Expect the debate to be heated

By Rebecca Finkel

      When the WB announced its decision to cancel last night’s season finale of ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer,'' it did so in the name of sensitivity over the nation’s rising concern over teen violence.
     ''It is out of sympathy and compassion for the families and communities that have been devastated by the recent senseless acts of violence perpetrated on high school campuses that we have decided to delay this broadcast,'' CEO of The WB Jamie Kellner said in a statement released Monday. ''Our decision is also borne out of a deep sense of responsibility to the WB's loyal young audience.''
      The episode entitled ''Graduation Day: Part Two'' was replaced with the less violent rerun, ''Band Candy.'' The WB announced plans to air the finale later this summer.          The canceled finale includes an Armageddon-like graduation ceremony in which the demonic mayor of fictional Sunnydale turns into a 60-foot serpent and attacks the students. Buffy and company are forced to counterattack. The last scene was found to be particularly ''intense'' by network executives, even after efforts to tone down certain scenes.
      But were network executives overreacting?
      Debate over the WB’s decision is widespread in TV land, and not the least among TV critics. It’s unlikely to die down quickly, either. At issue is not just the spate of teen shootings but also very real concerns across the entertainment industry over calls in Washington and elsewhere to put a damper on violent entertainment, especially violent entertainment directed at young people.
       Media Life talked to two prominent TV critics to get their views of the WB’s decision. If what they have to say is any indication of public sentiment the furor over violence is just beginning to build.
       First, Steve Johnson of the Chicago Tribune:
''It's actually refreshing when a network can say we're going to put aside a little profit here for the sake of sensitivity. You don't see that very often. I'd say it was a smart decision, a wise decision. They also don't have to lose on the deal--they can drum up a lot of publicity when they show the thing at the start of the season.''
       Now Tim Goodman, critic for the San Francisco Examiner:
    ''What a joke. They should have aired it. Doesn't make sense to me. Last week’s [episode] was violent. There actually was a stabbing of a human in the stomach, which was the second most violent thing since Faith [a character on the show] started killing people. Before that it had been fantasy. The WB presupposes people haven't watched the show or other shows on TV. They're basically worried about a copycat killing at a graduation. But if TV acquiesces to the violent witch hunt of the government, then they're admitting they're part of the problem or they are the problem.''
     Stay tuned.

Rebecca Finkel is a staff writer for Media Life.