Shades of media circuses past: News networks blanket Michael Jackson story

Associated Press ^ | 11-20-03 | DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer

[Oldeconomybuyer]

NEW YORK (AP) -- The rest of the world disappeared from television news networks Thursday as the surreal saga of Michael Jackson played out.

For more than two hours, CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC and Court TV covered nothing but the pop star's appearance at the Santa Barbara jail to face child molestation charges.

[EggsAckley]

I kinda miss Tanya Harding. Life was so simple then.

[Billthedrill]

Fortunately, at FR the whole thing is being largely ignored.

(Sound of sobbing and repeated banging of forehead into keyboard...)

[T Lady]

I'd never thought I would ever say this, but an Associated Press reporter has finally stated something that makes sense.

-Regards, T.

[gg188]

He did the perp walk. But did he do the perp moonwalk?

[Old Sarge]

Fox, CNN, et. al., have all started up.

ALL JACKO - ALL THE TIME!

ALL KOBE' - ALL THE TIME!

ALL LACI - ALL THE TIME!

Consolation prize: At least now, they'll all stop bitching about the war.

[Publius6961]

I sure am glad that FR isn't buying into the sleazy tabloid feeding frenzy...

[Izzy Dunne]

Thursday's decision was a "no-brainer," said Jon Banner, executive producer of "World News Tonight."

I'd say you were superbly qualified, Mr. B.

[spodefly]

The total fixation on Kobe, Laci, and now Jacko convinces me that humanity, at least insofaras we experience it through the lense of our "news gathering" organizations, is not fit to survive.

But "we'd make great pets."

[gcruse]

Thanks to TIVO for blanketing my watching time with worthwhile TV like Babylon 5 and JAG. Other than that, I put a new power supply in the bit box and watched The Ring on DVD. Jacko, Laci, and Kobe never got on the radar.

[upchuck]

Sean Hannity has been talking about "Jacko-gate" on his show. Today a listener call him and berated him for wasting his show on this issue. To his credit, this prompted Sean to put a poll on his website ^.

Results as of 8:50pm EST:
Cover all of it. It's a hot topic. - 19%
Don't cover any it. I want to hear more about political issues only. - 44%
Cover it a little - stating only the latest headlines when necessary. - 37%
votes: 6454

The people have spoken (well, a few of them have :). It'll be interseting to see what Sean does with this.

Oh, me? I voted for just headlines. Anymore than that and I'd have to upchuck :)

[Severa]

Even better at my house, I have two sons ages 4 and 6. Because of this my TV watching when they're awake is pretty much solid cartoons or a slew of DVDs. I just recently bought (and ppl are gonna think I'm nuts for this) Rocky and Bullwinkle Season 1 DVD set, the kids LOVE it and it's great fun for me to watch too.

[gcruse]

I couldn't do Rocky and Bullwinkle, but I'm sure I could find something just as unredeeming. LOL

[archy]

I kinda miss Tanya Harding. Life was so simple then.

Me too. Great backrubs, if not much of a cook.

-archy-/-

[MattAMiller]

I just wonder how any other celebrity story is going to come along to top this. Michael Jackson is probably among the top 3 or 4 most famous entertainers in the world charged with one of the most serious crimes. Unless they start digging up hookers at Paul McCartney's house this is as big as it gets.

So the upside of this may be that everything that comes after this will pale in comparison and not attract much media attention. But that's probably wishful thinking.