THE BOOB TUBE, INDEED -- Al Gore's Latest Flop!

Iconoclast ^ | by Marni Soupcoff

[clintonbaiter]

It's a wonder you're even reading this piece. I mean, it's a compliment of course -- for which I'm grateful. But it's a surprise. I was certain that most of you would be spending the day glued to your television sets.

August first was, after all, the debut of Al Gore's new television network, Current TV.

Are you still with me? Or have I already lost you to your TV rooms and TiVos? It's okay. I'd understand. The prospect of an entertainment vehicle as fresh and lively as the former vice president is awfully hard to resist.

That's why I'm sure Mr. Gore's new media effort will be every bit as successful as, say, his last presidential run.........

[MeanWestTexan]

"What is the business model?"

I think they are going to steal money from inner-city orphans again. Maybe widows, too.

[Mad Dawgg]

I watch it occasionally because the idea intrigues me (normal folks using DV cameras doing stories on what interests them)

I will say this, (and when you think about it, it really is sad) I have seen two pieces buy obvious amateurs who reported on a controversial story and presented almost no bias and managed to get a good deal of info presented while keeping it entertaining and et both sides present their story unfiltered. I can't tell ya the last time I seen such a thing on the MSM news report.

I wonder if maybe this is not the next logical step after blogs? Not necessarily AlGore TV but citizen reporters with DV cams and a comp producing news stories and Bypassing the MSM.

All that is needed is a network that is willing to show it or maybe a website that does media on demand.

[Gorzaloon]

After reading all the rave reviews here I'm sorry I missed it. I had some paint to watch dry, otherwise I'd have been right there.

Me too, I cannot tear myself away from watching these two flies that have been buzzing around, Doing It...Tapping fingers idly.

[Bringbackthedraft]

"What do you EXPECT from a bonehead who FLUNKED out of Divinity school...."

Yeah, but it got him out of the service.
Really, what has he actually succeeded in?

[Rocky]

Great read. I love the current heading on the Iconoclast home page:

"GORE TO START NEW ANTI-WAR TV NETWORK: AIR CINDY"

[Political Junkie Too]

I guess that Current TV was a "risky scheme" after all.

-PJ

[HitmanLV]

I always wanted to do a cable channel called RETRO. It would run old tv shows in a traditional schedule format close to their original broadcast.

So 'Batman' would be on Weds and Thurs at 7:30. Bonanza on Sundays at 9. Get Smart Saturdays at 8:30. Star Trek, the old Dean Martin show, etc. I'd run old Tonight Shows nightly at 1130pm, Merv Griffin in the afternoons.

I wish someone would rip off my idea!

[hdstmf]

Speaking of adult cartoon programs... The animation industry was dying out due to high production cost. Shortcuts reduced the quality until movements were limited. Characters jerked through simplified scenes.Computer graphics saved the industry. I do not watch animated programs, but channel-surfing past them I see the cycle has returned. The artwork is poor to begin with. The high demand and short production schedules are overwhelming computer speeds. Computer games animation are an awesome exception. As an old illustrator/cartoonist I am saddened by the loss of quality of artwork in still and motion media.

[Holicheese]

Have you noticed that bar at the botton of the screen that tells you how much longer the pain will last before the segment is over? I tried to make it through one segment without turning the channel. So close but just could not do it.

[Holicheese]

I heard that he stole some old ladies returnable soda cans for the pocketfull of nickles.

[Bob]

"What do you EXPECT from a bonehead who FLUNKED out of Divinity school...."

Yeah, but it got him out of the service.
Really, what has he actually succeeded in?

Divinity school didn't get him out of the service. He even went to Vietnam.

There's a picture around of him leaning over his rifle with the barrel pointed straght at his head. (I believe he went over as a 'reporter' for the Army.)

[Hank Rearden]

It's a wonder you're even reading this piece.

I'll read anything by someone called Marni Soupcoff.

[devolve]

                                   

[Spiff]

What is the business model? Are there commericals?

Business model? That's simply, they just copied a few pages from George Orwell's 1984 - the stuff about the Ministry of Information. You can expect to see on Current a new show called "2 Minutes Hate". However, Goldstein has been replaced with George Bush. If the Democrats ever regain power in Washington you can expect that this will be mandatory viewing on our government mandated Viewscreens.

[tertiary01]

Mr Ed's whole family had talent although most only showed it while running a quarter mile. And as you said, while one of the slow ones, Mr Ed still could lip synch. I doubt Mr Gore's and his TV "empire" could boast as much talent.

[devolve]

"Bonanza" is on TV Land on my DirecTV right now

It holds up well

"Hannity & Colmes" with real bullets

[HitmanLV]

I record and watch Bonanza regularly! Great show!

[Martin Tell]

who FLUNKED out of Divinity school.... TWICE!

That's not entirely true. Once he flunked out of Vanderbilt Divinity School (then, as now a hotbed of trendy leftist "theology") and once he flunked out of Vanderbilt Law School.

Hey, give Gore some credit. It's not easy to flunk out of Vandy at all, especially when your daddy is a beloved (by libs) Senator. To flunk out of Vandy Divinity School with what passes for scholarship there, really takes some talent.

I suppose those were the days that young al was really hitting the Thai stick hard.

[Bringbackthedraft]

"Divinity school didn't get him out of the service. He even went to Vietnam."

Thats how he got out early, his tour was shortened so he could go to Divinity school. As far as I can remember he had a single digit tour and got an excuse (divinity school) to get out of Nam. I do give him credit tho, he made E-5 in 11 months.

[John Lenin]

Al Gore contemplates suicide on the Regis Philben show