Scrape TV Humour Scrape TV News Scrape TV On the Air

Politics
U.S.A.
Everyone Else
Health
Science
Business
Technology
Sports
Video Games
Entertainment
Future
Retractions
News Home
News Archive
Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS > ENTERTAINMENT > DEATH OF PAUL NEWMAN BRINGS CHEERS IN BOLIVIA, TEARS IN SUPERMARKET AISLES

DEATH OF PAUL NEWMAN BRINGS CHEERS IN BOLIVIA, TEARS IN SUPERMARKET AISLES

September 27 2008

Westport, CT – The death of Hollywood icon Paul Newman has brought the entire film world to tears. The legendary actor/philanthropist/race car driver died Saturday after a long battle with cancer. According to his publicist he was surrounded by friends and family when he died.

"There is a point where feelings go beyond words,” said Robert Redford. "I have lost a real friend. My life — and this country — is better for his being in it." Redford and Newman co-starred in the classics ‘The Sting’ and ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’. It is that latter role that has brought a surprising reaction in Bolivia.

“We are calling for a national day of celebration. The death of Paul Newman brings us ever closer to closing forever a very dark chapter in our nation’s history,” said President Evo Morales. “There is one left to go, but we are almost there. The film that Mr. Newman starred in brought great shame to our people, and his death helps us closer to healing as a nation.”

Newman portrayed notorious bandit Butch Cassidy in the film. In both the movie and in real life both Cassidy (real name Robert Parker) and Harry ‘The Sundance Kid’ Longabough (portrayed in the film by Redford) were gunned down by Bolivian authorities after a robbery, a fact the Bolivian people have had to endure for nearly a hundred years.

“Both of those criminals were celebrated as legends. We are known the world over not as a people who enforced the law, but as those who killed American folk heroes,” continued President Morales. “It is a shame and a burden that we have had to shoulder for a very long time. The revered status of the film has only served to further the pressure on our people and serve as a reminder of that trauma. Luckily there is only one major participant left alive, and when he is dead the Bolivian people will be free.”

‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ has never been aired in the country.

Another group that has had a totally separate reaction to the news is the shopping public and employees of supermarkets across the country. ‘Newman’s Own’ branded food has been a standard in supermarkets across the country since the line was introduced in 1982. Salad dressing, popcorn, pasta sauce, and coffee are just a few of the products offered in the line, which donates all profits to charity. Newman himself is pictured on the label for every product.

“It’s going to be tough going into the salad dressing aisle for a little bit I think,” said Brent Sadler, produce manager for the local Shaw’s supermarket. “We are so used to seeing his face and knowing now that he is no longer with us, well, that’s just hard. I have a feeling there are going to be a lot of very upset diners tonight, especially if they are eating salad.”

We asked Sadler if he had seen any dip in lettuce, tomatoes, or any other salad related product.

“Not yet, but it may just be that it’s taking a little bit for people to digest. I hope that’s not the case. There’s a time for mourning and there’s a time for eating. Like any situation, if something like this stops us from eating, then they’ve won. We can’t let them win.”

Bolivian officials did express concern over the Newman’s brand of coffee. “We will monitor the situation. Coffee is our life blood and we cannot allow irrational mourning to undo our business.”

Newman is survived by his wife of fifty years, actress Joanne Woodward, five children, two grandsons and his older brother Arthur.             

Samantha Dryden, Entertainment Correspondent

NEWS > ENTERTAINMENT > DEATH OF PAUL NEWMAN BRINGS CHEERS IN BOLIVIA, TEARS IN SUPERMARKET AISLES

Scrape TV Home Scrapeipedia The Town of LaRue Scrape Store (coming soon)

Contact Editorial editor (at) scrapetv.com Website admin (at) scrapetv.com Jobs jobs (at) scrapetv.com Advertise advertising (at) thevirtualunion.com

This work by The Virtual Union is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 Canada License Based on a work at scrapetv.com

All original content and scenarios Copyright ©2008-2010 The Virtual Union. All Rights Reserved. All images Copyright © original owners. All content herein should be considered rumour or truth based solely on your perspective. Privacy Policy