Wednesday, April 16, 2008

How Political Coverage Should Be

Tonight marks the very important Democratic Presidential Debate (ABC, 8 p.m.) in Pennsylvania.

Notice I only list it on one of the major networks. That's because it's only on one of the major networks.

The rest are showing original programming. So if a viewer could care less about the debates, he or she has other viewing options tonight. And if a viewer does care about the debates, he or she can watch them comfortably on one network.

I've never understood why every channel needs to air the same political speeches and debates when one will suffice. Is it important to air things like the State of the Union and the national conventions? Of course. Voters need to be informed on the issues, much more so than they probably are.

But why not rotate these events around the dial? ABC airs a debate tonight, NBC has the next one, CBS, and so on. Personally, I'm a little sick of the political process at this stage, and I don't think either candidate tonight - no matter which one you support - is going to say anything earth-shattering. It's more of a chance for a candidate to blurt out something wrong that will alienate voters rather than draw them in.

Just remember this posting when the conventions roll around for four days apiece during the summer on every network.

WEDNESDAY'S BEST BETS: So, if you don't want to watch tonight's debate, here are your choices.

CBS has new episodes of "Criminal Minds" and "CSI: NY" after "Big Brother" at 8 p.m. (Come to think of it, watching the debate sounds better already.)

Fox returns with original episodes of the sitcoms "Til Death" and "Back To You" at 8 p.m., followed by the results show of "American Idol" at 9 p.m.

PBS has a pair of specials, "The Truth About Cancer" at 8 p.m. and "King Corn" at 10 p.m.

Finally, "Men In Trees" (ABC, 10 p.m.) airs a new episode after the debate.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have mentioned my political preferences before so I won't go into detail, but I will say this...as long as an absolutely disastrous candidate is currently in the pledged delegate lead (by false, caucus circumstances, mind you) for the Democratic nomination, than I hope the current #2 candidate continues to fight, fight, fight.

The disastrous foreign policy implications of the current leading Democratic candidate, will continue to have me watching these debates, hoping he once again, sticks his foot in his mouth and ciphens off more votes for himself.

As for the other shows on tonight, there's basically nothing you listed that remotely interests me.

Anonymous said...

I agree with zodin. There is nothing that interests me.

re the debate:- Can anyone name one thing that Obama has achieved in the senate ? That is the first question I would ask him.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous,

Well, let's see...Obama accomplished writing a book and he's very accomplished at getting the majority of pundits and news folks on CNN and MSNBC to fall madly in love with him.

If you ask Obama, that's accomplishment enough, apparently, to be President.

But I will say it again - if you had winner-take-all for the Democrats and/or had PRIMARIES rather than CAUCUSES in all states, Hillary would be way ahead and probably already the nominee.

Obama's excellent at winning red states McCain will win in the Fall and winning caucuses, in which less than 10% of the state participates. Does Obama really think he's going to win Kansas, Idaho and Nebraska, or even Georgia and South Carolina in the Fall?

The answer is a resounding, NO.

Hillary couldn't because it would have been seen as TOO negative but when Stephanopoulous asked her last night if Obama is electable, she should have said a resounding, "no way in hell".