Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

tv political satire not `correct'

Andrew Gumbel
Sunday 04 October 1998 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A NEW Blackadder-style sitcom set in the White House of Abraham Lincoln is the focus of the latest anguished US debate on political correctness, with programme makers fending off pressure from the black community and the Los Angeles city council to pull the show off the air even before it has its premiere tonight.

The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer, put out by UPN, a subsidiary of Paramount, is a broad political satire whose main character is a black Englishman serving as Lincoln's butler. Although the show is packed with references to present-day political scandals and is not really about Lincoln, black activists are furious that serious issues like the Civil War and the struggle to end slavery have been turned into light comedy.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in