`FST blogs
 
[Fort Scott Tribune] Fair ~ 42°F
High: 44°F   Low: 38°F
More weather
   
Print Email link Respond to editor Read comments (6)

City, others say they're OK with reality show idea

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Fort Scott, Kan. -- Fort Scott City Manager Joe Turner said he and other city officials do not intend to ban or censor a television network that plans to film a reality program next week in Fort Scott.

"Absolutely not," Turner said Friday. "We don't believe in censorship of any kind."

Turner said an In Demand Networks production crew, which plans to start filming episodes Sunday for an upcoming television reality show called "Wack Pack at the Christy's" in portions of Fort Scott and Bourbon County, may film the series wherever they wish inside the city, provided the crew doesn't participate in any illegal activities.

"Person-ally, I have no feelings about it one way or the other," he said. "As long as they obey the laws, I don't see a problem with it. As long as they don't obscure traffic or foot traffic, or abuse property, things like that, then I feel that they can just about do what they want, within reason."

The reality show, which would air starting Nov. 6, will be offered through digital cable service by Howard TV On Demand, a service named after noted radio personality Howard Stern that is an affiliate of In Demand Networks.

A few weeks ago, officials representing In Demand Networks requested permits from Fort Scott City Hall to film parts of the program on the Fort Scott Trolley, Gunn Park, and Buck Run Community Center, which are all public properties.

Turner said the network also requested permits to film on city property, but the city doesn't issue permits for such actions.

"They were asking permission to film on city property, but we don't require permits," Turner said. "The city contracts with the chamber to run the trolley, so it would be up to them (the chamber) to sell tickets for them to ride the trolley."

Because the city of Fort Scott doesn't require permits for filming on city property, city officials have not denied the network access to city property, but they have also not given the network the city's blessing or support because of lack of information the city has received concerning the program's content, Turner said.

"I haven't given my blessing to anything," he said.

Turner added that while much of the material associated with Stern's programming is often controversial, the production crew will not be prevented from filming the show in Fort Scott.

"The city definitely doesn't condone anything (related to Stern's material)," he said. "It's their right to freedom of speech. It's all a matter of taste really. I don't have a feeling one way or the other."

Numerous attempts to reach In Demand Networks and Howard TV officials the last few days for comment have been unsuccessful. Last week, Howard TV officials would only confirm that the network was planning to film a TV show in Fort Scott, but plans for the show weren't final.

Bourbon County Clerk Joanne Long said In Demand has also requested to film scenes from the reality show at the county-owned Elm Creek Lake, a request that commissioners recently approved on the condition that the commission receive a copy of the company's liability and worker's compensation insurance, which In Demand officials recently provided.

"In Demand Networks is a fully insured company," Fenimore said in his letter.

The production crew wishes to rent three campsites at Elm Creek Lake, and also build a bonfire at one of the sites. The Bourbon County Commission approved the request after recently receiving the network's insurance information, Long said.

"In case someone out there falls and breaks their arm, we want to be covered," she said.

According to a July 31 letter from Howard TV Senior Producer Keith Fenimore, In Demand plans to film the show through Aug. 29. The concept of the show involves sending three Wack Pack members from different parts of the United States to Kansas to participate in farm activities at the home of Tom and Pat Christy, the parents of Fort Scott native Richard Christy, who now works for Stern.

During their stay, cast members of the show plan to participate in activities such as farm work, preparing meals, square dancing, camping, hunting and fishing, and touring unique Fort Scott historic sites. Christy said last week that he granted the network permission to film on his property some time ago.

The Wack Pack is an assortment of regular guests of Stern's radio show who are unusual in some way, and are often pariahs or outcasts from mainstream society.


Comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please Login or Create an account first, and then you will be able to flag a comment as objectionable.

How do I Audition??????

-- Posted by fortscottwatcher on Thu, Sep 4, 2008, at 12:37 PM

"These are just a few that will be respresenting Fort Scott."

No, FSCitizen, they will not be representing our town, the Citizens,Elected Officials, and City Administration and staff represent our town, in that order.

I'm glad that the City Manager cleared this up, and coincidentally used the very same language and thoughts that I posted to the other article about this subject. He seems to know what "censorship" is, and how public property is accessible to anyone provided they obey the law.

The story should have ran with the correct information in the first place, or been held until the accurate information was available.

I read the first few descriptions of the cast, but I personally found it to be disgusting and to say "in poor taste" would be an understatement, but I made the choice not to continue reading the descriptions, and I will choose not to watch this show. My personal choices. What I find just as troubling though is "censorship", and censorship is exactly what the previous article readers to believe was happening.

I'm very glad that this was cleared up. (Or back-tracked or whatever), but at least now the City has made an official statement on it and there will be no censorship.

-- Posted by Thom_Prue on Sun, Aug 24, 2008, at 8:21 AM

I see that auditioning for bit parts in the show have started.

-- Posted by like2b_onree on Sat, Aug 23, 2008, at 11:27 PM

Wow FSCitizen, must not be too fun on the side of the fence you live on. So we are getting porn filmed here next week? Kick azz!! Where do I sign up? Although I think the film title will be a little bit better and more creative than, "I Got My Dragon Stuck in Dolly the Trolley." And it's going to take part in a church....like that's news? LOL

I would think with this cast coming, it would inspire a huge orgy on the city hall lawn! It is indeed that exciting!

Anywho, I for one am exited to have such wonderfully diverse individuals grace the presence of this town. You never know, they might bring some color and fun to this town...lawd forbid! lol As far as perceiving Fort Scott and the complaints will ensue...I think Fort Scott has its own *ahem* history that we sure are not proud that was splashed within the media concerning a grand jury and some not so fine upstanding citizens. At least these individuals will more than likely not commit such crimes as our own city communists. This town is not high and mighty and so gated that individuals such as Debbie the Queefer, Gary the Retard and Jeff the Drunk (hey wasn't he hanging around downtown last weekend? lol) are going to completely ruin the virgin ears and eyes of how this town as perceived by others. It's kind of too late on that one. So what? Debbie can queef on command, and Jeff is a drunk that has a paralyzed arm (as a result of a drunk driving accident....wow, drunks in Fort Scott and getting into accidents...who would have thunk it?) At least these people are not ashamed of who they are and what they do. They found a way to go on in their lives, better themselves, have fun and make a living while doing it. How many of you in this town can say the same thing? That is something to admire. I can't say I feel the same way about this town or some of the people who are in charge of it.

Those who cast the first stone......thou shall not judge....and this is supposed to be a Christian town.......

I for one feel sorry for those who put up such big walls to the point that they feel unless an individual falls under their moral category then they are lower in life than them. Pretty terrible if you ask me.

-- Posted by dxgrl on Sat, Aug 23, 2008, at 10:17 PM

Well, here we go. Six months from now everyone who wanted this going on will be complaining about how we are preceived.

Let's welcome the Wack Pack, shall

Dan the Farter:

Dan the Farter is a flatulist capable of passing gas on command.

Debbie the Queefer:

Debbie the Queef is capable of passing vaginal air on command.

Elephant Boy:

Elephant Boy(real name Fred Schreiber)is best known for his severe speech impediment and his on-air tales of sexual experimentation.

Eric The Midget:

Eric the Midget is a little person born with a medical condition that confines him to a wheelchair.

Gary The Retard:

Gary The Retard is a mentally challenged frequent guest of The Howard Stern Show. His thick glasses, cheerful attitude and toothless grin make him a favorite among Stern show listeners. He is frequently antagonized by Artie Lange, who often merely has to say "Retard!" to elicit an angry tirade from Gary.

Gay Ramon:

Gay Ramon is a frequent caller and guest of The Howard Stern Show. He often talks about his homosexual experiences and has participated on the show in various games in which straight men must do gay things in order to win prizes.

Jeff The Drunk:

Jeff The Drunk, is an alcoholic with a paralyzed arm, who frequently gets into trouble because of his alcohol and drug problems. His paralyzed arm is the result of an injury suffered in a drunk driving accident. In 2007, he underwent several surgeries to remove a large ulcer and graft skin on his buttocks. Jeff lives in a trailer in East Berne, New York with his brother (since the death of his mother). He is known for drunken rants featuring the epithet "little bitch" and the catch-phrase "ni-i-ice."

Jeff The Vomit Guy:

Jeff the Vomit Guy has appeared on the The Howard Stern Show to meet women interested in emetophilia (vomit fetish). Due to the difficulty of finding willing participants for the fetish, Levy usually resorts to paying prostitutes to vomit on him. On the show, a number of guests and show members have vomited on him, a practice known as a "Roman Shower".

Wendy the Retard:

Wendy the Retard lives in Deltona, Florida and is a frequent guest on The Howard Stern Show. Wendy, who is mentally handicapped, lives with her mother and sister who both support her financially. She enjoys bumper bowling and singing pop song karaoke in her bedroom, as well as playing the drums. In many of her on-air telephone calls, she answers "yes" to any question from Stern, no matter how insulting or sexual. Based on her recent conversations with Daniel Carver, she may also be a racist -- or merely just impressionable.

These are just a few that will be respresenting Fort Scott. May I be the first to welcome you and wish you luck.

Next week Vivid will be filming the porn film "I Got My Dragoon Stuck in Dolly the Trolly". That will take place at the Old Congregational Church.

-- Posted by FSCitizen on Sat, Aug 23, 2008, at 3:56 PM

well there you go.:>

-- Posted by cyberchaos on Sat, Aug 23, 2008, at 12:18 PM


Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration. If you already have an account on this site, enter your username and password below. Otherwise, click here to register.

Username:

Password:  (Forgot your password?)

Your comments:
Please be respectful of others and try to stay on topic.

Mailing list
Enter your email address to join our daily headline mailing list:
Taste of Home 08