THE ANTI-DRUG KEY TO TV: SUBTLETY

Subtlety is the key to making television shows containing teen-
oriented messages against drugs and other social ills, according to TV
producers who gathered in Hollywood on Thursday to discuss the issue.

"It's more like water dripping on a stone rather than a sledge-hammer
or a frying pan smashing an egg, then taking a kitchen apart," said
Laurie McCarthy, co-executive producer of Fox's "Beverly Hills, 90210."

McCarthy spoke during the Institue for Mental Health Initiatives'
third annual "Continuing the Dialogue" forum at the Four Seasons
Hotel recently. This year's theme was "Experience Reality: Teens,
Risk and Substance Abuse."

"In 'Party of Five,' we had a 16-episode (storyline) that dealt with
drinking," Bob Greenblatt, who oversaw development of the show when he
was at Fox. "It started with his (Baily) drinking in college, and
viewers didn't know where it was going to go. And it ended with an
intervention. The subtlety of that episode snuck up on the audience."

One member of the audience at Thursday's event urged producers not to
flinch from showing the grim effects of drug use in their story lines.

"I know a little about what works, and reality works," said Evan
Malmuth, a former drug abuser who now counsels addicts. "We talk about
the risks. Well, we should start taking risks, stop worrying about
commercially and start saving kids' lives."

And while other audience members agreed that extreme measures were
needed to get the message across, the majority of the panel members
did not.

"You can say you overdose on drugs," McCarthy said, "but what really
dissuades kids from doing drugs is showing characters embarrassing
themselves and making a fool of themselves. That's more immediate."

But if the subtle message is the most effective, it's also true that
the negative message has subtle effects, said Renee Turner, executive
producer of BET's "Teen Summit."

"A lot of times, teens will tell you that they dismiss (what they see
in music videos), but it gives them permission to do it. It influences
what they think is hip and cool," she said. "What my show does is put
forward other images of teens who don't do these things and who don't
think it's cool."

In addition to sponsoring the annual debate, the Institue for Mental
Health Initiatives provides background research material for writers
and producers who want to tackle social issues.

"These issues are part of the human struggle," institue executive
director Michael Benjamin said. "That's what turns people on. We want
to help producers do it in a way that's not preachy but so it's part
of living."

Checked-by: Patrick Henry