A group of nine Nobel Peace Prize winners, which includes former South Africa Archbishop Desmond Tutu, are protesting, via a letter, a new reality show on NBC called “Stars Earn Stripes.”
Archbishop Tutu and the other Nobel laureates are claiming that the new NBC program glorifies war and “armed violence.”
The letter, addressed to NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt, makes the charge that the series “pays homage to no one anywhere and continues and expands on an inglorious tradition of glorifying war and armed violence.”
“Preparing for war is neither amusing nor entertaining,” the letter adds.
The series involves celebrities and inactive U.S. military personnel participating in a military themed competition.
Celebrity cast members who engage in simulated military training include former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's husband Todd Palin, singer Nick Lachey, boxer Laila Ali, actor Dean Cain, and Olympic gold medalist Picabo Street.
“Stars Earn Stripes,” which premiered on Monday night, is hosted by retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark.
“I'm doing this series for one reason,” Clark said at the show’s opening, “to introduce you, the American people, to the individuals that sacrifice so much for all of us.”
At a recent press event, Mark Burnett, an executive producer of the series, said, “We’re not the kind of producers that need to do shows.”
“But we used to live in fear of foreign countries and this show introduces these incredible people who fought for our country,” Burnett added.
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