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Producers Deliberately Blur Out The Canadian Flag On ABC Reality Show
I never watch The Bachelor - it's a show that doesn't interest me in the least. But this does: the still mysterious reason the producers of the hit ABC program decided to deliberately blur out the Canadian flag in an episode that aired this week. Apparently one of the women involved in this quasi-dating reality show is from Ontario and the mighty Maple Leaf symbol played a part in the show.
But in a scene still unexplained, when The Bachelor himself took the flag, it was blurred out so viewers couldn't see it clearly. Twitter/X immediately lit up with people wondering why. So far, there's been no explanation.
Why Did ‘The Bachelor’ Blur the Canadian Flag? Viewers Call Out the Show
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Re: Producers Deliberately Blur Out The Canadian Flag On ABC Reality Show
It didn't take long to solve the mystery. But the answer is weirder than you may have thought.
Do you know about "the Canadian government’s official rules and regulations regarding the commercial use of its national symbols, such as its familiar red-and-white maple leaf flag. The Canadian flag is “protected… against unauthorized use for commercial purposes,” and any such use has to first be submitted to the Canadian government and then approved. In other words, it looks like The Bachelor didn’t receive a rose from our neighbors to the north."
I've never heard of this rule and it seems odd. What if a fan is pictured waving a Canadian flag during an American-based sporting event? Would that have to be obscured? I'm guessing live events might be an exception, but the rules are the rules. Has anyone ever heard of this before?
The Bachelor Mystery Solved: Here’s Why They Blurred Out the Canadian Flag
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Thread Starter- paterson1
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Re: Producers Deliberately Blur Out The Canadian Flag On ABC Reality Show
Could this just be a made up controversy for ratings? Seems odd that after the taping but before the show goes to air (start of the season after the strike) they find out about this official rule regarding the flag, then feel the need to blurr it out. And what is the Canadian government supposed to do if the flag wasn't blurred out. What exactly are commercial purposes? Why does the flag show up occasionally in actual TV commercials.
So on various TV shows produced in Canada (Cash Cab) if they show a busy downtown street that has a flag on a building, or it appears in the background on a set of a drama, the producers first need to go to the government for approval? I have my doubts.
I don't watch the show either, was the bachelor or one of the ladies Canadian? Guaranteed this has given The Bachelor some extra publicity for the start of the new season.
- RadioAaron
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Re: Producers Deliberately Blur Out The Canadian Flag On ABC Reality Show
While the flag rules may be true, it may also be editors who are just in the habit of burring out anything that can remotely be called a logo.
- paterson1
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Re: Producers Deliberately Blur Out The Canadian Flag On ABC Reality Show
Still say it is a stunt to get controversy for the new season. The Bachelor didn't have any trouble showing Canadian flags in 2021 when contestant Serena took bachelor Matt James to her home town to meet the folks...
- Tomas Barlow
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Re: Producers Deliberately Blur Out The Canadian Flag On ABC Reality Show
I think it’s a case of a producer doing some research, and taking a rule too literally.
You’re supposed to play the anthem in its entirety but our most recent governments have been using a four note stinger at the end of government commercials for roughly 20 years. No one enforces these things.
Last edited by Tomas Barlow (January 24, 2024 10:32 pm)
- paterson1
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Re: Producers Deliberately Blur Out The Canadian Flag On ABC Reality Show
Well the Bachelor's premiere show didn't do much in the ratings. Only 3.18 million viewers for ABC, the worst season opening ever for the "reality" program. We will see this coming Monday if "flag gate" will do anything for the ratings on this staged and orchestrated program.
Note last Monday CW had a repeat of CBC's Wild Cards, and the premiere of the filmed in Canada, Ride which was on the Hallmark Channel and CTV2 last year. Terrible ratings for Yellowstone on CBS at 9 and 10PM.
Last edited by paterson1 (January 25, 2024 12:44 pm)