A COLUMN BY Dick Rolfe Chairman, THE DOVE FOUNDATION

August 2000

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From the desk of the President...

It’s customary for the editor or publisher of a periodical to write an editorial summarizing the contents of the current issue. As I look over the Table of Contents of the 2000 Dove Entertainment Report, I am struck first of all by the fact that this is our tenth year of operation. This milestone is all the more noteworthy since we have witnessed many significant changes in the entertainment media within the past few months -- some good, some not so good.

Television has remained the troubled child of the entertainment family. Network broadcasters, like little children, have behaved outrageously this past season in an attempt to attract the attention of a significant number of viewers who have abandoned the big four nets in favor of cable programming. In their frustration, network executives have confused critical acclaim with popularity.

TV critics are raving about several R-rated weekly series that have popped up on Showtime and HBO. "The Sopranos," "Sex In The City," "Arlis," and "Beggars and Choosers" have each garnered tons of printer’s ink and mega tons of trophies, all attesting that these series -- whose common mantra is the raunchier and more lascivious the better -- are popular with the entertainment elite, if not with the general public.

There is little or no media hype proclaiming the popularity of wholesome television series like "Touched by an Angel" or "Seventh Heaven." If movies and television reflects society, these shows must be the staple of American television, because they reflect a life-style that is familiar and a spiritual life that reflects nearly 90% of the American public who personally attest to the existence of God. Sometimes I think the suits in Hollywood make decisions in a vacuum. We witnessed a wonderful series like "Christy" go by the wayside when "Touched by an Angel" was launched, because a myopic television entertainment executive declared that there was only room for one "religious" series on his network.

Let’s face it, its not easy pushing against the media hype machine, but movies and television series ultimately must make money and Dove’s Film Profitability Study released last year has changed the conventional wisdom in many circles. Some in Hollywood are listening to the mantra of conservative families who insist on getting their entertainment diet without the spice of vice.

Much of this issue of the Dove Entertainment Report is good news. You will notice stories about Jesus being the new pop culture icon during this spring. You will also read about the financial successes garnered by those bland, saccharin stories without sex, violence and profanity - or as we like to call them, Dove-approved stories.

The entire staff at Dove joins me in saluting you, the movie-going public for refusing to ingest moral pollution in your entertainment diet. Keep up the good work and we’ll continue reporting it and reminding Hollywood where the real money comes from.

Sincerely,

Dick Rolfe

(The Entire Entertainment Report can be yours for a donation of $20)