ABC Studios has issued an apology to the Filipino people following an uproar over a controversial line delivered by Teri Hatcher’s character in this premiere episode of Desperate Housewives’ season 4, wherein medical schools in the Philippines were disparaged.
The apology says:
“The producers of ‘Desperate Housewives’ and ABC Studios offer our sincere apologies for any offense caused by the brief reference in the season premiere. There was no intent to disparage the integrity of any aspect of the medical community in the Philippines. As leaders in broadcast diversity, we are committed to presenting sensitive and respectful images of all communities featured in our programs.”
The controversial episode
The premiere episode of Season 4 was aired on Sept. 30, 2007, titled “Now You Know.”
Here is an excerpt o the episode recap on the Desperate Housewives official website:
Susan goes to see her doctor about her irregular periods and is informed he’s busy, would she mind being seen by his new partner? She agrees, but is taken aback when she realizes it’s Dr. Adam Mayfair, Catherine’s husband, whom she just met the day before. She reluctantly submits to an exam. He hints that she might be experiencing signs of menopause and wants her to take a blood test to be sure. She declares she’s not nearly old enough for that yet. That is, until she sees that he just graduated from med school 10 years ago, and she agrees to take the test.
The episode recap did not mention Susan’s reluctance to be seen by the doctor due to her doubts on his diploma, if they were from “some med school in the Philippines.”
Also see: Teri Hatcher doesn’t want her vagina examined by doctor from Philippines
In this video clip, the gynecologist tells her: “Listen, Susan, I know for a lot of women the word ‘menopause’ has negative connotations. You hear ‘ageing,’ ‘brittle bones,’ ‘loss of sexual desire.’ ”
To which Susan replies:
“OK, before we go any further, can I check these diplomas? Just to make sure they aren’t, like, from some med school in the Philippines?”
Philippine government says it is racial slur
AFP reports that the Philippine government considers the line in the TV show as a racial slur. Says executive secretary Eduardo Ermita:
“On the face, we can look at it as a racial slur. We are looked down upon too much, considering the number of our medical professionals in the US.”
Who wrote the Desperate Housewives script?
The episode was written by Marc Cherry (born March 23, 1962), the creator of the hit series himself. [source].
An article in Newsweek describes him as “a somewhat conservative, gay Republican.”
Marc Cherry was among Time Magazine’s “2005 Time 100,” which featured the “lives and ideas of the world’s most influential people”
The feature article on Marc Cherry, written by Felicity Huffman (who plays wife and mother Lynette Scavo on Desperate Housewives), says:
Marc is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. That, to me, is the most exciting combo. The exterior is kind, humble and happy-go-lucky. The interior is sweet as well, but with a penchant for wicked social commentary, a solid belief in his abilities (which are formidable) and a keen commitment to seeing his vision on the screen.
Angry Filipinos flood Desperate Housewives message boards
Filipinos from all parts of the world, incensed by the DH episode, have vented their outrage on online forums.
On Yelp: Desperate Housewives outrages the Filipino Community
On PinoySpy.net Forum: Thousands of Filipinos enraged against Desperate Housewives Season 4
On the Desperate Housewives official message board, all new topics being created are on the same issue, leading one member to apologize for flooding the forums.
Forum messages:
Says lsupinoy in this thread:
The comment on DH about Philippines med school was just a bit over board. I’m NOT mad or saying that the comment was Racist/Prejudice, I’m just disturbed that many Americans,including the DH producers, are unappreciative. Im not saying all Americans, but those of you leaving all the negative responses…take a look at this. Go into any hospital in the US and see how many filipino nurses there are.Some of them are doctors in the Philippines. See how many FILIPINO nurses come from our homeland to take care of YOUR child, mother, father or even help take care of YOUR nursing shortage.Also we are on the rise to bring in teachers to TEACH YOUR CHILDREN. It’s sad to see that a lot of Americans do not appreciate foreign workers esp filipinos.
At first I felt really angry. But my anger was quickly abated by pity. I pity the writers who chose to use the insulting line. I pity that they do not have enough decency to assess the probable cultural implications of their work. I pity them for being superficial - that they are satisfied in using stereotypes. I pity them for being boxed in their own world - ignorant from their surroundings.
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Lets not get too carried away and lose perspective about the messenger. Desperate Housewives is just a soap opera that needs this kind of publicity for them to maintain their ratings. As long as Pilipinos are meeting the standards to become a doctor or nurses in US, I do not see any problems at all with the scene.
i guess your not a filipino. even though your already insulted you sound nothing to worry about..its really an act of ignorant because why they just make fun on filipinos in which there are lots of medical workers coming from other countries too.
a sign of racial discrimation that once divided a nation before.
still lots of people never learn this mistakes from the past!
Desperate Housewife is a very popular show and thus they have the responsibility to make sure that they do not make racial comments or create prejudism by their comments. The show is very influential. Audience who do not know better will be influenced. These episodes were taped long before they are viewed by the public, and by the producers choosing not to edit this line is very irresponsible. I am very offended. This just shows how ignorant people are.
[...] The Pinoy Spy Reporter encapsulates the details and has a video clip of the offending line. Here are a couple articles from The Philippines Inquirer here and here. [...]
To Charles:
Pre, hindi tinotolerate ang ganyang gawain. Kung itotolerate mo yan, marami ang gagya jan. Ok lang ba na siraan ka ng maraming tao kahit hindi totoo?
family guy and south park ay meron din racial jokes at natatawa ako sa mga ganung klaseng palabas( mga ganung klaseng comedy ). lalo na yung sa family guy episode na libre sex sa mga brown people basta makapunta sa US
you know what, whether there’s truth to that comment or none, bottom line is they have no right to insult the filipino medical practitioners working in the USA. doing so would also be questioning the professionalism of their own licensure examinations because before a foreign practitioner can work in the US, he has to pass a lot of qualifying exams given by no less than THEIR OWN licensure council. i despise those who justify and rationalize the action of the production team behind this show… philippines may have a lot of flaws, but then again, what country doesn’t have? they don’t have to flaunt on National television (even worldwide) their unfair outlook on philippine medical schools. for those who are saying that we are being onion skinned for reacting to this issue, well i ask all of you, how do we suppose to react? give that show a standing ovation? get real! maybe you are not on the medical field that’s why you are not so affected or the USA have colonized you deep down to your soul but remember this, millions of people have seen that episode around the world and it HAS tarnished our reputation and degraded us. that comment is downright unfair and racist. dont justify their actions just because we have dirty laundries of our own. I say it’s just like being in one family. we tend to throw pranks towards our brothers and sisters, even calling each other names and throwing insults toward one another but when other people start doing that, we stand and fight for our siblings. just like in the philippines, we stand against those foreigners who tend to belittle and oppress us because it’s simply THEY HAVE NO RIGHT to do so. we’ve done them no wrong, so why all of these sudden media attacks towards us?
lastly, all i can say is that I can take insults and jokes on how i dress, what i eat or even throws of derogatory remarks on my physical appearance. it’s just skin deep and very superficial. but when they start to criticize without basis my views, beliefs, culture, nationaltiy and my professional capacity, all hell will break loose!!! because that’s the very essence and core what i am. No one has the right to insult that. a person who cant control what’s coming out of his mouth has control over nothing.
PONDER on this: what the world needs is for each of us to have respect towards one another. from there, we move on to loving one another.
theres nothing wrong with the episode its just an opinion from
americans besides there are lots of bad things happening in philippines like the board exam of nurses that has leakeage.
you cant blame them for judging philippines. I am a nursing student and i know a lot of things going on with the education
here in philippines its terrible and everyone can pass and graduate even if they dont deserve it. rich americans of course will not want a doctor from philippines, only poor uneducated
americans will appreciate philippines. and those americans who say so many nice words about philippines are only being plastics.
its better that they are frank then to be plastics.
I am not a fan of the show (Desperate Housewives) because the first time I watched it I find it cheap. My wife was a fan but she only watched it when I was not around as she knew I don’t like it. After the insult of the education of doctors from the Philippines was showed on air, my wife was convinced that the show is really cheap and the crews and actors especially Mark Cherry and Ms. Hatcher are backward and uncivilized. They did not know that there are so many Philippine trained Doctors that have been certified and working in the United States? Maybe they are fit and well and never been to any hospital in America yet. But surely one day they will get admitted to a Hospital in the States and be cared by a Philippine-Trained health professional.
I was originally trained and educated in the Philippines but I can proudly say that my education and training gave me civilization, understanding and ethics that obviously Mark Cherry and Ms. Hatcher do not have.
When I looked at Mark Cherry’s photo on the net, it answered my question of how such an idiot writer wrote such line to be depicted on TV? With regards to Ms. Hatcher, I know that she is just following the script but she has all the right to actually refuse to say those words because she is NOT A PUPPET! But how can she refuse to let that undertone slipped out of her tongue if she has no right thinking and judgement to understand the consequences of saying those words?
In my own point of view, no apology can take back the insulting words that they have said on TV that caused heartbreak and disappointment to many Filipino health professionals. But I forgive them (Mr. Cherry, Ms. Hatcher and the ABC Network and DH Staffs and Crews) because these people are clearly ignorant, uncivilized and though wealthy but needs comprehensive education before they can be of the same level to my understanding and judgement.
I’m just thinking especially Mr. Cherry, where and which institution or school trained him? They should review their teaching in relation to cultural sensitivity, literacy and ethics. He is a shame.
[...] The Pinoy Spy Reporter encapsulates the details and has a video clip of the offending line. Here are a couple articles from The Philippines Inquirer here and here. Now, here’s what I think… [...]