Posted on 01/04/2005 1:25:55 PM PST by kattracks
Al Gore almost had his dream of a left-wing news channel blocked by none other than media giant Barry Diller – who had reportedly refused to lift his veto over the sale of the News World International cable network from Vivendi Universal Entertainment back in 2003.
But Gore and his partner Joel Hyatt, the Legal Services mogul, eventually got what they wanted for the bargain price of $70 million, and are now looking to bowl over the teen-to-mid-thirties age demographic with their new channel INdTV. So, what kind of programming is the former veep looking to feature? That's still up in the air, but if the new buzz going around is correct, the programs won't much resemble a cable news channel.
In fact, like MTV, Comedy Central and others, Gore's INdTV network will play to the some of society's worst elements, according to a report in the Washington Post.
One of the programs being considered is a show called "That's F*-#ed Up," which will essentially feature rants from Joe and Jane America about stuff that just, well, isn't right. That's providing, of course, the rants make for "good TV," say the network's executives in an e-mail to prospective "digital correspondents.".
What else is on tap? How about comments about serious topics from such notables as Paris Hilton, the underground video porn star and heiress to the massive Hilton hotel fortune? Or just the opposite — directing a light-hearted question at a serious public figure?
Or this, according to the exec e-mail: "All-Nighter: What goes on in your town between 2 and 5 a.m.? We're looking for truly unique (sic) stuff, anywhere from the local late-night diner to the woods down by the creek."
Or how about a show called "Addicted," which features in-depth reporting about a "favorite addiction," such as food fetishes, a relationship or other uncontrollable habit?
If any of these sound like nothing will be out of bounds, you'd be wrong. The execs warned they didn't want any "X-rated material." Standards, at last.
While noting the ideas represent more brainstorming than anything else, from the looks of the initial diet of programming it doesn't appear as though INdTV will replace Fox News or CNN anytime soon as the "go-to" network for serious reporting and breaking news coverage.
Based in San Francisco, the channel is likely to launch this year and, in case you couldn't tell, is attempting to "wow the youth market," the Post says.
Well, that's one way of putting it. But if the goal is to eventually convince Generation X and Y to take the news, national and world events more seriously, we're predicting GoreTV will be to news broadcasting what Air America is to the talk radio industry.
With this venture, could Gore's political afterlife be as comically unsuccessful as his presidential bid and subsequent endorsement flops?
Damn.
"In fact, like MTV, Comedy Central and others, Gore's INdTV network will play to the some of society's worst elements, according to a report in the Washington Post."
Sounds like Fox TV to me. Can this be much worse than "Who's Your Daddy?", "When Animals Attack", "Who wants to marry a Dwarf" and other Fox gems?
And this is the same guy whose wife was the mouth-piece of the PMRC? Irony is often ironic.
Feh. Been there, done that. Dave Attell's Insomniac on Comedy Central.
That's F*-#ed Up
Gore morphed into Jerry Springer?
Nope, it can't, but there are no former "morally superior" VPs associated with those programs. They are money makers and nothing more, so it's good to finally see where Algore is really coming from.
OK, maybe a 5 year old, presidential bid loser who tried to sue his way into the presidency trying to be hip.
my thought too
gee... thanks Al,
Al and Bill giving Baptists wonderful face time again...
How about a show called "Shut the F*-# Up" about Al Gore? Or "I'm F*-#ed Up" about Tipper? Or "How Do I Open This F*-#ing Bottle" about Teresa Heinz Bootros Bootros Kerry?
Al's problem is that the concept of profitability is totally alien. He can only reinvent government.
And he couldn't even do that. He's an incompetent boob.....and a headcase.
More on liberal values, I see.....
SENATOR GORE: Mr. Snider, what is the name of your fan club?
DEE SNIDER: The fan club is called the SMF Fans of Twisted Sister.
SENATOR GORE: And what does "SMF" stand for when it is spelled out?
DEE SNIDER: It stands for the Sick Muther F*cking Fans of Twisted Sister.
SENATOR GORE: Is this a Christian group?
DEE SNIDER: I do not believe profanity has anything to do with Christianity, thank you.
SENATOR GORE: It is just an interesting choice. I was getting the impression from your presentation that you were a very wholesome kind of performer, and that is an interesting title for your fan club. You say your song "Under the Blade" is about surgery. Have you ever had surgery with your hands tied and your legs strapped?
DEE SNIDER: The song was written about my guitar player, Eddie Ojeda. He was having polyps removed from his throat and he was very fearful of this operation. And I said: Eddie, while you are in the hospital I am going to write a song for you. I said it was about the fear of operations. I think people imagine being helpless on a table, the bright light in their face, the blade up, who knows, dead, handicapped. There is a certain fear of hospitals. That is what, in my imagination, what I see the hospitals like.
SENATOR GORE: Is there a reference to the hospital in the song?
DEE SNIDER: No, there is not. But there is not a reference to a woman, sado-masochism, or--well, bondage, yes.
SENATOR GORE: There is a reference to someone whose hands are tied down and whose legs are strapped down, and he is going under the blade to be cut.
DEE SNIDER: Yes, there is.
SENATOR GORE: So it is not really a wild leap of the imagination to jump to the conclusion that the song is about something other than surgery or hospitals, neither of which are mentioned in the song?
DEE SNIDER: No, it is not a wild jump. And I think what I said at one part was that songs allow a person to put their own imagination, experiences, and dreams into the lyrics. People can interpret it in many ways. Ms. Gore was looking for sado-masochism and bondage and she found it.
I liked that show the few times I watched it. Remimned me of the 2 years of night-shift drilling i worked on in downtown Boston near the Freedom Trail/North End.
I have no intention of allowing my kids to watch anything remotely associated w/ Al Gore. This channel will not be offered in my house.
I think Al Gore has finally picked a project at which he can succeed. After all, he f*-#s up everything he gets his hands on.
A lot of ink is given to Paris Hilton being a "porn star" yet if I understand it right, her sex partner videotaped the act without her knowledge and released the video without her consent. She may be a tramp but she is rich enough that she doesn't have to resort to being a whore for her money.
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