"We got a lot of coverage of this documentary because it has four words in it - four out of 14 1/2 hours," she said, noting that two of those are used to explain the origins of "snafu" and "FUBAR."
Though the issue drew headlines at the TCA's winter meetings six months ago and still matters to many PBS affiliates, some of which could be crippled by an adverse FCC ruling and the accompanying fines, "that seems like the quaint old days," the PBS executive acknowledged.
That's because of pressure brought in the interim by Hispanic groups who were upset that Burns had not singled out the experience of Latino soldiers in his examination of World War II from the perspective of four American cities and towns: Sacramento, Calif; Waterbury, Conn; Mobile, Ala.; and Luverne, Minn.
In questioning Kerger, and later Burns, critics and reporters here, usually quick to lambaste networks on diversity issues, displayed little sympathy for the groups raising this particular one.
Admittedly, none of us - and none of Burns' critics - has yet seen the final version of "The War," which will incorporate some interviews and material he agreed to add at what in documentary terms could be considered the 11th hour.
Kerger was a bit vague on just what's entailed, Burns a little less so.
"We've produced some new material and included it at the end of three of the episodes that doesn't alter" what was largely completed more than a year ago, he said.
The added material, which will also include a Native American narrative, will run at the ends of episodes 1, 5 and 6, before the credits, Burns said.
It will add 28 to 29 minutes to the total length.
