On Fri, Nov 12, 2010 at 9:18 PM, David Bruggeman <[email protected]> wrote: > It apparently was the bulk of Thursday's show. > > http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/11/11/5451206-ahead-on-the-1111-maddow-show > > So some stuff had to be cut, since even on cable news 50 minutes of content > doesn't fit into an hour timeslot. I'd guess 12-15 minutes was trimmed to > allow for commercial time and bumpers. > > While I take your point Kevin, I'm not sure FNC will go crazy with running > clips of the interview. The network seems to prefer to sink its own claws > into someone after short clips rather than giving folks enough tape to > figuratively hang themselves with. After all, better to have home team > faces on the TV excoriating the competition. And the rally is a couple of > weeks old.
I agree, and there was plenty in the interview for FoxNews not to like, either. But while the rally was talked about, Stewart seemed to allude to it as a reaction to something rather than an independent action -- and that was how I interpreted it as it happened, But if I'm at FoxNews looking for a story, I wouldn't have to look far in this interview. You have an MSNBC host who cannot differentiate satire from social commentary (and stating her audience isn't smart enough to know the difference). You have the same host stating she and her fellow hosts are not advocates for the left. You have Stewart pointing out flaws in the overall character of MSNBC that detract from whatever intent the individual hosts might have. And lastly but most importantly, you have Stewart challenging all the news outlets to quit the partisan rhetoric and go after corruption in all its forms. His comment on AC360's "Keeping them honest segment" summed things up nicely -- that entire show should be about keeping them honest (all of "them"), or there is little point to the rest of the show. Like Stewart, I like the voices he is criticizing, and I am saddened to share in his displeasure. When MSNBC replaced "America's Talking," ironically ousting Roger Ailes from the peacock family which allowed him to work his magic at FoxNews, there was such promise in the network. It embraced the internet and new technology at a time when everyone was trying to do so, but MSNBC did so with forethought. They introduced me to Soledad O'Brien, for which I am eternally grateful. The network allowed Brian Williams to be groomed to replace Tom Brokaw; who would replace Williams now if he decided to part ways with NBC? There were long format interview shows, shows utilizing NBC's vast archives and resources, and a 60 minute newscast in prime time, but none of that mattered because executives wanted their ratings to go from .7 to .9, so they scrapped all of the substantive programing in favor of loud-mouthed talking heads. I liked Keith's "Big Show" and I liked Donahue's issue oriented talk show (though I preferred him on CNBC with Vlad Pozner). I've never liked Chris Matthews or that We've Got Ed guy. But the network can fulfill its mandate, though it would involve effort on the part of those in positions of authority. As I've stated numerous times, the role of a journalist has changed dramatically in my lifetime. A journalist used to be someone who took what was newsworthy and made it interesting. Now, a journalist is someone who takes what is interesting and makes it newsworthy. I understand why -- it is much easier to do what is done now. When Bill O'Reilly or Sarah Palin gives a talk, any chimp can find a pull-quote, then book two or three bags of gas to dissect it on camera. But it takes a professional to do the same thing with the words of nameless Haitians dying by the dozens -- to give power to their words -- to have an agenda but allow that agenda to unfold in the course of providing information. The choice of what information is provided is as important as how it is presented. The medium is stil the message, and MSNBC hasn't been a very good medium lately. -- Kevin M. (RPCV) -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en
