X-Message-Number: 161 From: Kevin Q. Brown Subject: Another L.A. Law Cryonics Review Date: 24 Mar 1990 Allen J. Lopp presented in the Feb. 1990 issue of Cryonics an important perspective on the Jan. 4 airing of L.A. Law, which featured a cryonics case [msgs #150 & #156]. After briefly reviewing the content of the show, he pointed out the following: "... While it may be tempting to conclude that this episode was pro-cryonics, I think it would be more accurate to say that it was pro-civil liberties. The judge did not defend Paula's right to be frozen as much as he defended her right to privacy and to choose her own fate. We must be mindful that, even though we cryonicists are deeply grateful for a TV presentation such as this, the makers of L.A. Law did not feature a cryonics story as a favor to us or because cryonics is a major pressing legal controversy of the day. They did it because they want high viewer ratings and because a highly entertaining story could be formed around a cryonics theme. And they made it entertaining not by engaging in Frankenstein-type horror voyeurism (as previous TV efforts such as the TV movie 'Chiller' did), they did it by placing the sympathies of the viewer on the side of the cryonicist. For the first time (to my knowledge) a cryonics proponent is a totally positive character. In this sense, L.A. Law has handed cryonics a public relations feat that is unequaled. This contrasts strikingly between the 'Miami Vice' cryonics episode in which the cryonicists were bumbling oafs and frauds; or the 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' cryonics installment where the two cryonicists were unpleasant and psychologically maladjusted, and the one sympathetic resuscitee clearly would never have chosen cryonics for herself. On L.A. Law, Paula was not only likable, she was beautiful, intelligent, assertive, courageous, and both lovable and loving. She undoubtedly is nothing less than a heroine. In fact, if there are any themes I see emerging from the L.A. Law treatment, they are courage, compassion, hope, and love. These are elements cryonicists often associate with the cryonics goal, but rarely communicate effectively to the public. In contrast, on L.A. Law Paula consistently gets the viewer on her side by highlighting her capacity to love. She hugs her attorney friend repeatedly throughout the show. Before the judge, she confesses her love of life in terms of its potential for experiences of loving families and friendships. (Cryonicists, take note: She does not talk about dodging the grim reaper or her hopes to live forever, hook an 80860 chip directly into her cranium, or explore the craters of Ganymede. She speaks in terms that make little old ladies in Peoria feel sentimental and cause toddlers in Walnut Creek to get misty-eyed while they hug their puppies and kitties.) Moreover, she speaks of her impending death solemnly but totally matter of factly and without a hint of a tear. Dagny Taggart, eat your heart out! The judge, too, is clearly a man of compassion, unwilling to dash this woman's last hope. And he shows the courage of his compassion, even though he knows his decision is very unlikely to be upheld in the long run. So the most profound message I get out of the show isn't about law, it's about public relations: Despite all our insights into the technological wonders of the future, when cryonicists address the public we must speak in their terms, not ours, if we hope to reach them. Fear of death, even the desire to avoid death, is not something they admire, so we must sometimes downplay it. Paradoxically, loving life is something to value, but not wanting to die means you are a coward. Moreover, you must love life for the right reasons. Enjoying your family, friends, and watching your grandchildren grow up will win their sentiments. Staying young, getting rich, or enjoying the wealth of the future, and especially wanting to live beyond our 'allotted time' are evidence of greed and selfishnes that make the respected members of the local Rotary Club want to dig graves twice as deep for us. It has nothing to do with rationality, little to do with law, and everything to do with social values. That's the way it is, and we don't have to like it but we do have to deal with it. It is this very subtle balancing act that the writers of L.A. Law navigated so expertly. And it is the same balancing act we must master in our offerings of cryonics services to the world, when we ask judges to defend our rights, and when we want legislators to hear our concerns. ..." Allen Lopp also suggested that cryonicists send a "Thank You" note to the producer of the show Michael M. Robin, as did the Feb. 1990 issue of Venturist Monthly News [see msg #156]. The March 1990 issue of Venturist Monthly News, however, took Bob Brakeman's suggestion that you instead write to the Executive Producer David E. Kelley; "Kelley should be the recipient of the letters [expressing appreciation for the show] not only because he is the actual EP, but also because he is, in addition, the key writer on the show, and of course it was the work of the writers which made all the pro-immortalism points you admired so much." David E. Kelley's address is: Twentieth Century Fox 10201 W. Pico Los Angeles, CA 90035 - Kevin Q. Brown ...att!whscad1!kqb Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=161