Series on polygamy elicits worry in Utah

When the HBO series "Big Love" premieres tonight, "John Brown" (not his real name) will be watching — with his five wives.

In fact, many polygamist families who spoke to the Deseret Morning News said they were ordering the premium pay cable channel just so they could see how their lifestyle is portrayed.

The HBO series stars Bill Paxton as a polygamist who juggles time spent with his three wives — played by Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloe Sevigny and Ginnifer Goodwin — and their seven children in Sandy, Utah. The Tom Hanks-produced show has already generated a lot of talk and headlines for its controversial subject matter and its portrayal of a subject Utah just can't seem to distance itself from.

"I haven't even watched any other HBO (show)," Brown said. "What I am sure that it will do is bring polygamy into the national attention."

Brown and several of his wives agreed to speak to the Deseret Morning News on condition of anonymity, out of fear of criminal prosecution for bigamy. One of his wives, "Jessie," hopes the show provides an honest portrayal of plural marriage without stereotyping.

"What offends, is when the religion is made fun of. I think it will be hard for me to watch, because they are going to show bedroom scenes, and I don't want that to be made light of," she said, referring to HBO's reputation for steamy sex scenes.

Once again, Utah's history is placed on full display for the world to see, but state tourism director Leigh von der Esch isn't concerned.

" 'Big Love' is to Utah like what 'The Sopranos' is to New Jersey," she said. "Does 'The Sopranos' portray all of New Jersey as just a bunch of mobsters?"

Utah tourism officials have just undertaken an image study as part of their new branding campaign, and von der Esch said polygamy is expected to inevitably come up in people's perceptions of the state.

"I'm sure there will be curiosity, certainly there will be," von der Esch said of "Big Love." "But the LDS Church may be the one that receives the questions."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is certainly concerned about how "Big Love" will affect its image.

"Obviously, we don't like the program," church spokesman Mike Otterson said. "There's nothing about the program to like if you're an active Latter-day Saint."

Polygamy was officially discontinued by the LDS Church in 1890, and church members who practice it are excommunicated. Otterson said the church remains concerned viewers will not be able to distinguish between the polygamists on television and the mainstream LDS Church.