HBO apologizes for, defends controversial 'Big Love' episode

HBO apologized in advance for Sunday’s controversial "Big Love" episode, which has received fire from the Mormon church for featuring a sacred endowment ceremony. “It was not our intention to do anything disrespectful to the church but to whose who may be offended, we offer our sincere apology,” the HBO statement read. The very private rite occurs in an episode titled “Outer Darkness,” in which Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn) is threatened with losing membership within the church.

“Big Love” creators Mark V. Olsen and Will Scheffer said in a statement that they consulted an adviser “familiar with temple practices and rituals” and “took great pains to depict the ceremony with the dignity and reverence it is due. This approach is entirely evident in the scene portrayed in this episode and certainly reflected in Jeanne Tripplehorn’s beautiful and moving performance as she faces losing the Church she loved so much.”

I’ve yet to see the episode, but check back Monday morning for a full recap.

-- Allyssa Lee

Photo of, clockwise from top left, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Bill Paxton, Chloe Sevigny and Ginnifer Goodwin: Lacey Terrell / HBO

Comments

[HiveRadical]

"Yes honey, I'm sorry that I'm going to cheat on you this weekend"

"Yes sir, I'm sorry that I'm going to refer to you by using a denigrating ethnic slur."

"I'm sorry if it offends you that I'm going to publish to the world a photoshoped image of what it might look like when you spend time with your lover"

HBO and sincerity, can there be any two things in this verse more closely aligned with each other?

The congruity and integrity of HBO is just earth shattering!

[Susie DAVIS]

HBO has an opportunity to be respectful of the LDS faith by withdrawing it's depiction of sacred ceremonies in Big Love. It has gone against an ethical and virtual agreement not to use anything from the Mormon faith in this series which is NOT about the Mormon faith. This is another religion. Could this be a backlash of the Mormons who supported prop 8? HBO obviously has a hidden agenda and a laissez faire attitude. The disintegration of a society comes when respect of differnces and those things sacred are sullied.

[Justmeherenow]

If anyone is curious to read more about the issues raised here, a blog post on the topic, that was written by an LDS/Mormon Salt Lake City newspaper reporter, Joel Campbell, is here: http://www.mormontimes.com/mormon_voices/joel_campbell/?id=6663 , while a rebuttal blogpost, that was written by a non-LDS/Mormon Salt Lake City newspaper reporter, Vince Horiuchi, is here: https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=14429321&postID=1007124797015534514 .

[David Reynolds]

Ahhh, Mormons and their secretive ways! The age of information is going to be tough for them.

[Jake]

The story does not explain why showing a sacred ceremony in the context of a fictional story is an issue ... sacred ceremonies are shown all of the time for other religions ... is it because it is secret, or embarrassing or what? but it is clearly not mormon in the big love depiction, as they are not called mormons.

I thought the Mormon choice distanced itslef from its splnter groups long ago, just like the catholics and the lutherans, the jews and christians anyway.

for those not in the know, why is there an offense?

please clue us in.

jake.

[Jim Earl]

Who the hell cares? It's a stupid religion, just as all religions are stupid. Seriously. Aren't there more important things to get pissed about? Like the fact that America's Next Top Model is going into it's umpteenth season?

[Chris]

If this character is a polygamist, then she isn't Mormon, so she wouldn't be inside a temple to begin with.

[Dr. Christopher Eaton]

Poor, persecuted Mormon Church. As a gay man, I'm maybe not quite as sensitive about the church's sensibilities, feelings and outsider status as I was before Prop. H8, since THEY TRAMPLED ALL OVER MY COMMUNITY.

I love Big Love by the way and the way that it chronicles the homoeroticism of the sister-wives in the context of a fundamentalist LDS family practicing "The Principle". Way to go HBO.

[Gordon Gregory]

How silly; this is obviously just about Producer Tom Hanks trying to get the Mormons back for helping to pass Prop 8 in California.

[Tom]

Why apologize, especially if the scene properly depicts the ceremony. If it had been done in a "Wayne's World" manner, an apology might be indicated if done in poor taste. Even then, satire is common. Does the Mormon Church think the a Catholic confessional is off limits to be depicted? A Klan ritual?

[Steve]

"Big Love" is the best written show on television.

[Lisa]

Big Liar is more like it. They are apologizing in advance for being offensive. That doesn't ring true. These people have been working on a show for this long knowing full well what is okay to make fun of and what lines are important to people of the Mormon faith. They knew they were crossing the line and they didn't care. I hate it when smarmy people smile and disrespect you at the same time. They are the worst. I'm a non-practicing Mormon who has enjoyed this show in the past and as much as I don't agree with these Mormon practices myself, I have the common decency to understand you don't go out there and disrespect other people's sacred expressions. HBO, you've now become my poster child for what is wrong with our nation. You rank right up there with Madoff.

[David Means]

Honestly, the Mormons can just go suck it. I don't think they have room to criticize the media after they funded a disgusting, hate filled media campaign on Proposition 8. What is that old saying, you reap what you sow...

[dennisl59]

They should be apologizing for all the CRAP on their channel since The Sopranos went off the air.

[diannepearce]

YES - PLEASE SHOW ALL OF THE TEMPLE RITUALS - ESPECIALLY THE DEATH OATHS AND THE WASHING AND ANOINTING....

Check out this website to see videos about the temple rituals:

http://how2becomeachristianinfoblog.com/2008/11/22/the-secret-mormon-temple-ritual-secret-or-sacred/

Check out my blog to see the Mormon cartoon that depicts the afterlife where Mormon men will have multiple wives with whom they have eternal sex so as to populate their own planets. This cartoon was produced by the Mormon Church:

http://glasschimes.wordpress.com/2008/10/13/mitt-romney-just-keep-this-in-mind-for-the-future/

[Krista Cook]

Since faithful Mormons promise not to disclose details about the temple ceremonies, HBO's presentation could only be based on information from those who have broken this promise. By definition, these sources are undoubtedly untrustworthy and unethical. This alone should make them suspect.

Those of us who are temple going Mormons will neither supply, nor correct, the information HBO presents. HBO MUST rely on ex-Mormons, apostates and the disgruntled for its information -- these are not reliable information sources in my opinion.

There is no way anyone who practices polygamy would be temple worthy or even allowed to retain membership in the L.D.S. (Mormon) Church.

The “authority” to marry a man to one wife is not the same as the “authority” to marry a man to more than one wife. No Mormon since the 1890 change has had the authority to marry any man to more than one woman. So, in the Mormon view, none of these so-called polygamist marriages are valid, religiously or legally. None of these “polygamists” are Mormons.

Membership in the L.D.S. Church is not a vague identification or feeling of alliance; it is an actual membership record. You either have a membership record or you do not. You either are a Mormon or you are not. There is no gray area. If you try to practice polygamy your membership is canceled and you are kicked out of the Church (excommunicated).

Polygamists are not Mormons period. Since their marriages are neither valid nor legal, real Mormons consider the polygamist lifestyle not only illegal but immoral as well. No one doing something illegal and immoral would be allowed inside a temple or allowed to retain Mormon membership.

The whole "Big Love" story line is completely implausible.

[Stan]

Sometimes depictions of the LDS Church and its people are quite accurate. Sometimes the images are false or play to stereotypes. Occasionally, they are in appallingly bad taste.

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-publicity-dilemma

[Mario]

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I believe that sacred ordinances in the temple must be revered. People will not understand it if they are not ready so even if you watch it a thousand times I doubt if you would understand and appreciate the beauty and the sacredness of these ordinances, even members are not easily to get these ordinances.
I want you all to know that there is a God and he lives. God watches our actions and knows our intent. I love my church and it teaches me to love everyone friends and foe alike.

[DWmFrancis]

I’m reminded of a blonde/football joke I heard recently:

A guy took his blonde girlfriend to her first football game. They had great seats right behind their team’s bench. After the game, he asked her how she liked the experience.

“Oh, I really liked it,” she replied, “especially the tight pants and all the big muscles, but I just couldn’t understand why they were killing each other over 25 cents.”

Dumbfounded, her date asked, “What do you mean?”

“Well, they flipped a coin, one team got it and then for the rest of the game, all they kept screaming was: ‘Get the quarterback! Get the quarterback!’ I’m like…Helloooooo? It’s only 25 cents!!!!”

There are times when we think we know *what* someone else is doing, but we don’t have a clue *why* they are doing it. I suspect this is true of the situation regarding Sunday’s episode of Big Love.

Anyone who has ever seen a LDS temple - the Salt Lake temple in particular - has probably asked themselves; “What are they doing in there?” Mormon’s reluctance to discuss the subject probably doesn’t help - although the answer is really very simple.

They are making promises and helping others who can’t help themselves.

The promises Mormons make inside the temple have a lot to do with the way they act outside the temples. They are the reason that between between 1985 and 2008 LDS Humanitarian Services provided more than $1.11 billion in aid to needy individuals in 167 countries and recently shipped over 100,000 pounds of medical supplies to Myanmar. The promises they make to keep the commandments are why Latter-Day Saints are known for their honesty and integrity. The promises they make to be faithful to their spouses and children is why they have a reputation for strong families. The promises they make are also the reason when a prominent Latter-Day Saint falls short of perfection, they can expect to be vilified in the press.

There is no doubt that what is done inside LDS temples is different than what happens outside. Everything about the temple is intended to elevate your thoughts and actions towards becoming more Christ like. This may not be obvious to the casual observer and it’s highly unlikely that any depiciton on screen or stage can address that deeper question. It’s about much more than getting the quarter back. It’s about learning to be unselfish, keeping commitments, being honest, reliable and consistent - all the things we hope for in others and expect of God.

[D]

anyone that is part of an organized religion should be ashamed. the only thing that religion does is breed hate and intolerance. Bravo to HBO for not backing down from this BS spewed by the Mormon "church."