We Won't Forget - Addresses and Contacts for Letters

[WebWarlock]

Ok,

Got some new info.

Here is UPN's viewer comment line number, (310) 575-7000.
Comment away!

Warlock

[bzengo]

I wrote a letter to the president of Fox yesterday, expressing my upset. It wasn't angry - just clear. Since I don't want to clutter up this thread with my own letter, I'm going to go post it over in the Angry Rant thread (even though it wasn't angry),

The letters make even more of a difference now - because it shows that we have not forgotten, that we're still upset, and tells them specifically why we are not watching and what they can do to fix it. So if you haven't written yet, WRITE. Send those letters to Gale Berman at Fox Entertainment - her address is on page 1 or 2 of this thread.

As for the question of telling Fox what we want, I personally have no problem telling them what I want. Subtle doesn't work with these people. They need to be beaten over the head with 2x4's till they get that yes, there is a connection between their falling ratings and the killing of Tara by Joss and Marti. They need to hear loud and clear - "Bring me back Tara, and I'll be back. Leave her shot in the back, and there show is dead to me as well."

[WebWarlock]

Here are some media outlets that might interested in hearing our story.

[b:34d06d50a5] Inside Edition[/b:34d06d50a5]
VIEWER COMMENTS
PO Box 1323
Radio City Station
New York, NY 10101

and

[b:34d06d50a5] Extra![/b:34d06d50a5]
extratv.warnerbros.com/co...index.html

In both cases you should be 18 years or older and include your full contact information (Name, Address, email, phone)

Warlock

[Lisa of Nine]

Here is the web address for the GLADD reporting page
www.glaad.org/org/report.html

They want the name of the show, date of airing, and specific details. If someone could post the air date of "Seeing Red" I would really appreciate it. I reported with just the ep title, my bad.

I ask EVERYONE to take the time to go to this site and report BtVS for Tara's murder and Willow turning evil. We also have the Willow as an addict thing, and the fact that JW actually talked about sending Willow back to boystown. ("Hello, gay now" apparently means she is still open to the right man.) Oh, and JW's use of the term "experimenting." Yes, Tara was an experiment.

Maybe with enough reports, GLADD will get off their ass.
Lisa

[emma peel]

Thanks for the reminder, Lisa of Nine. I just posted a respectful "rant" to GLAAD about the May 7 episode,"Seeing Red" and my comments about JW, use of Tara as plot device, where has the gay press been and why haven't they covered this, etc.
Janice
Ohh, I bet Bob could write them a really good letter.

[Repost Moderator]

[b:1f0a97c17f] Originally posted by helpful information perhaps
[/b:1f0a97c17f]

In almost every thread I read here there are daily appeals for board members to write this mag or that website or whose ma whutsits tv ex.

Without a doubt all the requests for folks to write letters have been good ideas.

But it gets hard to keep up on who to write when and where

so taking a page from the magic box yellow pages, I'm proposing this thread as a "one stop spot to shop for all your letter writing needs"

ie a place to find the latest missive from whedon etal to reply to

in this regard I'd like to point out that

1) TV Guide on line has a interview with Whedon up here:
www.tvguide.com/newsgossip/insider/
Joss Whedon Gives Buffy Back its Bite
Tuesday, August 6, 2002 Joss Whedon Gives Buffy Back its Bite
and
TV Guide takes feedback here
www.tvguide.com/about/contact.asp


2) That Xita spoke with Andy the author of the Advocate article who says the response has been 50/50 as to the article being pro us or pro ME and that he is trying to sell a story on the cliche to Buffy magazine and Dreamwatch. Dreamwatch isn't interested and thinks it old news.
I'd suggest letters to

The Advocate
letters@advocate.com
Buffy/Andy Mangels in subject line

or

Letters To the Editor
The Advocate
PO Box 4371
Los Angeles, CA
90078
or
FAX (323) 467-6805


Write Dreamwatch and let them know W/T is not olde news
dreamwatch@dreamwatch.co.uk
put Buffy/Willow and Tara in the subject line

and

let Buffy mag know our concerns
Buffy Magazine
fromTitan Publishing
buffsubs@titanemail.com

Titan Magazines
Unit 6,
Pipewell Road Industrial Estate
Desborough
Northants
NN14 2SW
Tel: 01536 764 646 ext. 21
Fax: 01536 01536 760 306

to let them know ME's version isn't the read of the public


3) I'd also like to recommend a daily email to

feedback@upn.com
with Buffy in the subject line

or write

DAWN TARNOFSKY-OSTROFF
PRESIDENT, UPN
11800 WILSHIRE BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90025

or Call UPN.
(310) 575-7000. Ask to leave a message on the "Viewer Hotline".

as well as

feedback@fox.com
with Buffy in the subject line

and a brief statement of your thoughts on W/T or the latest Whedon spiel
Keeping the folks who pay the bills aware of fan discontent is the only thing I can think that may have effect


edited with Thanks to WebWarlock!

[Repost Moderator]

[b:1219367de4] Originally posted by WebWarlock[/b:1219367de4]

Well, I happen to have this handy so I'll post it here.

letters@advocate.com
www.advocate.com/html/con...ntents.asp

and

Letters To the Editor
The Advocate
PO Box 4371
Los Angeles, CA
90078
Fax: (323) 467-6805

As with all comunications be sure to include your home phone number, address and email.

With the Advocate I would point out that it is not only that we are upset that Tara was killed, but with how ME chose to handle the situation before and afterward.

If you want some tips on how to write to the media, use this page.
membres.lycos.fr/jeiara/press.release

It is a Save DA based page, but has a lot of great information.

Also here is the running list of everything that has been said in the media. I plan to update it later this week with all the new information.
www.xtreme-gaming.com/the.../media.php

Warlock

[Repost Moderator]

[b:c6a883510d] Originally posted by kpmuse[/b:c6a883510d]

Is this ok to post here? Sent to TV Guide.

Thanks for your very proactive article about Buffy. It truly pains me to point out to my favorite Magazine, that you have completely dropped the ball in covering the controversy and fan outrage over how Buffy ended last season.

Why isn't Matt Roush covering this? Willow & Tara were the only positive lesbian couple on television. This was the subject of past TV Guide articles. Joss Whedon decided to destroy that for a weak 3 episode ratings stunt (which he said he would never do to this couple as a stunt because of their importance in our culture).

Now you reported that Whedon said he would fix next season by giving Willow a new girlfriend! First off, how unbelievable is that! How many people lose their spouses and then start dating after a few months. That is insulting to lesbian relationships. It just reinforces another stereotype that gays cannot form stable, loving relationships. He thinks this will fix the fan backlash and disappointment in this show! Not so much!

Also, having Amber Benson back as another character! Well, as much as I love Amber, it is Tara and Willow who we want to see back together alive and well. They were what was important to show on TV. They were what was changing how people viewed this aspect of lesbian life.

I don't want to see Amber play a shapeshifting evil as the big bad to torture Willow, I don't want ghost Tara or twin of Tara. What is this All My Children! What has happened to Buffy the Vampire Slayer! Degrading women this past season, rewarding a rapist with a soul, Willow who wouldn't hurt a fly murders 2 men, destroying the wonderful relationships for cheap meaningless stunts! What is this show and why isn't TV Guide saying anything!

Phew! Got a little ranty there didn't I!
Kristine
Tara & Willow Forever

[Repost Moderator]

[b:dee7d22734] Originally posted by helpful information perhaps
[/b:dee7d22734]

WebWarlock

here is what I have for pubs to date

feel free to add to the list

From the Papers

OK so starting with two pieces that shouldn't be lost even if the links are now in the papers archieves

Boston Herald
www.bostonherald.com/
Television; The Friday Rant
Boston Herald; Boston, Mass.; May 10, 2002; MARK PERIGARD;

Strip UPN's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" of good writing, clever dialogue, frightening menaces and believable characters and you are stuck with this season. This week's episode was especially depressing, capped by the murder of Tara (AMBER BENSON) in the closing moment, another cruel twist in a cold season. Over on FX, where the good seasons of "Buffy" are repeated, the show's writers brag during commercial breaks about how no character is safe on the show.

But examine that body count for a moment. The most significant character deaths - Jenny, Calendar, Joyce Summers and now Tara - are all women. The show's two gay characters, Tara and high school jock Larry, both slain (ALYSON HANNIGAN's Willow does not count.

Creator JOSS WHEDON told the Herald last year that she is at best bisexual) The show's black characters? Kendra, Mr Trick and oh yeah, that guidance counselor who hung around for half an episode - all dead. We knew that Buffy lived on a hellmouth. Who knew she lived in Klan country?
____
San Francisco Chronicle
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/ar...241518.DTL
by Tim Goodman
San Francisco Chronicle TV critic
tgoodman@sfchronicle.com

Sorry for the delayed rant -- it gets awfully busy during finale time -- here's hoping another favorite series, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," gets a lot better in a hurry next year. If the writers need to work out personal issues, let us know in advance so we can watch "Gilmore Girls" instead. Finale: subpar.
___

Miami Herald
Cracking the closet door
www.miami.com/mld/miamihe...623355.htm
___

Sacramento News and Reviews
Witch Love Spells Death
www.newsreview.com/issues...6/Arts.asp
Letters
www.newsreview.com/issues...etters.asp
___

Is there life after death on 'Buffy'?
The Birmingham News
www.al.com/entertainment/...198910.xml

____

Mags & websites on line

and what follows is a summation of articles in this thread, with associated letters sections if they have them (thanks webwarlock!)

The Dead/Evil Lesbian Clich FAQ
pub106.ezboard.com/ftheki...=434.topic
also
www.xtreme-gaming.com/the...cliche.php

The Dead, the Evil, and the Insane
www.quiknet.com/~lcountry/cliche2.html

Oasis Mag.
Rest in Peace
thebunnyslayer.oasismag.c...yReader$42

Pop Matters Mag
Three articles from Pop matters, two pro-Tara, one pro-Whedon.
www.popmatters.com/tv/rev...yer2.shtml
www.popmatters.com/tv/rev...yer3.shtml
www.popmatters.com/tv/rev...yer4.shtml

Salon
Letters at Salon.com
www.salon.com/ent/letters...dex.html?x

Xtreme Gaming
The Message Is - "Pay Attention to the Message"
www.xtreme-gaming.com/the...ssage.html

It's Not Homophobia, But That Doesn't Make It Right
www.xtreme-gaming.com/the...hobia.html

"I Know Why Willow Weeps"
www.xtreme-gaming.com/the...llary.html
home.attbi.com/~brannantim/hillary.html

Sci fi Dimensions
Lesbians, Where Art Thou?
www.scifidimensions.com/J...rtthou.htm
Letters: there were so many the mag had to give them a full page of their own!
www.scifidimensions.com/A...sbians.htm

Sci fi Wire
Taras Death Riles Buffy Fans, SciFi.com
www.scifi.com/scifiwire/a....30.fandom
Letters: www.scifi.com/sfw/issue268/letters.html
www.scifi.com/sfw/issue269/letters.html
www.scifi.com/sfw/issue270/letters.html
www.scifi.com/sfw/issue271/letters.html
www.scifi.com/sfw/issue274/letters.html

Letters from Camp Rehobeth
Student CAMP: Heterosexuality Wins
www.camprehoboth.com/issu...ntcamp.htm


Sex, Lies & btw.: Don't Buy Their Video Tapes!
www.puk.de/ivanova/toaster_neub.html
(Very interesting because it compares quotes from ME writers over the last year.)


The Death of Tara Exposes Willow's Darkside and Fans Outrage
tampabaycoalition.homeste...traged.htm
Letters: tampabaycoalition.homeste...Letter.htm

The Reign of Tara
Wanda talks with Joss Whedon on fan outrage.
www.eonline.com/Gossip/Wa...0726c.html

Cinescape
A Cinescape Poll on what people thought of Season 6.
www.cinescape.com/0/poll....Television

Lesbian Nation
Buffy finale, Finally!
www.lesbianation.com/arti...4&id=10414
and
Lesbian Media Blender
07.16.02 By Tammy Fo
www.lesbianation.com/arti...4&id=10740

Ink19
The Death of Tara and "The Dead/Evil Lesbian Clich"
www.ink19.com/issues/july...otThe.html

Media Matters
A Heinous Clich Raises Its Ugly Head
By Rodger Streitmatter
www.gaytoday.com/entertain/072902en.asp

From Curve
Disappointed in Buffy

I know that your publication has supported Willow and Tara on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and I hope you plan to voice your disappointment about the recent lesbian clich storyline on Buffy (Seeing Red, season 6, episode 19).

In the past, Joss Whedon and his writers promised not to invoke the lesbian clich on Buffy because they were aware of how often lesbians in the media are sentenced to death, evilness, or neverending heartbreakYet, in an attempt to boost ratings during May sweeps, the two lesbian stars suffered just that fate. Tara was senselessly killed in front of her lover (after many hours of sex together) and Willow became evil.

Buffy has had four gay characters Larry, Andrew, Willow, and Tara. Two are dead and two became evil. So much for fighting the clich

Many of the shows fans are boycotting Buffy based on the Seeing Red episode and are also boycotting Buffy merchandise.

I urge you to publicize the gay communitys reaction concerning the shows recent developments and the devastating impact they are having on a community that was told it was safe to believe.

Send letters to letters@curvemag.com


From The Advocate August 20
Lesbian Sex = Death
By Andy Mangels
In more than five years on TV, Buffy the Vampire Slayer has endured more than a few bloody scrapes. Even as the series dealt with changing networks and Emmy snubs, the characters in Sunnydale faced death every night. In a series in which the lead character has died and returned twice, perhaps the biggest stake in the heart came in May's controversial finale to the sixth season.

In it powerful witch Willow and her female lover , Tara, who was often the show's most responsible and mature character, got to have glorious, sweaty lesbian sex on camera. And then, moments later, Tara (Amber Benson) was killed by a stray bullet to the heart, launching Willow (Alyson Hannigan) on a descent into black magic vengeance that not only turned her into a killer but imperiled her friends, her sanity, and eventually the world itself. The resulting public backlash against the series's events has ignited newspaper columns and Internet Web sites.

But to what end ? According to many fans the season finale reversed anything good that was accomplished by this all too-rare TV lesbian relationship. FanE.M. Colson notes that "whether viewers are conscious of the juxtaposition or not, murdering a lesbian just minutes after she has sex suggests a causality between lesbian sex and death."
Buffy creator Joss Wheden notes that he grew up with a gay godfather and that his mother provided "a liberal upbringing". Marti Noxon, Buffy's executive producer , was raised by two mothers. Both Wheden and Noxon wanted to do a Willow-Tara relationship 'that felt respectful and fully fleshed out" says Noxon.

Willow's character didn't start out gay, but two season's ago she fell in love with Tara. According to Amy Wilson, coauthor of the online "The Death of Tara, the Fall of Willow, and the Dead - Evil Lesbian Cliche FAQ", the show was successful in its lesbian portrayal: "Up until the finale of season six [Willow and Tara] were treated with remarkable sensitivity and realism, even if their onscreen sex life was mostly nonexistent. Because Willow was an established, beloved character before she came out, the Willow-Tara story line forced many Buffy viewers to confront their homophobic attitude whether latent or overt".

Wilson complains that "Joss Wheden and [his] staff writers gained trust [about Tara's future on the show] under false pretenses, then leveled viewers with a bloody, cliched story line". And then there's the question of whether Willow's turning to the dark side in her rage equates to the "murderous lesbian" stereotype fostered by such films as Basic Instinct and TV shows like Law and Order and Quantum Leap.

Producer Noxon says, "We never thought about the fact that these characters were gay when we were deciding what their fate was going to be. They've been happy and together for longer than almost any couple on our show. In some ways I think it is kind of insulting to the gay community to suggest that we can't do to the gay characters on the show what we would do to anybody else". As for the sex scene, both agree that it was some time in coming, and Wheden adds, "We also felt a little bit that this is the last chance we're going to have to do this - and let's push that envelope a little bit".
So what was Wheden's reason for killing Tara? "I killed her because I wanted to explore the dark side of Willow, and I needed to justify that," he says. "It may be fine on another show for people to break up but we're dealing with heavier, more iconic, scarier storybook stuff. The downside of that is, when you kill a character like Tara, statistically speaking, [lesbians] are underrepresented and so people have a legitimate reason to say 'It's not the same' ".

Noxon says the negative reaction has "been hard. It's the first time that we've gotten public outcry where I really can't even read some of the letter, they hurt so much. It's very indicative of how underrepresented gay people feel in the culture. Because the kinds of letters we've gotten have been so emotional and so personal and so deeply felt, you realize that every single instance of a positive portrayal of gay love on television means so much to people".

Noxon and Wheden are adamant that Willow won't suddenly turn bisexual. "Marti and I have had a discussion where we're like, 'We do that now, and we will be burned alive'. And possibly justifiably," says Wheden. "We can't have Willow say, 'Oh, cured now, I can go back to cock!' Willow is not going to be straddling that particular fence. She will just be gay."

Noxon's lesbian mothers were "bummed out that this relationship was over" but "have been calling pretty frequently , asking if Tara's coming back, magically." The answer to that question, for a show whose very title includes undead characters in it, is nebulous. "Tara will not be back, but [actor] Amber Benson will [assuming she's available],' says Wheden. "Everybody works on my show way more after they die".
Send letters to:
letters@advocate.com
or
Letters To the Editor
The Advocate
PO Box 4371
Los Angeles, CA
90078
or
FAX (323) 467-6805

AfterEllen.com
www.afterellen.com/TV/buffy.html
Quote:

Maybe in all this slaying, "Buffy" has forgotten that when a television show starts being careless with its viewers attachments and emotions, it starts to lose them. That would be a shame, since lesbian/bisexual fans have been some of the show's biggest supporters.

This isn't exactly your average show. People die every week on "Buffy." It's just that usually they're vampires or demons, not lesbians (even though some people on the Far Right get us confused occasionally).

After killing Tara, they're going to have to try harder to keep my loyalty next season. Bringing her back would be a start, but if that can't happen then at least give Willow (and the fans) another shot at a happy lesbian relationship.

____

Several major sci fi mags (though not on line) have covered the W/T debacle including this letter with editor commentary in Dreamwatch (#96) regarding Tara's death.
letters page alongside a pretty big picture of Tara.

Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When I first heard the rumours of a Big Scooby Death in the sixth season, I had no doubt it would be Tara. I knew it in my gut. Add to that the knowledge that Willow would be season six's Big Baddie and it was practically confirmed.

I knew it would be tragic and tried to prepare myself - boy, was I not ready...but the way it was handled by the producers made it that much worse.

I've never felt this angry about a TV show before. Sure, I've watched other shows in which my favourite character dies or leaves but never have I felt so disrespected as a fan.

Personally, I wanted to watch an escapist TV show where I could see the characters get knocked down but rise to their feet again, beating adversity against all odds. I wanted to see the only lesbian couple on TV have a loving and happy relationship. I wanted angst, yes, but not brutality.

As for my needs, I didn't need to see the tragic death of a wonderful character (seing Buffy's mom in The Body was enough, thank you). Buffy and Angel have been brought back from the dead, I'm sure it wouldn't be that difficult to find a way to bring Tara back as well.

As for season seven, we have been reassured that, hey, at least Willow's still around, at least she's still gay. The producers seem to have missed the point. It was Willow and Tara together that was so special. I love Tara, I love Willow, but even though Willow will be in season seven, it won't be the same because they won't be together. It's their relationship I adored; it's their relationship that I'm in mourning for.

Thanks again, Joss, for giving me what I needed.

Katrina Wallace

We were saddened by Tara's death too, Katrina, and we're sorry we couldn't publish the whole of your heartfelt letter. On a more positive thought, perhaps Whedon's sensitive portrayal of a lesbian relationship will open the way for further such couplings on television, which can surely only be good for all communities.
___

Tara Support sites.
www.xtreme-gaming.com/the...eason7.php
hometown.aol.com/zenobiax...ttons.html
www.savedarkangel.org/ Look at the bottom of their page!

______

Major Mag Boards etc to give feedback at

TV gal board
tvbb.zap2it.com/cgi-bin/f...&SUBMIT=Go

Diva
www.divadirect.co.uk/diva/

Entertainment Weekly Feedback board
www.ew.com/ew/article/lat...73,00.html

Curve Mag Feedback Board
www.curvemag.com/speak/sh...genumber=1

Firefly website
www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=9&t=338

Lesb. Nation has a forum for feedback

new.lesbianation.com/my_l...m?forum=58

Advocate (see above)

xpose@visimag.com
FAX +1 (818) 980-6061 US
FAX +44 (0)20 8875 1588 UK

DAWN TARNOFSKY-OSTROFF
PRESIDENT, UPN
11800 WILSHIRE BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90025

Call UPN.
(310) 575-7000. Ask to leave a message on the "Viewer Hotline".

Feedback@UPN.com
Feedback@FOX.com
Remember to put Buffy in the subject line

Website set up with links to write letters for W/T
www.quiknet.com/~lcountry/tarawill.html


edited with help from friskylez and Webwarlock!

[WebWarlock]

Ahh!

Here this thread is. I looked all over for it!
Thanks.

Warlock