Eight is Enough Messageboards

Message from a good friend of Susan's---Please Read--thank you
 Thursday, 11-Nov-1999 15:24:42 

      204.216.199.141 writes:

      I'm a good friend of Susan's and was with her and Don 3 weeks ago when EXTRA's
      three-man crew came out to her home in Pennsylvania to videotape her testimony.

      As a person WHO WAS THERE FOR THE WHOLE INTERVIEW, let me say that the show was a
      sensationalized, exploitative MISHMASH that was "piecemealed" together to make Susan
      look as bad as possible!
      
      The way EXTRA put her in "slow-motion" (to make her look weird and in a bizarre
      state) and used the animated, satellite "graphics" was ludicrous and disgraceful!
      And THEY THEMSELVES orchestrated her positioning at the pipe organ with her cap on!

      I had to leave the room at the time, I was so p---ed off at the way they were
      manipulating her for their own slanted agenda. But what could I do? The producer
      kept hollering at Susan and me because she would turn and look to me for support.
      
      Finally, he banned me from her living room and I had to wait outside....that is,
      until Susan broke away when they were interviewing Don, and joined me on her front
      porch. We were chased from that spot, too, by the producer....who said our voices
      were "filtering" into the house, and were ruining the taping. Susan was jerked around
      good that day, let me tell you! 

      EXTRA TOLD HER to look pensive, to put her hands in a prayer position, to look
      towards the sky,etc. I WAS THERE....I KNOW! I was in the Church with Susan, and yes,
      she was getting into it...I've got news for you, SO WAS I! And that's coming from a
      very lapsed Catholic who hasn't been to church in years. But, there is something so
      totally joyful and infectious about the Black Gospel experience, you'd have to be dead
      not to get carried away with the singing and general feeling of unbridled joy you
      find there!

      EXTRA didn't show you that Susan and I went into the woods to visit a homeless Black
      man who lives in a filthy tent next to a ditch. Susan regularly brings him food and
      supplies. That day, she brought him $20. But, EXTRA didn't deem that SENSATIONAL
      enough, I suppose!

      Susan has a compelling story to tell, but will have to seek out a much more
      responsible venue to share it than with the hacks at EXTRA! Can everyone please
      say "yellow journalism"...Thank you.

      John 


      Thanks, John, for filling us in. It was very unfair of Extra to manipulate Susan
      that way and make her look bad. I'd like to hear her REAL story, if that's at all
      possible. (Lord know, she deserves to be able to tell her side.)

      Missy