U.S. Prepares for Public Anxiety Over Y2K Movie

Updated 6:03 PM ET November 19, 1999

By Steve Gorman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - It's only a made-for-television movie and a widely panned one at that. But that hasn't stopped officials around the country from trying to allay fears of a real life version of the fictional mayhem in NBC's thriller "Y2K."

From a telephone hotline being set up in Denver to public service announcements on NBC affiliates in Wisconsin, state and municipal officials nationwide are taking special steps to prevent viewer panic when it airs on Sunday.

Even the Clinton administration is upset at the film.

White House officials drafted a letter Friday to NBC asking the network to stop airing a promotional spot for the film showing footage of President Clinton saying the government is Y2K ready, followed by the screen-sized caption, "What if he's wrong?" That's followed by scenes of millennium chaos from the movie.

The ad, which aired Wednesday during the new NBC drama "The West Wing," and again Thursday during "ER," violates White House policy against allowing use of the president's image for commercial purposes, said Jim Kennedy, a spokesman for the White House counsel's office.

An NBC spokeswoman said the network had not received such a letter as of midday, but added, "I'm sure we would comply."

State and local officials have made a spate of pronouncements in recent days dismissing the film's scenario -- a blackout hits the East Coast, a nuclear power plant melts down in Sweden, prison doors swing open in Texas to release rioting inmates -- as pure fiction.

"We think it's a ridiculous scenario that is based on sheer fantasy and an overripe imagination, and ignores reality," said Tom Mullins, a spokesman for California's Office of Emergency Services. "The reality is we don't expect any serious Y2K bug-related problems."

"Y2K" stars Ken Olin, from the 1987-1991 drama "thirtysomething," as a trouble-shooter racing the clock to bring a series of calamities under control as the year 2000 dawns.

NBC is running the film with its own disclaimer that says in part: "This program does not suggest or imply that any of these events could actually occur." But TV critics have suggested the film is so outlandish and badly staged that few viewers were likely to take it seriously.

Still, legislative leaders sent a letter to NBC affiliates in Wisconsin urging them to run the state's Y2K public service announcement frequently during the movie, and Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Scott McCallum called the film "pure Hollywood."

In Denver, government officials will join Y2K experts from the banking industry and utilities in staffing a telephone hotline before, during and after the program to field calls from anxious viewers.

The NBC affiliate in Denver has agreed to show the phone number for the hotline periodically during the movie," said Deputy Mayor Fidel "Butch" Montoya.

While he faulted the film's "bogus" scenario, Montoya said the hoopla surrounding the movie "gives us an opportunity to tell our side of the story, which is that we're been diligent, we've been planing and we're ready for Y2K. From Denver's perspective, the jail doors are not going to swing open at midnight."

NBC spokeswoman Shirley Powell said local news programs in many markets will be chiming in with reports about Y2K readiness following the movie.

Chicago city officials said they have arranged for a news interview on the local NBC station after the movie to reassure the public that the film's scenario is merely fiction.

"This is something that the news stations have been reporting on for months, so it's just natural for them to report on it after the movie," she said.

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Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), November 19, 1999

Answers

Forget the movie. They should just keep playing the commercial.

-- 5R2k (fiver2000@yahoo.com), November 19, 1999.

If these official denials get any louder, they are going to make people more nervous than the movie itself. Anyone else think they are shooting themselves in the foot here?

Anyway, I'd love to have a collection on video of all these statements, plus the sarcastic commericals. It will make for a good laugh next year.

-- You Know... (notme@nothere.junk), November 19, 1999.

It sounds like these officials are on the verge of full-fledged panic. Why can't they be like the normal citizens, and just MAINTAIN?

-- charles (cerella@domine.com), November 19, 1999.

See the related thread:

Censorship in Kansas City

-- Wilferd (WilferdW@aol.com), November 19, 1999.

Part of whats funny to me ( in a way, but not if I think about it) is that the Govt. worries this may cause panic > NOT A CHANCE.

They have done their job to well. Besides people just won't prepare beforehand --- from Noah to todays hurricanes, it just doesn't happen for the vast majority. Not to offend the non-religious here, but in the Bible theres a great story about a hand appearing at a party/orgy and writing 3 words/pharases on the wall. The people are "terrified" and drag old Daniel out to interpet the writing. Basically Daniel tells them they are all going to be destroyed. What to do???????

Of course, they all go back to partying. The story ends saying that very night the kigdom was overthrown and all those officials killed.

Things have not changed ---- there will be talk of panic, but no action. PARTY!!! .... PARTY!!! .... PARTY!!!

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), November 19, 1999.

I remember a long time ago there was this movie called "Baby Doll". I was very young (about 10 or 11) but I remember various religious groups like the Catholic Church as well as others went on the air and anounced they had given the movie an XX rating and we would be endangering our souls if we went to see it. The churches spent more money on this campaign than hollywood.

Even as young as I was the lines around the theater were unbelievable. I didnt see the film myself but later when I was old enough to understand what had happened it didnt surprise me. All that hoopla caused the people to go and buy a ticket just to find out what was so bad about that movie. If the churches had overlooked it it would have fizzled on its own. It was a B movie at its best and probably wouldnt have made much of a profit. Now I wonder if someone didn't give a hint to the churches about how bad the movie was and let the ball roll. Then they sat back and said "SHOW ME THE MONEY".

If those who are ranting and raving about this movie don't realize they are surely increasing the potential of more people wanting to see the movie. Why? Just to see what all the hoopla is about is just a repeat of Baby Doll.

Human Nature never changes!!!!

-- Susan Barrett (sue59@bellsouth.net), November 19, 1999.

Ahem....

I'm new to this html stuff, obviously...

The thread is "Corporate Censorship in Kansas City! BREAKING NEWS!! From Y2k Newswire".

One more attempt to hotlink:

Corporate Censorship in Kansas City

-- Wilferd (WilferdW@aol.com), November 19, 1999.

From the article: Office of Emergency Services: "The reality is we don't expect any serious Y2K bug-related problems."

Well then. Get rid of all those DAMN GENERATORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- (normally@ease.notnow), November 19, 1999.

SUSAN: I do believe the movie was called "Rosemary's Baby", as I also remember the flap. I was even younger than you at the time!

But the rest of your parable stands OK.

-- profit of doom (doom@helltopay.ca), November 19, 1999.

Damn!! Had a feeling they would make them yank that ad. Anybody who has got that on tape has got themselves a rare collectors item. I could kick myself for not taping that yesterday!

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), November 19, 1999.