Braille Monitor November 1986
7709 S.Austin
Burbank, Illinois 60459
September 14,1986
Dear Braille Monitor:
I, too, watch "Mr. Sunshine" with interest. My friend, the late Stephen Rogers, was an English professor at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana. Not only was he tops in his field, receiving all kinds of awards for his teaching, but he was a well adjusted, capable human being who participated in activities with his family, made most of his own home repairs, did beautiful woodworking, et cetera. I am not certain what Dr. Rogers (he preferred to be called Steve) would have thought of this program, "Mr. Sunshine." It certainly would not have been regarded as a biographical sketch of anyone we know.
But, of course, Dr. Rogers is an exception to the rule. We know that television by its very nature and by the laws of our great country must always reflect the absolute truth in everything. Why, the networks would not have it any other way. "Sanford and Son," "The Jeffersons," and the "Bill Cosby Show" accurately reflect the lives of the average black people in America just as "Trapper John" and "General Hospital" show what real doctors are like. And since I watch t.v. a lot, I know that all people from Texas wear boots and play the banjo! And living near Chicago, I can tell you that the Blues Brothers and Big Al are waiting to say hello to all yous guys.
Do you think this is silly? So are the folks who believe "Mr. Sunshine" is anything more than a damn poor effort to boost ratings for ABC. If people can't see through that, then they really have a problem. Maybe they play rock music backwards to get messages from the devil. But a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do, and if ABC needs the money so bad, why shouldn 't they exploit (ugh, I mean expose) another minority! So go on, ABC! MAKE MY DAY!
Paul Van Dyck