Garbage Time(Dead U.S. soldiers can’t compete with Laci/Kobe/Jacko on "the network America trusts.")

The American Prowler ^ | 11/24/2003 | Paul Beston

[nickcarraway]

NEW YORK -- On the cable networks there is plenty of talk about Iraq, from speculation about quagmire to the political ramifications for 2004. But there is little enthusiasm for reporting on American soldiers themselves or paying brief tribute to the lost, beyond a constant updating of the death figures. Like some kind of grim jayvee team, U.S. soldiers who have fallen in the "postwar" don't count for as much as those who had the good sense to die when everyone was watching. The only soldier any broadcast outlet seems eager to discuss is Jessica Lynch, whose story no one can agree on.

After President Bush declared the "end of major combat operations" on May 1, the cable networks effortlessly returned to their prewar programming staples -- pop culture and true crime. At the time, this made sense; few expected the casualties of the postwar to exceed the official war. But the bloody postwar is now several months old and you still wouldn't know it from watching the primetime cable news shows, saturated with coverage of Scott Peterson and Kobe Bryant, and having just received a bonanza with the Michael Jackson case. That the networks are motivated by ratings and ratings alone doesn't qualify as a stunning revelation, but, like a chronically cheating spouse, the reality doesn't get any easier to accept over time.

Unfortunately for fans of Fox News, the network has not done itself proud in this respect. While Brit Hume and Tony Snow provide solid political analysis in the early evening, Fox's rent is paid by its primetime talk shows -- "The O 'Reilly Factor," "Hannity and Colmes," and "On the Record with Greta Van Susteren" -- and these programs just can't be bothered with something as trite as a fallen U.S. soldier. Considering the way Fox trumpeted itself after September 11 as the network whose anchors were unafraid to wear American flags in their lapels, its devotion to primetime trash makes all that patriotic bluster pretty hollow.

The stench from Fox's garbage tends to be worse than that of its competitors, if only because the network is so invested in the idea that it actually gives a hoot about American troops. Worse, considering Fox's political sympathies, a viewer might reasonably suspect that the tabloid fare is not only good for ratings, but for crowding out discussion of what the network considers unpleasant political realities.

Military families must be enraged when night after night, Kobe Bryant and Scott Peterson lead the coverage on the "network America trusts for fair and balanced news," while their own sons barely warrant a mention or an onscreen photo. Instead, they are treated to Sean Hannity's nightly buffoonery, as he talks over any guest with a remotely different perspective from his own. Is it so much to ask that a few minutes' worth of Hannity's verbal flatulence be devoted to recognizing the life of a fallen soldier?

When Hannity and Alan Colmes are through, don't look for any relief from Greta Van Susteren. As likable as she is, her program has become almost completely dominated by the Peterson case. Soon she'll be on full-time Wacko Jacko duty. As for Bill O'Reilly, he is usually too busy plugging Who's Looking Out For You? to look out for American soldiers.

Even during the height of the Iraq war, Fox wore its self-aggrandizement on its sleeve. While visiting with some U.S. soldiers, correspondent Oliver North asked the soldiers in camp what their favorite network was. They obligingly shouted, "Fox News!" Six months later, North's visit seems high-minded by comparison to the current programming. Are the talk show hosts and executives at Fox ever chastened when another American son falls at the hands of barbarians and all they can find time for is endless discussion about hair samples in the Peterson case? Or does the emptiness of their product reflect an equally vacant conscience?

With the Peterson and Bryant trials just starting and the arrival of the Jackson case -- a Trial of the Century that may eclipse O.J. -- Fox will have a surplus of garbage to pick through for the foreseeable future. The network 's windbag hosts will blather on, while half a world away the brave and anonymous men they pretend to honor fall, like the proverbial tree in the woods, silently.

Paul Beston is a writer in Manhattan.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Greta spent that much time away from the Peterson case? Impossible. It should be called the Scott and Laci show.

Exactly. She should move to Court TV and Fox News should put something for substantial...HEY, how about an hour of...oh, I dunno. NEWS???

As much as I like FNC, they pay about as much attention to news as MTV does to music these days.

[driftless]

This guy is correct. Fox is coming off as just another news-glitz network. The wall-to-wall coverage of the Jackson story is revolting. I'm actually watching CNN to get coverage of the war and other important international incidents.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

I like Ted Williams and Jayne Weintraub.

But now, its the Gloria Allred promotion hour. She gives her carte blanche, every day, without a single question of opposition.

I cannot figure out her motive, and I have given up in trying.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

And its all lawyers, all the time.

[CounterCounterCulture]

something for substantial ==>> something more substantial

[Brimack34]

Even Hardboiled and Joe on msnbc covered this crap.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

And usually we can count on Joe. Media group think.

[nickcarraway]

Jayne Weintraub? The woman who thinks every raped woman deserved what she got and every rapist and murderer is just misunderstood? That woman maked Lady Macbeth look like Donna Reed!

[a_Turk]

Why is it a bad thing that dead soldier stories are not paraded before the viewer every evening day after day after day? That sort of reporting hurts political support, imo.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

I disagree. She is a straight shooter. She is the only one who will confront Allred. She is right on Peterson.

[dougherty]

When I found out about the soldiers being hit with stones in Iraq earlier, I turned on all 3 loser cable news channels to hear something. Nothing.

I heard about it on Drudge. Like you, I looked on the tv for more info but there was nothing. I remember being really pissed while Bush was in Britain and trying to find coverage on tv. This was before the Jacko story came out and it was nothing but Laci and Scott or Scott and Laci. MSNBC is getting just as bad.

[armymarinemom]

Military families must be enraged when night after night, Kobe Bryant and Scott Peterson lead the coverage on the "network America trusts for fair and balanced news,

He has a point. I'm sitting at home tonight with a watchful eye on our driveway for the foreboding strange car to pull up with bad news and the top of the hour news covered all of the tabloid garbage. News of the downed helipcopter didn't even warrent a mention. The Iraqi deaths were mentioned followed by Jackson, Jackson, Jackson and Medicare. Our forgotten war was forgotten again.

[tinamina]

I'm glad to see both Oliver North and Gerald putting real live soldiers on the air the last few days, letting them talk to their families. I wish Geraldo would actually stay there. I've written to Hannity and everyone else on Fox I can think of telling them we hate trash tv, hope everyone else will as well. I want my Fox tv back!

[nickcarraway]

I am no fan of Allred, and she is as camaera hungry as any lawyer you will see. But I still can stand her more than Jayne Weintraub. I think she's a sociopath. She is certainly no conservative.

[a_Turk]

Long as he doesn't draw maps for the camera, he's ok. LOL!

[Wally_Kalbacken]

FOX's critical problem is in the area of NEWS JUDGMENT. I was watching FOX early in the buildup to the Iraq War and saw an interview with an important foreign policy expert - and they cut away to show live video from a helicopter hovering over the rescue of a dog that had been stranded on an ocean cliff in Northern California. They need to learn that just because something is capable of being shown on television doesn't mean is should be.

[Graymatter]

>>Should it be that surprising? Look at Rupert Murdoch's media in general.

I probably do. And I'm not begrudging him. Whatever puts the kids through college!
Still, I'm now an official member of an untapped market. For national and world news without the anti-American potshots and the tabloid rubbish.

[nickcarraway]

Fox News is basically the TV equivalent of the New York Post. Fox News is actually a little better, but it's moving in the Post direction.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

At least Jayne does not use her lawyer status to promote leftist agendas.

Allred is a 1970's NOW dyke in a cosume and wig. She has a crewcut, FGS!

[nickcarraway]

At least Jayne does not use her lawyer status to promote leftist agendas.

A different leftist agenda.