Controversy Over a Calendar of Mormon Men | Newsweek Religion

CAPITAL SOURCES
Up From Searchlight
Tom Watson 5/12/2008 12:00:00 AM
You know you're reading a different sort of political memoir when the wise person who first predicts greatness for the protagonist isn't a parent or a teacher but rather the local brothel owner. Yet it was the "whoremonger," as he's called in the book, who caught the young Harry Reid stealing some empty bottles from a local casino in hopes of cashing them in for loose change—and encouraged Reid to aim higher. "Pinky," the brothel owner warned, addressing Reid by his childhood nickname, "you should never steal anything from anybody. I didn't get you in trouble because I think you could amount to something. Don't you do stuff like that."
TELEVISION
America’s Next Top Mormon
Sally Atkinson 5/6/2008 12:00:00 AM
When brothers Ryan and Craig Simmons auditioned for the CBS reality show "The Amazing Race" in 2003, they hoped the novelty of their religion would give them an edge. Their audition tape showed them outside the Mormon temple in Provo, Utah, while the narration played off those classic Mormon ads ("Family: Isn't it about time?") with a question for the casting directors: "Mormons: Isn't it about time?" It certainly is now. Since then Mormons have colonized reality TV as if they'd been assigned there by Brigham Young himself. They've won "The Biggest Loser," "The Rebel Billionaire" and "Survivor" (along with two second-place finishes on "Survivor"). These days you can't turn on "So You Think You Can Dance" or "Dancing With the Stars" without seeing at least one, and often several, members of the church. And they're closing in on the biggest reality TV prize of all: cherub-faced Mormon David Archuleta is one of four finalists left on "American Idol," and his chances just soared following the elimination last week of Brooke White. White is Mormon too, and now that she's off the show, the two of them won't have to split the faithful's vote anymore.
Changeable Creeds
Lisa Miller 2/26/2008 12:00:00 AM
It was only a matter of hours before the data in the new Pew study on American religion found its way into the political bloodstream, to be bandied about by Christian conservatives on the one hand and secular liberals on the other. Each side is already saying say that the data prove at long last the truths that have been self-evident for decades. Conservatives see in the data an appalling religious dilettantism combined with a rising devotion to nothing at all. Liberals see an idiosyncratic populace that prefers to exercise individual choice even in spiritual matters. Both, of course, are right.
HISTORY
Telegram From a Parallel Universe
Daniel Walker Howe
For 10 years I immersed myself in writing a big book about the United States between 1815 and 1848. Now that it's out I enjoy the chance to look at America today in the light of what I learned about an earlier period. Many of the contrasts between that time and our own are obvious enough: the slowness of travel then, the practice of slavery, the unashamed discrimination based on sex and race, the far lower standard of living, the prevalence of disease, discomfort and dirt. More surprising, perhaps, are the many close parallels between the challenges faced in that America and our own.
TELEVISION
America’s Next Top Mormon
Sally Atkinson
A few months ago, "American Idol" alum Carmen Rasmusen (second season, sixth place) was watching her old show when she heard Brooke White tell the judges that she'd never seen an R-rated movie. "My husband and I just looked at each other and said, 'She's totally Mormon'," says Rasmusen, who is as well. "I mean, who else would say something like that?" Apparently, Mormons aren't too hard to spot these days. In fact, so many have colonized reality TV's landscape, it's as if they've been assigned there by Brigham Young himself. They've won "The Biggest Loser," "The Rebel Billionaire" and "Survivor" (along with two second-place finishes on "Survivor"). You can't turn on "So You Think You Can Dance" or "Dancing With the Stars" without seeing at least one. And they're closing in on the biggest reality-TV prize of all: cherub-faced David Archuleta is one of three finalists left on "American Idol," and his chances just soared following White's recent elimination. Now they don't have to split the faithful's vote anymore.
TELEVISION
Latter-day Domination
Sally Atkinson
Maybe Mitt Romney should have taken up tango. While some voters are still uneasy about a Mormon presidential candidate, Americans seem plenty comfortable voting for Mormons in another type of election: prime-time dance shows. Mormons have already won "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Dancing With the Stars," and two of the front runners on ABC's current hit "Dance War" are, yes, Mormon. "Some of the greatest dancing on TV is coming out of this community," says Kenny Ortega, director of the "High School Musical" movies, both of which were filmed in Utah to capitalize on a hotbed of dance talent that Ortega noticed while choreographing the opening ceremony for the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. "Dance is part of our culture," says Lee Wakefield, chair of Brigham Young University's dance department. "Mormons danced when they crossed the plains to Utah, and one of the first buildings they built was a dance hall." "Dance War" favorite Zach Wilson says he's happy to help shatter the notion that Mormons "can't dance and don't know how to have fun." Memo to Romney campaign: Have candidate move more on his feet, less on the issues.