Fresh from the don’t-believe-everything-you-read department we present to you the new study from Indiana University’s Julia R. Fox, assistant professor of telecommunications, titled “No Joke: A Comparison of Substance in “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and Broadcast Network Television Coverage of the 2004 Presidential Election Campaign.” The professor claims, “… the average amounts of video and audio substance in the broadcast network news stories were not significantly different than the average amounts of visual and audio substance in “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” stories about the presidential election …” What’s not emphasized is the fact that most of Jon Stewart’s video is culled from other news programs—the little original video content Stewart does manage to air always features a comedian (not a real reporter) making fun of some politician by asking absurd (and occasionally on topic) questions. Stewart himself told the world during his last visit to CNN’s “Crossfire” that his show should not be considered a real alternative to traditional news networks that are focused on real news gathering. Nevertheless, professor Fox seems intent on having us believe otherwise. Yes folks, when a superfan meets academia, what you get is statistical data cobbled together in a configuration designed to have you believe pop singers, comedians and actors are sociologically relevant data points in some grand thesis that will explain it all. Prof. Fox, next time just send Stewart a fan letter—it’s less embarrassing and far more credible.
Sumner Redstone’s recent appearance on “The Charlie Rose” show was a sweet bit of media history and packed with surprises. Redstone revealed that before firing Viacom bigwig Tom Freston he offered him the top job at the company only to have Freston decline the offer. But when Les Moonves got the offer he, of course, accepted. Note to all you aspiring company men: If the big boss taps you on the shoulder and gives you the ultimate nod, step up and accept the challenge or be ready to pack your bags. If Redstone is telling the truth (and he’s not known for being a slick fabricator) perhaps it was, indeed, time for Freston to go.
Recently, we had trouble understanding why the Sci-Fi Channel had suddenly started running regular showings of the 1983 nuclear war scare fest “The Day After” at the same time as the FX channel was running frequent airings of Broken Arrow, the tale of nuclear weapons stolen and set to go off at any moment. The odd programming was decidedly mysterious until just a couple of days ago when word came in that North Korea had defied the global powers (including China) and tested a nuclear weapon. Increasingly, seemingly innocuous programming is not coincidence but television producers exercising exceedingly clever (and in this case prescient) editorial expression via programming choices. Now that we are officially in the nightmare scenario that everyone has been afraid of, will we suddenly see a new slew of Cold War-themed television dramas specially designed to stoke our WWIII fears? Even money that ABC (creators of the recently aired, sloppy 9/11 drama) will be first to cash in on the trend.
