A few days ago the Los Angeles Times ran a story that the ABC show Dancing With The Stars was suffering a major ratings slump. Possible causes were that it was being hurt by another dancing show against it on FOX and a yet another "CSI Somewhere" on CBS. The article also speculated that the weak lineup of D-List "Celebrities" on the show might have something to do with the viewer falloff.
Well, problem solved! People simply weren't watching the show because Tom DeLay was on it. Most people were boycotting the show because they refused to watch a truly horrible human being try to remake himself by waltzing and smirking into the American zeitgeist. Turns out that the world does not revolve around Republicans and right wing crazies. The former Republican congressman, who is currently indicted in Texas on criminal charges of conspiracy to violate election laws, quit the show after sustaining two stress fractures in his feet. Apparently the absence of one of the sleaziest and most corrupt elected officials ever did wonders for the dance show's ratings. This week's numbers for the DeLay-less Dancing soared.
What were the producers and Disney/ABC thinking when they cast DeLay in the first place? Did they believe that after seeing him do a samba, America would forget what a repulsive human being he is and embrace him in its collective bosom? Did they really think that the majority of Americans were represented by the medication-deprived Tea Baggers who terrorized the country with lies and threats of violence? Who's the moron who thought it would be a great idea to have one of these lunatics dance alongside Donny Osmond? Glenn Beck wasn't available? Earth to ABC... People don't want to see these people anymore.
It's about time the mainstream media got their faces out of the wingnut's behinds. They are a tiny but vocal minority. Their presence on television and hatred for America repulses most of the country. They are not entertaining and cute. They are dangerous and Americans don't like them shoved to the forefront of entertainment and news shows. However the corporate media will continue to force these cretins on the public because they are in bed with them financially.
Hopefully, some will see that America has become a mostly centrist-left leaning country. Conservatism (Especially the way it's being practiced in Washington today) is dying. Maybe it might have been smarter to cast someone from the left like Barney Frank instead of DeLay on Dancing. It might not have been pretty to watch, but I guarantee ratings would have gone through the roof.
It's been a good week. President Obama has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Tom DeLay and Rush Limbaugh have both been banished from the popular culture scene. Hopefully ABC/Disney will take note. But I doubt it.
Andy Ostroy: Reality TV Makes People Do the Darndest Things!
Reality television is a stain on our society and an insult to culture. It's dumbed-down television at its worst, lowest common-denominator.
Could Letterman be reaching for some of Jon Stewart's magic? And do stunt documentaries really change anything? Like the Ferrell video, are they only for the converted?
Headline That! That IS the truth!
I have stopped shopping Home Depot, I have stopped Supporting The Chamber's of Commerce and More.
"They" are a Minority that MSM tries to "Pump Up" with the equivalent of "The Blue Pill" and it Does Not Work!
They, of course, have never been to "real America" (and I know this because I used to live there) and so they believe Republicans when Repubs claim there is a "Real America".
Turns out, there isn't a "real America". There's the same old America, built on diversity, opportunity for all, and hard work.
None of which Tom Delay (or most Republicans) represent.
Stop catering to the loudest segment of a non-existent America, Hollywood. Wake up! Obama won for a reason. Oh, and NO we won't tune in to watch manufactured drama of seeing Tom DeLay trip. We know when we're being used. Remember, Breadline Bush just left office. We don't think it's cute or funny and we do NOT want to see these people get any more money or fame for breaking the laws.
Real America is as sick of Republican criminals on TV (Rove, et al) as they are of the OctoMom and Kate and whoever. Give it a rest.
All the stations picked it up and ran it over and o-v-e-r...so there was no way we were going to be able to avoid him. Then something magic happened...everybody got it. Nobody wanted him...and ABC DISNEY put another nail in their coffin.
The GOP, the gang that keeps on giving.
Out of respect for congruency, they ought to have to include the word Disney in everything they do, including credits, directors and editors, and in every name of every show they make.
George Stephanopolos should have to have Disney written on his impeccable suits and ties. George Will should drink from a Donald Duck coffee mug.
Before Disney, ABC reminded me a little of a soft but stern schoolmarm, reporting accurately but with a momsy scold at every opportunity. (Traces of this are still to be seen in old maidish Charles Gibson).
Today watching ABC makes me feel like a student who ran into his old schoolteacher a few years after graduation, now working as a plus-apartment hooker.
I would rephrase this comment to say that It's about time the mainstream media got their faces out of the wingnut's (some other place, like in the front) but it does not take much to be censored on Huff Post these days..
So I won't say it.
Now I can go back to watching the only ABC show even remotely interesting to me, "Nightline", without guilt.