Larry H. Miller and "Brokeback Mountain" are back in the news this week. Miller gave KTVX-Ch. 4's Chris Vanocur an interview in which he said that his decision to pull the Oscar-winning movie from his theaters was in support of "traditional families."
"Getting away from the traditional families, which I look at as the fundamental building block of our society, is a very dangerous thing," Miller said in an excerpt aired on Ch. 4's newscasts earlier this week. (The entire interview airs on "On the Record," Saturday at 3 p.m. on Ch. 4.)
Miller, of course, has every right to his opinion. And every right to choose what movies to show in his theaters. And we should be grateful to him for standing up for "traditional families."
Just like he does with the TV station he owns, KJZZ.
Let's look at a few things airing on Ch. 14 next week:
"Friends," which is replete with extramarital sex, plots about porn and even homosexuality.
"Cheers," which revolves around an unrepentant womanizer.
Various forms of extramarital sex and vulgar shenanigans on such sitcoms as "Just Shoot Me," "Becker" and "The Parkers."
"ER" — sex and a decidedly pro-gay agenda.
And here are a few of the movies KJZZ will be airing:
"The List," about a high-priced prostitute.
"Her Best Friend's Husband," about a woman who has an affair with her best friend's husband.
"Primary Suspect," about a man who kills his wife.
"We Married Margo," about two men divorced from the same woman.
"Lethal Weapon 3" about nonstop violence.
In addition to the highly questionable "Montel Williams" and "Tyra Banks," KJZZ carries "Maury" — the second-sleaziest talk show on the air (trailing only "Jerry Springer"). It's on weekdays at 10 a.m., so kids of any age who are off track or on vacation can tune in to see the latest in paternity-test battles between unwed sex partners.
And "Ultimate Combat" and "Fear Factor" are hardly the sort of thing the whole family would sit down and watch together.
Oh, and don't forget next week's eight airings of "Will & Grace," which not only features healthy, happy gay guys but is replete with the most off-color humor you'll find in a network sitcom.
That, of course, is just TV. We could talk about the movies Miller does show in his theaters — all those gay characters in "The Producers" and "The Family Stone"; the strong pro-gay message in "V for Vendetta." This week alone Miller's theaters are showing R-rated "Basic Instinct 2," "Slither," "Inside Man," "Find Me Guilty" and "V for Vendetta."
And one of the biggest stories the Jazz generated this season was about how the wife of one of the players granted him the right to one extramarital sexual encounter per year.
But Miller owns that TV station, those movie theaters, that basketball team. He can do with them what he wants. He can reject "Brokeback Mountain" and embrace "Will & Grace."
Some might call this inconsistency. Others might call it hypocrisy.
But it's hard to call it unwavering support for "traditional families."
E-mail: pierce@desnews.com