Anybody watch "Smallpox" on FX?

ChuckSolo · 01-03-2005, 02:07 AM

This film was really interesting because I have just finished reading a non-fiction book called "The Demon in the Freezer" all about smallpox. It was interesting because a number of the people who were giving insight in the film, were also mentioned in the book. The author has also written a book called "The Hot Zone" about Marburg and Ebola virus and the Ebola scare in Reston, VA about 10-15 years ago. The film was extremely factual according to what I read in the book. Very, Very scary folks and an excellent teleplay.

Eddy-C · 01-03-2005, 11:36 AM

I didn't see it, but the previews made it look like a faux-documentary. Was it?

ChuckSolo · 01-03-2005, 06:16 PM

Yes it was.

Inspector Hammer! · 01-04-2005, 06:36 AM

Dammit! I missed it!

I've wanted to watch this for weeks, anyone know when they'll re-run it?

DaveMcS · 01-04-2005, 07:53 AM

TiVO's guide showed at least 4 other airing over this week.

**HTF Ads**

Linda Thompson · 01-04-2005, 08:38 AM

Quote:

I've wanted to watch this for weeks, anyone know when they'll re-run it?

All times Eastern; all on FX:

January 5: 8:00PM
January 6: 4:00PM
January 8: 8:00PM
January 9: 6:00PM

Inspector Hammer! · 01-04-2005, 08:41 AM

Thanks a bunch!

Got my VCR set already.

David Norman · 01-04-2005, 11:49 AM

Interesting response from the Official CDC site. I can't remember them ever recognizing a TV show before. Luckily, virtually nothing is as contagious as they made it appear, but this was certainly far less sensationalistic than most of these type things.

CDC Answers to "Smallpox"

David_Blackwell · 01-04-2005, 02:17 PM

I missed it too. I wanted to see this one.

ChuckSolo · 01-04-2005, 02:43 PM

Interesting to say the least. The show did put up a disclaimer that the movie was "for entertainment purposes only" so that was pretty good. After reading the Preston book "The Demon in the Freezer" though, the show did indeed get some of the facts right, especially the way smallpox affects different people, classic pustule type smallpox or the hemmoragic type (black smallpox). The book dealt with smallpox epidemics from the viewpoint of USAMRIID, the Army's infectious disease unit and as was pointed out in the book, the CDC and USAMRIID rarely see eye to eye on how to handle a disease outbreak or even how it is spread. The book tends to stress that the CDC is usually very conservative on how it addresses infectious outbreaks, whereas USAMRIID tends to take a very agressive stance and always prepares for the worst. In anycase, a very entertaining movie and I highly recommend both of Preston's books, "The Hot Zone" and "Demon in the Freezer."