I took the time to write them (antiquated but effective), so I'll keep you posted.