Gear Live Television News: Articles Tagged Autism

Comedy Central’s Night of Too Many Laughs

Stars like Tom Hanks, Betty White, David Spade, Maya Rudolph, Cedric the Entertainer, George Clooney, Jason Alexander, Zack Galifianakis, Drew Carey and the Geico gecko (to name just a few) crowded onto a single set to answer phones for Comedy Central’s Night of Too Many Stars: An Overbooked Benefit for Autism Education -- and they were just the in-between act. The cable network outdid itself on Thursday night, interspersing live phone segments with the pre-recorded, gala event held weeks ago in New York City.

Highlights from the pre-recorded theater event include the tuneful moment that reunited event host Jon Stewart with former Daily Show contributors Stephen Colbert and Steven Carrell. The latter two delivered a rousing song written for 2008 about Captain Sullenberger. The “Chocolate Rain” YouTube sensation made an appearance, and the song was so good even Jon Stewart was compelled to join in mid-chorus.

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Big Brother 9: Autism Group Demands Apology From CBS

UPDATE: CBS officials issued the following statement in regards to controversial statements made about children with developmental disabilities by a house guest on Big Brother 9:

“We certainly find the statements made by Adam to be offensive, but believe they were countered by the immediate reaction of shock and condemnation from a fellow houseguest, Sheila [Kennedy]. Adam’s remarks would not have been permitted to air unchallenged.”

An offensive comment made by one of the contestants on TV’s Big Brother 9 has a national autism group demanding an apology from CBS. Even more troubling, the man who made the comment is described on CBS’ website as a public relations manager for a Florida-based autism group.

The comment was made during the Season 9 premiere last Tuesday. John Gilmore, executive director of a different group called Autism United, says he has been trying to talk to CBS about the gaffe since the show aired but has had no luck. Now the group is trying to convince CBS advertisers to turn up the heat on the network.

The incident in question happened while Adam Jasinski, who says he works for the United Autism Foundation (UNIAF), was talking about how he would spend his Big Brother winnings. He told his partner on the show, Sheila, that he would use them to open a hair salon for people with developmental disabilities “so them retards can get it together and get their hair done.” The politically-insensitive word shocked Sheila, a 45-year-old former Penthouse Pet. She immediately demanded that he not use that term. Jasinski simply replied that he works with disabled kids all day long so it is okay.

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