FOXNEWS (Push for Documentary/Investigative)?

Naspino

[Naspino]

We've been discussing FOXNEWS and Roger Ailes success in the last day. I know a lot of people here have expressed that they are getting bored and tuning away from FOXNEWS in primetime because O'Reilly gets more and more difficult to watch, Colmes is too annoying, and Gretta just covers whatever is the fad for the day: Sharks, Kobe, whatever.

What I think FOXNEWS needs is a documentary or investigative program like Frontline, 20/20, or Nightline. I know they tried this on FOX with Sheppard but they took the entirely wrong approach by focusing on Jerry Springer type topics.

The one thing those other programs do well is present a topic in a way that indoctrinates people into believing them. Like all home schooling should be banned because one kid got hurt. Basically they do what Al Gore did in his debates. Make up a name and try to put a face to his insane ideas. "I have a fuuriend named Betty, she's a hundred and eighty and recently lost her job because she was aferaid of Bush's tax cuts..."

Anyone else see the value in FOX producing a program that draws you in except without the horrible bias that these other programs have? Perhaps we could start something to get their attention?

[Atlas Sneezed]

I like the idea of a John Stossel type investigative series.

[Naspino]

I like the idea of a John Stossel type investigative series.

I like a lot of what John has done especially considering he does it on ABC. He'd be a great steal I think to head it up.

[Old Sarge]

Sounds like a cool idea! But how would we get FOX's attention?

[Huck]

It's funny. I like Roger Ailes, and I like Fox, but I rarely watch the channel and here's why:

1. My favorite show on Fox, Special Report with Brit Hume, is on from 6-7, and I am not yet home from work.

2. I don't like O'Reilly.

3. I don't like Hannity and Colmes

4. I don't like Greta.

Basically, what I like is the lowest rated show on the network, Brit's show. My wife and I sometimes watch the Fox Report with Shep, which is an entertaining news brief. But that's about it. The highest rated shows on Fox--the personality/opinion shows, have no value to me whatsoever. Why on earth do I care what O'Reilly or Hannity thinks about something?

So, an investigative, Frontline type format would be cool, but Shep is too much of a lightweight.

How about bringing in John Stossell and giving him his own show? I'd watch that.

[Huck]

Great minds think alike.

[Maelstrom]

I don't think there is a need to steal him.

It would be preferable, I think, to have 10 John Stossel types spread across all broadcast media.

It could only be good for our nation (and conservatives).

[Boston Capitalist]

I think you are right that this would be really fill out Fox's prime time, but the downside is that these documentaries are very expensive to reproduce. You may remember CNN tried this with joint documentaries with Fortune, Time, etc. (all part of the Time-Warner family), but aside from the bad ratings, it cost them a bundle.

[Naspino]

I don't need it to be conservative -- just lack the indoctrination journalism of the other shows. Even if they did something like Frontline last show about the Kidnapping of Logan Marr. It actually didn't have any liberal bias that I could see and was pretty much a slam on the way the DHHS steals our children with little or no proof.

[TomGuy]

Sounds like a good idea. It would depend on the personality(ies) who deliver it.

I like Stossel-type reports, and he usually has interesting topics.

I get tired of the same-o "experts" FoxNews (and the other news channels) keep bringing out. The old-hack politicians, as experts, need to stay in retirement. I'm not interested in what Newt G or Geraldine F has to say. They, themselves, are old news.

Also, I hate watching a "debate" and see professionals arguing and bickering loudly over each other, as the moderator sits by and allows it to happen. The result is--no one gets heard, no points get made, no minds get changed and it looks like an attempt at a Jerry Springer segment.

[Naspino]

You could be right about the cost. The one thing I think people like is seeing the news on location. I'm so sick of turning on FOX and knowing exactly what I'm going to see. Someone behind their desk. I mean it would have been so much better to travel down and see the school in Roswell and do an interview with everyone rather than have the girl in studio.

[gorgiboy]

There should be an investigative on the Shiavo situation!

[Naspino]

The thing about debates is that they've become too much about entertainment and getting the a few chuckles. Case in point was during the California election when Arnold said he'd raise taxes only in the event of a serious disaster where bridges and roads might have to be rebuilt. Colmes immediately said Arnold was for raising taxes to improve roads. They are more interested in giving purple nurples than arguing their point.

[Petronski]

Save Betty!

Good idea, hopefully Fox is reading this.

[walden]

They're right. Get John Stossel.

[Naspino]

There should be an investigative on the Shiavo situation!

EXACTLY. Who is going to do a fair investigation of the case without? The other guys are going to spin it as Jeb Bush hates the "brain-dead".

[johnb838]

I dunno.... I'm getting bored with Fox as well. Also insulted by the contempt for Terri Schiavo. And the E! style coverage of Laci & Kobe.

[Right_in_Virginia]

I like the idea of a John Stossel type investigative series.

Me too. And, I like the idea of John Stossel conducting the investigation and hosting the series--on FNC, of course.

[Naspino]

And the E! style coverage of Laci & Kobe.

Yeah I don't get it. The Monica case made FOX so they've really ridden that horse into the ground. Other infamous stories would be Condit, Columbine, sharks, DC Sniper, and now Kobe.

[OrioleFan]

Brit Hume's show is the best.

O'Reilly is infatuated with teenagers having sex. I stopped watching cause I had to send the kids out of the room.

Shep is Godawful bad. He was out when my daughter aske what a G-Block was.

Greta is a loser. Her topics border on sensationalism.

I like Niel Cavuto and John Gibson.