'ET,' 'Insider' and 'Access Hollywood' steer clear of Polanski

An Oscar-winning director on the lam gets arrested and may be sent back to Los Angeles to finally face sentencing in a 32-year-old sexual assault case. His case has become a cause celebre for Hollywood movers and shakers, and debates are raging around the world about what should happen to him.

But anyone looking to learn about the fate of Roman Polanski by tuning in to "Access Hollywood," Entertainment Tonight" or "The Insider" will be sadly disappointed. While cable news, particularly CNN, has been micro-analyzing the arrest and the entertainment industry's reaction, the three shows that claim to be the insider's guide to all things Hollywood have for the most part steered clear of the controversy. Only "Entertainment Tonight" has addressed the case at all, and that was in a small segment on Monday's show. "Access Hollywood" said it was doing something on the case on its Thursday show, but it then told us yesterday that it would be doing something on it today.

Even that lover of all things tabloid, CNN's Larry King, hasn't done a segment on Polanski. He's going to have Jon Gosselin on later this week, so we know it's not because his show is busy with weightier issues.

Though one might argue that these shows are more fluff than news, certainly a story that has caused debate around the globe about a director who's worked with Hollywood's biggest stars is worth some sort of cursory coverage. With few in Hollywood willing to come out against Polanski and in favor of the Los Angeles County district attorney's office, perhaps "Entertainment Tonight," "Access Hollywood" and "The Insider" aren't up for risking their place on the red carpet.

-- Joe Flint

Photo: Roman Polanski. Credit: Sean Gallup / Getty Images

Comments

[D N Harris]

The posting rules for this board are tougher than LA's interest in protecting 13 year olds. The 13th year irony is touching; some are even touched for real in LA.

Stories by the press--about the press--are always passive aggressive; but Mr. Flint's effort does count for something.

[H.Felton]

The programs listed above, with their unquestioning, fawning adulation of every two-bit show-biz ¨celebrity,¨ contribute to Polanski, et al, thinking they are above the law.

[Ed]

Do you realize how ironic it is that commentary on this article is limited to people OVER thirteen... the same age as Roman's victim?

[anon]

Who knew coming out against a child rapist would be so hard?

[bored2tears]

Odd, really, since it was "ET" that paid that schoolteacher and her young lover for full access to their wedding. I thought "ET" liked statutory rapists.

[P]

I've never met Polanski; never heard of the event that I can recall. The girl was 13. I am stunned by the news descriptions of what happened back then. I am equally stunned that anyone would gloss over what he did and associate with him today. It is shocking to watch a frenzy of adulation serve almost as a justification for his past actions. The girl was 13. She was of grammar school age. She, and all such girls, deserve out utmost protection from physical predators. France may see it differently, but that reflects on the lack of honor of French society in protecting their own children. She was 13. Polanski ran. In the society of men, he ran. She couldn't run. I will wait to see who supports him now; within my own control, and with no real financial impact, I will no longer pay to see anything made by his supporters. She was 13 and defenseless. In the society of men, he ran.

[D]

Sanctimonious idiocy. Let him go; he's suffered enough, and so has the victim (mostly of the media).