One of the things we just “have to put up” with these days is the continued P.C. drive to eliminate smoking in movies and TV.
The latest alleged factual reporting of the story comes from Time Magazine, which in one breath says “75% of all Hollywood films–including 36% of those rated G or PG–show tobacco use, according to a 2006 survey by the University of California, San Francisco.” (anyone here care to dispute that? We would – but then again, remember who the big shot is at UCSF – the always reputable and unbiased Stanton Glantz.) but then goes on to say, “…remember all the smoking in The Devil Wears Prada? No? That’s because the producers of that film kept it out entirely–even in a story that travels from the U.S. fashion world to Paris, two of the most tobacco-happy places on earth. ‘No one smoked in that movie,’ says Doran, ‘and no one noticed.’ (we’ll dispute that one as well.)
Thank god the PC police are out to make sure that movies don’t reflect real-life. After all, isn’t that part of Stanton Glantz’ job description?
The entire article can be found here.

Somehow, we can’t help but be cynical, when we see (repeatedly) the promos for two new TV shows – the wedding planner comedy on Fox and the detective series with Jeff Goldblum. Both promos (which only last 30 seconds) include scenes with women holding cigarettes. We guarantee that neither series will prominently feature smoking – that’s a given these days – and that’s not the cynical part of us talking. The cynical part of us says “Hmmm….could those clips be included in the promos because smoking is sexy and would draw viewers – even though the Hollywood mainstream has signed on to the anti-smoking bandwagon?”
Naw, that couldn’t be it – next thing you know, we’d be thinking that an inordinate number of porn movie producers feature smoking women on their box covers, even when there’s no smoking in the porno, just to get people to rent or buy the movie.
Who could be that cynical?