October 4, 2007

Thursday Thirteen - Things you can tell NBC

This is the character "Dwight" from the NBC show The Office. Mommy loved watching this show, but she missed it last week. We learned from Mr. Hendrix that part of the plot involved Dwight killing his girlfriends cat. Not funny. Not funny at all. I would like to suggest thirteen things that we should tell NBC about that type of "humor." If you would like to contact them, click on the The Office link I have in the first sentence and scroll to the bottom of the page. Find the link that says "contact us" and let them know that you don't think it's funny to make jokes about killing kitties. Here are my thirteen suggestions -
  • 21% of U.S. households have at least one cat. Don't make us mad!
  • The number of pet-owning households is expected to grow nearly 12% between 1993 and 2000, and another 5% between 2000 and 2010. Don't make us mad!
  • 34% of cat-owning households have incomes of $60,000 or more. Don't make us mad
  • 32% of those who own their own home, also own at least one cat. Don't make us mad
  • Each year Americans spend four billion dollars on cat food. That's one billion dollars more than they spend on baby food. Don't make us mad!
  • In an average year, American cat owners spend $2.15 billion on cat food and $295 million on kitty litter. Don't make us mad!
  • There are more than 70 million pet cats in the U.S. Don't make us mad!
  • United States pet owners will likely spend more than $40 billion in 2007 on pet-related expenses, including food, accessories, veterinary care and gifts, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. Don't make us mad!
  • Demand a plot line where Dwight has a change of heart and becomes a volunteer at a shelter.
  • Tell NBC that by making light of killing a cat, they are condoning animal abuse
  • Tell them that you are going to write letters to the ASPCA, PETA, and the HSUS letting them know that NBC thinks killing cats is a funny plot line.
  • Tell them that you are going to tell everyone you know that they should not watch The Office because they think cat killing is a funny plot line.
  • Tell them that they should apologize for the poor choice that they made in allowing such an awful plot to air on their network.

Since big advertisers pay attention to dollars, it wouldn't hurt to send letters to pet product companies as well. Let them know that NBC should NOT condone this type of "comedy." There is nothing funny about harming or killing an animal. Period.

Thank-you in advance for taking action kitties. Now I am off to write a lot of e-mails...

30 comments:

Daisy said...

This is a very wonderful post you made, Parker. I am very angry at NBC and The Office for what they done. It is not one bit funny.

ps: Um, Parker? Have you seen Tripper's T13 today?

Samantha & Mom said...

This is a great T13. For shame on NBC to use such a careless plot line. Didn't they just make a big deal out of that football for dog fighting. We are going to email than. Thanks for the wonderful information.
Your FL furiends,

Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs said...

Thank you for letting us know what NBC did. We don't watch NBC. Mommy says our TV is in the dark ages cause they just have an antenna and it only picks up CBS, Fox and PBS. But thats OK, cause Mommy's favourite shows are on CBS. But we are going to tell the Gramps who have Cable TV not to watch NBC anymore.

What an AWFUL, MEAN thing to do.
Lots of boo's and hisses for NBC and The Office

Scylla, Charybdis & Sockie~Pooh

Rosemary B❤️ said...

This is a very good TT.. goodness.
Our family does not watch tv shows. They usually watch history channel and other stuff like that, but this is just sickening.

Anonymous said...

I so agree.I didn't see the show but
that's sick.I'm off to write some letters,Thanks for the info :)

Hot(M)BC said...

Here's the letter our Mom wrote. Your beans can copy it if they want to, or edit it as they see fit:

I was once a fan of NBC and its quality programming. Sadly, that is no longer the case. I am appalled to find that your show "The Office" showcases killing a cat as humor in one episode. Killing animals is not humorous. As human beings your writers and executives should realize this. It's a testament to their inhumanity that they do not, even after the outcry regarding Michael Vick and dog fighting.

NBC should a) directly apologize to all the pet lovers of the world in a very obvious and well-advertised fashion and b) spend at least as much money on animal rights causes as you do on the show The Office.

I will be contacting the ASPCA, HSUS and PETA to protest NBC's callous treatment of the topic of animal abuse.

Sincerely,
_______________

LZ said...

Yeah we loved that show but I don't see how they could set an example like that. Its just wrong.

Chase

Anonymous said...

That is a good list of how to take action, Parker. I can't believe that anyone would think such a storyline is funny! It is absolutely horrible. We've never watched that show and I'm glad we don't.

Forty Paws said...

We don't watch The Office, but you know how we feel about cat killers. We will find out more about this episode, then tell NBC how much they stink for airing it.

Luf, Us

Anonymous said...

What an excellent TT Parker!

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

This is a great post!!

Purrs
Abby

Mr. Hendrix said...

Hi! Great Thursday 13. I certainly made these points to NBC and am writing the actors too.
They should know better!

Mr. Hendrix said...

PS have you visited Tripper's bloggy yet today???

Shaggy and Scout said...

This is horrendous!
We need an episode where Dwight has his hoo-has's removed. Not to mention a few "comedy" writers and money grubbing tv execs.

Anonymous said...

What a horrible thing to have aired on NBC. We do not watch the Office and certainly will not begin. Mom is warming up her fingers to write to NBC as well as email.

ASTOR CATS said...

Parker, this is a great TT. We don't watch the Office but we will tell NBC what we thinks about their insensitivity. Actually - we is MAD - and we are going to stay that way until someone from NBC takes notice.

Midnite & Stray Kitty

KC and the Giggleman Kitties said...

I emailed NBC last night and a few hours later received an auto-reply stating they did not accept unsolicited story plots or suggestions.
For that reason, I'm now going with snail mail and Mr. Hendrix's excellent compilation of contacts on the Cat Blogosphere.
As Mr. Hendrix says: TAKE ACTION!
And I love this TT, just purr-fect, Parker.
ML (Mary Lynn) and KC & Missy & Dinah

Unknown said...

I didn't see the show. I have no idea what everykitty is talking about.

The Furry Kids said...

Momma used to love the Office. She missed last week's episode and she's glad she did. We're really mad and we're gonna have her write some letters. Grrrr.

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

We sent an email last night and mom is sitting down wif daddy tonite to write letters to dem dumb beans that think it is funny to kill cats!

Anonymous said...

We are gonna be sendin out some emails! That wasnt funny at all and we think NBC is gonna be very sorry they thought it was...

The Big Thing doesn't watch NBC (or any sitcoms), so we cant exactly boycott them, but we will hiss at them LOUDEST we can.

Thanks for the good statistics to use...

Skeeter and LC

Just Ducky said...

Mum doesn't watch that show or many others of the 'sitcom' variety. Most of them are too stupid for her. She is more of a PBS person. Otherwise she reads a book.

Just Ducky said...

Ohh, yes. You look pretty in pink!

Karen Jo said...

I also e-mailed NBC and got the same form letter. I will look into what else I can do. I tried to watch The Office once, but found too much "humor" of the insult variety, which I do not find funny. This plot line is absolutely horrible.

michico*Adan*Lego-小芥*阿丹*樂高 said...

This is just a wonderful post~!!! I love this one~!!!!! Although it's not in Taiwan, But I know we cat really rule the world~!

Kate (Pablo's mum) said...

Could be wrong, but I don't remember a plotline like that being in the original (and far superior) British version of The Office...

The Cat Realm said...

Uh, uh - I guess I missed to make my TT about this issue BUT I will certainly write those letters! How dare they! It's all because there are still humans out there thinking they are better than animals!
On a lighter note:
I need your help to make a decision - if you have time, come and take the poll at my blog? Thank you!
Karl

Tara said...

Excellent, Excellent, Excellent!

Thanks Parker!

Tara

Poppy Q said...

Parker, are you mad?

great post.

sammawow said...

You have made an excellent and most informative TT List today. Well done, Parker!

Purrrrrrs, China Cat & Willow