He Must Not Have Watched Electric Company

Matt Welch | October 6, 2003

Pat Robertson, on Morgan Freeman, (and, by the Transitive Property, Rush Limbaugh's football judgment):

He started off playing a chauffeur in 'Driving Miss Daisy,' and then they elevated him to head of the CIA, and then they elevated him to president and in his last role they made him God. I just wonder, isn't Rush Limbaugh right to question the fact, is he that good an actor or not?

Link via Atrios.

Comments

|10.6.03 @ 4:19AM|#

I think he compares favorably with George Burns.

Mark S.|10.6.03 @ 4:21AM|#

Errr... Pat. It's just a movie, Pat. It's just a movie.

|10.6.03 @ 4:23AM|#

I'm no fan of Robertson, but is it possible he was joking?

joe|10.6.03 @ 4:34AM|#

Huh? If there wasn't ample evidence to the contrary, I'd suspect Pat had been fasting.

|10.6.03 @ 4:54AM|#

Why is Pat upset? Could it be that when speaking with God he now feels secretly better than the Almighty?

|10.6.03 @ 5:16AM|#

He played the Prez before he played the head of the CIA. Either of which has more power than God. Who is to blame for these rampant demotions?

Jean Bart|10.6.03 @ 5:33AM|#

Freeman also played a sergeant in "Glory" (it was a battlefield commission as I recall).

Pat Robertson is a jackass; Freeman is one of the most talented and hardworking actors America has, and one of America's great goodwill ambassadors.

|10.6.03 @ 5:45AM|#

Robertson has it all wrong; Freeman keeps getting thrown shitty second-banana roles with the likes of *KEANU REEVES* or *MATT BRODERICK*, of all people.

The man should be a God amongst the Hollywood bottom-feeders.

Maybe Schwarzenegger can fix things --- WITH HIS HANDS.

|10.6.03 @ 5:45AM|#

So Matt, when will we get to see the quotation in its full context rather a single sentence?

Considering that every mention of Morgan Freeman on the CBN website praises him for his ("superb") acting ability, I get the feeling that this was either tounge-in-cheek or taken way out of context.

Atheist Guy|10.6.03 @ 5:47AM|#

What's the big deal? After all, they're just fictional characters...

Jim Bakker|10.6.03 @ 5:48AM|#

I'm no fan of Robertson, but is it possible he was joking?

I don't think so. Who is familiar with the light-hearted, joshing side of Pat Robertson?

|10.6.03 @ 5:53AM|#

I think that was a joke on Robertson's part.

Matt Welch|10.6.03 @ 5:55AM|#

Thorley -- When you look it up on the Internet, and share it with the rest of us!

Franklin Harris|10.6.03 @ 6:14AM|#

E.Z. Reader says, "Reading is Ea-sy!"

|10.6.03 @ 6:30AM|#

I'm no fan of Robertson, but is it possible he was joking?

That seems to be the most logical conclusion - although if the WP or Reason had adhered to even the most basic of journalistic standards, they would have provided some context for these remarks. Unless of course they were both hoping they would be taken out of context and seen in the worst possible way (which is probably the case whenever anyone is stupid enough to use Atrios as a source).

Frankly considering how often the media has blatently distorted people have said from Schwartzenagger's supposed "Hitler admiration" to the phony "the Bush administration tried to falsely tie Saddam Hussein to 9/11" (never happened) to the complete distortion of the Kay Report about Saddam Hussein trying to reconstitute his WMD programs as somehow undercutting the stated reasons for Operation: Iraqi Freedom, etc. - I think it only prudent to demand context whenever someone pulls out a seemingly damning quotation.

Dibble|10.6.03 @ 6:55AM|#

I didn't see him make this particular comment, but based on recent viewings of the 700 Club I'd guess Pat was entirely serious. If you watch the show, you'll see that Pat's getting pretty old, and is not what you'd call on-the-ball these days. He seems a little shakier every time I see him speak, and in the coming years I expect we'll hear a lot of odd statements like this from Pat as his self-monitoring functions degrade further with age and he continues appearing on television nevertheless.

HH|10.6.03 @ 7:29AM|#

Well Freeman portrayed God in Bruce Almighty so it could be connected to that... but that doesn't really solve the question.

|10.7.03 @ 3:23AM|#

Well, let's see: Robertson started out as a preacher, then he was a T.V. host, then he wanted to be President, now he wants to be a pundit . . . People!! We need to find this man some steady work, 'coz he can't seem to hold a job.

God|10.7.03 @ 8:27AM|#

Pat is just pissed that he wasn't given the chance to play me in "Bruce Almighty". After all, he pretends to have this deep, interpersonal connection to me. I don't know how many hurricanes I have to send his way before he gets the message that he's a nobody as far as I'm concerned.

Robert Nabors|10.17.03 @ 12:00PM|#

Morgan Freeman
6' 2�" (1.89 m)

Trivia
Played "Easy Reader" in the children's TV show "The Electric Company" which was produced by The Children's Television Workshop.

Ranked #31 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]

Obie for "Coriolanus" & "Mother Courage" [1980]

Obie for "The gospel At Colonus" [1986]

OBIE for "Driving Miss Daisy" [1988]

Received "Hollywood Outstanding Achievement in Acting" Award on 7 August 2000

Has said in a televised interview that in all the years he has acted he has never been cast in a romantic lead or has been cast opposite a female love interest in any movie he starred in.

Has only reprised the same character once. He played Dr. Alex Cross in Kiss the Girls (1997) and then reprised the role in Along Came a Spider (2001).

Considered joining the Air Force to become a fighter pilot, but opted to stay with acting instead.

Worked as a mechanic in the US Air Force.

Has recorded a new radio public service announcement about the national parks.

Recently earned a Private Pilot license.

May 2001 - Opened the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

Broadway debut in the musical Hello, Dolly! with Pearl Bailey and Cab Calloway.

Has his own production company, Revelation Entertainment.

Actor - filmography

Colors Straight Up (2004) (in production)
Tusker (2004) (in production) (voice)
Freedomland (2004) (announced) .... Lorenzo Council
Long Walk to Freedom (2004) (announced) .... Nelson Mandela
Unfinished Life, An (2004) (post-production)
Danny the Dog (2004) (post-production)


Big Bounce, The (2004) .... Walter Crewes
Guilty by Association (2003) (V) .... Police Lieutenant Redding
Bruce Almighty (2003) .... God
Dreamcatcher (2003) .... Col. Abraham Curtis
Levity (2003) .... Miles Evans
Sum of All Fears, The (2002) .... DCI William Cabot
... aka Anschlag, Der (2002) (Germany)
High Crimes (2002) .... Charlie Grimes
Along Came a Spider (2001) .... Alex Cross
... aka Im Netz der Spinne (2001) (Germany)
Nurse Betty (2000) .... Charlie
... aka Nurse Betty - Gef�hrliche Tr�ume (2000) (Germany)
Under Suspicion (2000) .... Capt. Victor Benezet
... aka Suspicion (2000/II) (France)


Mutiny (1999) (TV)
Deep Impact (1998) .... President Tom Beck
Hard Rain (1998) .... Jim
... aka Flood (1998) (Japan: English title)
... aka Pluie d'enfer (1998) (France)
Amistad (1997) .... Joadson
Kiss the Girls (1997) .... Dr. Alex Cross
Chain Reaction (1996) .... Paul Shannon
Moll Flanders (1996) .... Hibble
Se7en (1995) .... Detective Lt. William Somerset
Outbreak (1995) .... Brig. Gen. Billy Ford
Shawshank Redemption, The (1994) .... Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding
Unforgiven (1992) .... Ned Logan
Power of One, The (1992) .... Geel Piet
... aka Puissance de l'ange, La (1992) (France)
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) .... Azeem
Bonfire of the Vanities, The (1990) .... Judge Leonard White


Glory (1989) .... Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins
Driving Miss Daisy (1989) .... Hoke Colburn
Johnny Handsome (1989) .... Lt. A.Z. Drones
Lean on Me (1989) .... Principal Joe Clark
Clean and Sober (1988) .... Craig
Clinton and Nadine (1988) (TV) .... Dorsey Pratt
... aka Blood Money: The Story of Clinton and Nadine (1988) (TV)
Street Smart (1987) .... Fast Black
Fight for Life (1987) (TV) .... Dr. Sherard
Resting Place (1986) (TV) .... Luther Johnson
Execution of Raymond Graham, The (1985) (TV) .... Warden Pratt
That Was Then... This Is Now (1985) .... Charlie Woods
Marie (1985) .... Charles Traughber
... aka Marie: A True Story (1985)
"Atlanta Child Murders, The" (1985) (mini) TV Series .... Ben Shelter
Teachers (1984) .... Lewis
Harry and Son (1984) .... Siemanowski
"Another World" (1964) TV Series .... Dr. Roy Bingham (1982-1984)
... aka "Another World: Bay City" (1964)
"Ryan's Hope" (1975) TV Series .... Cleete Murphy (1981)
Death of a Prophet (1981) .... Malcolm X
Marva Collins Story, The (1981) (TV) .... Clarence Collins
Eyewitness (1981) .... Lieutenant Black
... aka Janitor, The (1981)
Brubaker (1980) .... Walter, Solitary Inmate
Attica (1980) (TV) .... Hap Richards


Coriolanus (1979) .... Coriolanus
Julius Caesar (1979/II) (V) .... Casca
Hollow Image (1979) (TV) .... Sweet Talk (Ralph Simmons)
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (1978) (TV) .... Uncle Hammer
Blade (1973) .... Chris
Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow? (1971) .... Afro
... aka Barney (1971)
"Electric Company, The" (1971) TV Series .... Mark; Easy Reader; Mel Mounds the DJ; Count Dracula; Mad Scientist; the Cop
Man Called Adam, A (1966) (uncredited)

Himself - filmography
(2000s) (1990s)

100 Greatest Movie Stars, The (2003) (TV) .... Himself
Making of 'Along Came a Spider', The (2001) (V) .... Himself
Shawshank: The Redeeming Feature (2001) (TV) .... Himself
AFI's 100 Years, 100 Thrills: America's Most Heart-Pounding Movies (2001) (TV) .... Himself
73rd Annual Academy Awards, The (2001) (TV) (uncredited) .... Himself
Acapulco Black Film Festival (2000) (TV) .... Himself
Directors: Clint Eastwood, The (2000) (V) .... Himself
... aka AFI's the Directors: Clint Eastwood (2000) (V) (USA: complete title)
Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, The (2000) (TV) .... Himself
AFI's 100 Years, 100 Laughs: America's Funniest Movies (2000) (TV) .... Himself
Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light (2000) (TV) (uncredited) (archive footage) .... Himself
... aka American Masters: Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light (2000) (TV) (USA: series title)


AFI's 100 Years... 100 Stars (1999) (TV) .... Himself
Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist (1998) .... Himself/Host
Screening (1998) .... Himself
Cosmic Voyage (1998) (voice) .... Narrator
Long Way Home, The (1997) (voice) .... Narrator
Inside the White House (1995) (TV) (voice) .... Narrator
"Promised Land, The" (1995) (mini) TV Series .... Narrator
Century of Cinema, A (1994) .... Himself
65th Annual Academy Awards, The (1993) (TV) (uncredited) .... Himself
Clint Eastwood on Westerns (1992) (TV) .... Himself
True Story of Glory Continues, The (1991) (voice) .... Narrator
"Civil War, The" (1990) (mini) TV Series (voice) .... John Boston
... aka "American Civil War, The" (1990) (mini) (UK)
22nd NAACP Image Awards (1990) (TV) .... Himself

Notable TV Guest Appearances

"God kveld Norge" (1998) playing "Himself" 12 April 2003
"Leute heute" (1997) playing "Himself" 4 April 2002
"Panel, The" (1998) playing "Himself" (episode # 4.14) 18 July 2001
"Beckmann" (1999) playing "Himself/Interviewee" 9 July 2001
"American Experience, The" (1988) playing "Narrator" (voice) in episode: "The Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantry" October 1991
"Twilight Zone, The" (1985) playing "Marty" in episode: "Dealer's Choice" (episode # 1.20) 15 November 1985

CIA, God, President? The man is much more tallented than two out of three of those roles.

-Robert

Jay|11.30.03 @ 6:52AM|#

I think that PAt Robertson has a problem with Morgan Freeman being God in Bruce Almighty, because he is black. FACE IT!!

|8.17.04 @ 6:55AM|#

pls keep offff