Kurt Sutter, the colorful creator and showrunner of FX’s biker drama hit Sons of Anarchy, is never one to miss an opportunity to defend the honor of his show and his network. He’s gotten into hot water in the past for speaking a bit too passionately on Twitter, so he took down his account. Now Sutter has leaped into the fray on his personal blog, Sutter Ink, to voice his displeasure with DirecTV for what he perceives as the satcaster holding Fox’s cable networks (including FX) hostage in a carriage dispute that could result in the nets being dropped by DirecTV on November 1. FX enlisted Sutter to film a promo urging fans to weigh in but didn’t let him use his prepared, profanity-laden script. But that didn’t stop Sutter from posting on his blog the entire promo writeup that includes lines like, “DirecTV is shutting down all conversation and using their customers as leverage. In the process, you’re getting fucked over.” Sutter also took time to praise FX chief John Landgraf. “If it weren’t for that guy,” Sutter wrote, “I’d be selling star maps and handjobs in front of the Motherlode.”
Here’s the full text of Sutter’s typically passionate post:
I just did a promo that will air before Tuesday night’s episode. It’s aim is to mobilize fans against DirecTV. But they refused to let me speak honestly, I had to follow an FX legal script that felt like complete bullshit. I’m sure it will serve it’s purpose, but I feel compelled to let SOA fans know what I WANTED to say.
First off, I am well aware that I am working for the right-handed smoking man. Truth is, every large entertainment company is an extension of some corporate behemoth. FX is no exception. The thing that keeps me there is that they care as much about the creative process as they do their bottom line. That’s not only rare, it’s pretty much nonexistent everywhere else in Hollywood. That bubble is floated by John Landgraf. If it weren’t for that guy, I’d be selling star maps and handjobs in front of the Motherlode. I also have no delusions that Fox has a big horse in this DTV race. Like all big corporate deals, the Goliaths are fighting for bigger chunks of the pie and in the process, the Davids who feed off of the crumbs, are getting screwed. But if you look at the facts, you’ll see that DirecTV is applying orange rules to an ever apple-ing world and using their large customer base as leverage. Basically, fucking over the customers that already pay a lot of money for their service.
Here is the script they wouldn’t let me use –
SOA (:45)
HEY, I’M KURT SUTTER, CREATOR OF SONS OF ANARCHY.STARTING NOVEMBER 1ST, DIRECTV IS PULLING FX FROM YOUR BOX.
THAT MEANS YOU’LL MISS THE LAST FIVE EPISODES OF SONS THIS SEASON. PERHAPS FIVE OF THE MOST CRITICAL EPISODES OF THE SERIES.
I KNOW FOX HAS A HORSE IN THIS RACE, BUT THEY’RE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH. DIRECTV IS SHUTTING DOWN ALL CONVERSATION AND USING THEIR CUSTOMERS AS LEVERAGE. IN THE PROCESS, YOU’RE GETTING FUCKED OVER. THEY’RE RUNNING ADS WITH THEIR CORPORATE SHILL TELLING YOU HOW MUCH “THEY CARE ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS”; THAT DUDE’S GOT ONE SINCERE HAND ON HIS HEART WHILE THE OTHER GREASES YOUR UNSUSPECTING BACKSIDE. BECAUSE THEY’RE ABOUT TO FLIP YOU OVER AND FUCK YOU UP THE ASS TILL YOU BLEED.
GO TO KEEPMYNETS.COM OR call 866-KEEPMYNETS TO GET THE REAL STORY.DO IT NOW. LET ‘EM KNOW THEY CAN’T FUCK WITH YOUR SONS OF ANARCHY.
THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT, BITCHES.
SOA (:15)
SOA FANS, LISTEN UP…
STARTING NOVEMBER 1ST, DIRECTV IS PULLING FX FROM YOUR BOX.
GO TO KEEPMYNETS.COM OR call 866-KEEPMYNETS TO GET THE REAL STORY.
DO IT NOW. LET ‘EM KNOW THEY CAN’T FUCK WITH YOUR SONS OF ANARCHY.
THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT, BITCHES.


Aren’t Fox and Direct TV both owned by or connected to Murdoch?
This is DirecTV, not SkyTV.
Murdoch owns Newscorp…DTV is connected to them as well
Not any longer. They sold their minority stake.
DTV are a bunch kunts BTW, they care nothing about customers as they are demonstrating. Wish they would get some customer service types that spoke English as well….
No, News Corp. divested its interests in DirecTV in 2008 with a stock swap with Liberty Media, who in turn split off the DirecTV Group in 2009 into a separate company.
Kurt Sutter should have his own media criticism TV show. I’d like to know what he thinks about the Netflix situation.
He should have the spot vacated by Andy Rooney on 60 Minutes.
This is why I love my cable service.
Wow… when a move makes people praise cable, you really must have screwed up!
If you are talking about TimeWarner Cable, you’re still a loser. hahaaha
How much does Sutter, or any other FX talent, get paid to do promos like this?
Surely they must realize that they are fighting for Goliath to get more money from another Goliath? Where is their cut?
Or are they dumb enough to be pawns in a corporate fight?
Kurt Sutter should really just STFU. His show is not all that and he should get off his soap box and complain about real issues then his bruised ego.
You need to STFU..
Kurt Sutter, graduate of the Charlie Sheen School of Charm, gets my vote as industry gasbag of the year. He would be far better served keeping his focus on the inbred silliness that is SOA.
To paraphrase:
“I don’t care who I shill for, as long as I get mine.”
Again, Kurt Sutter needs to shut the fuck up.
The language he uses – does he kiss his wife with that mouth?
I’m guessing he does a lot more than that.
I prefer the original of course it gets the point across better! Kurt Sutter is awesome for that!
What a fucking poser.
Oh, I’ll be right back, I see that an entire range of SOA merchandise is now available! I think I’ll pick up some charm bracelets.
The word you’re looking for is poseur, not poser. There is a difference–you look like a poseur incorrectly using the word poser.
poseur (p???z??)
noun
a person who strikes an attitude or assumes a pose in order to impress others
pos·er1? ?[poh-zer]
noun
a person who poses.
Ah, but clearly they can.
There was a time when content producers feared distributors — networks affiliates, cable MSO’s — and wouldn’t dare bash them publicly. Somehow, the shows overall were better in those days. Broadcast stations were more family-friendly, and cable’s loudest, in-your-face, socially transgressive programming was reserved for premium networks. Then along came faux-HBO channels like FX. Too bad.
I have no sympathy for Mr. Sutter, or for FX. Nor for NatGeo, Speed, or Fox’s soccer and local basketball channels. Never watch any of them. Not worth a penny a month in this household.
Hold that line, DirecTV!
What are you talking about? FX is great and they consistently put out some of the best shows television has to offer.
Who wants more family friendly garbage on the air?
I like how Kurt Sutter thinks he’s a bad ass because he writes a show staring actors who think that they are bad asses because they play bad asses on TV.
Idiots
Kurt Sutter pulled the same stuff last year when FOX/NewsCorp was going through a carriage contract issue with DISH. He was on twitter advising people to dump DISH. This year, the new dispute is with DirecTV and Kurt is now telling fans to switch to DirecTV.
Disputes like these happen with different cable and satellite providers. Nobody is immune to get channels dropped from their provider. People who work in the TV industry are used to these disputes and they know anything can happen when a provider’s contract is up. Kurt is dodging around the realities of the business and now he is bashing a sat provider like crazy while not acknowledging that providing can drop a channel.
In my comment, I meant to say switch to other providers.
I do like to see a director or show creator stand up for their product. In the end, however, Sutter simply becomes a foul mouthed “corporate shill” to counter Directvs own, much less foul, corporate shill. He even starts of his blog by telling everyone that he is in fact a corporate shill in his own respect. Neither FOX nor Directv have their fans or customers in mind. All either company can see are money symbols floating above each customers head, just waiting to be vacuumed up. FOX is notorious for this kind of tactic. Just last year they worked a very similar process in negotiations with Cable Vision and my TV provider/employer DISH Network. DISH worked out a long term agreement at that time and will have FOX channels for years to come. Directv may want to play the victim to FOX but they are not without guilt either. Last year Directv spent millions of dollars in an effort to lure customers of other companies that were being impacted by FOX. They did that knowing that their agreement with FOX would be coming to an end as well. That really makes me wonder what customers get for paying Directv those high prices every month.
Enough with Sutter already. He’s become a characture of a human being. He’s no longer shocking or relevant, just a winey spoiled child. Shut up and go write some more biker bullsh*t…
BTW – thanks for making me watch the 10 second flashpoint promo before posting… LAME
I’m with DirectV on this, no increases, none
FX ain’t all that and yes Sutter really should just shove it.
Oh, let’s be honest, Kurt. No one will miss SOA. People either don’t care that much about it, or they will just resort to illegal downloads.
Someone needs to punch this whiney little bitch in the nose. Might be the only way to shut him up.
I guess its time to change service.
SOA rocks. Seriously love the show. Acting can be a little off at times, but it’s a really fun show!
Don’t believe this Sutter guy and his propaganda, yeah he may be on tv but seriously any reasonable person knows News Corp/Fox and their unreasonable demands are more to blame in this matter than Directv. 40% increase.. c’mon people just look at history; right about this time last year they decided to price gouge Dish in the exact same way. Dish network eventually caved in and paid, I hope for customers sake directv doesn’t do the same. In the end it will be the customers who suffer monetarily from this thing.
FX I know your caught in the middle of this thing, but you condone this vitriol.. seriously you need a new poster boy.
I have been considering dropping direct tv for a long time due to the fact that netflix and apps on my i-phone and tablet allow me to watch these shows on hulu plus. which together is still a hell of alot cheaper than direct tv.
I love my SOA and would not like to see it go. The thing that worry’s me is that the director is acting like a 15 year old who just got their package wet for the first time and acts like they are a badass and they can do what ever they want.
Dude, shut up if you really think a company is going to loose their biggest broadcasting shows your wrong.
Probably dumb enough to be Fox’s pawn. He’s such a tool.