The Truth About Anti-Smoking Ads

Remember when The Truth first started? Way back in 1998, it was a little grassroots organization dedicated to putting out the truth about the tobacco industry. I was only 11 back then, but I still thought it was pretty cool that there were people hitting the streets and just talking to people about how harmful cigarettes can be.

But I know you guys have seen the recent Truth commercials. Sure, they’re still sort of living up to their name. Still, it seems like they’re more interesting in getting the shocked “WTF?” reaction out of people instead of educating them.

Most people in my family don’t smoke. I happen to be allergic to cigarette smoke, and I have asthma, so taking a puff for me would kind of be like committing suicide. One of my aunts smoked until the day she died about seven or eight years ago. My other aunt stopped smoking shortly after. I have a bunch of friends who smoke, though. And no matter how much lecturing they get, I know that most of them are not going to stop smoking. Hell, I remember asking a friend of mine at school if he thought he would ever quit smoking. He laughed. Then coughed. Read More »

Fox Will Put “Truth” to the Test - But Will Viewers?

Lie DetectorThis January, Fox will be trudging out Moment of Truth, a new show that pits mankind versus the most diabolical of machines: lie detectors.

Lie detectors, the unveiling of personal secrets, absolute truth - what could possibly go wrong?

Fox, ever the innovators, ordered the pilot for Moment of Truth in August, which is based on the successful (and recently canceled) Columbian series, Nothing But the Truth. As the Columbian rendition has proven, lie detector shows can get a bit messy when certain questions are asked.

Fox has taken precautions since that debacle, and will stick to questions about a contestant’s personal history, not legal matters. Read More »