Posts with tag barack obama
Posted Jul 21st 2008 12:23PM by Joel Keller
Filed under: News, Interviews, TCA Press Tour, Reality-Free
I caught up to Keith Olbermann at NBC's all star party last night, and talked to him a little bit about the election, the origin of his "Special Comments," and getting back to doing highlights with Dan Patrick. More on that in a few days. But the first thing on my mind was if he read the
comments uttered by Fox News' Chris Wallace earlier in the tour, notably that MSNBC's election coverage was biased because commentators like Olbermann are used as anchors.
"Oh yeah, I thought they were disingenuous and ill-informed," he told me, "because during the primaries as I'm sitting there, and we have the other monitors on, and a couple of weeks at least I saw O'Reilly on in the middle of the primaries, one week Laura Ingrahm filling in for O'Reilly, and Hannity and Colmes at 9:00. It's the same thing, whether you officially say, 'Well, this is not our election coverage between 8 and 10, but between 6 and 7 was, and 10 to 12 was ... ' It's a game being played that's pretty silly."
Continue reading Olbermann snipes back at Chris Wallace and Fox News - TCA Report
Posted Jul 18th 2008 5:26PM by Joel Keller
Filed under: News, TCA Press Tour, Reality-Free
After the executive session, it was CBS News' turn to face the critics and talk about their election coverage. Via satellite from their New York studios was
CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric,
Face the Nation moderator Bob Schieffer, senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield, and CBS News and Sports president Sean McManus.
Right away, a reporter brought up Katie Couric's job status. "I'm glad you got right to it," Couric joked. "I thought [the speculation] had died down considerably." She said she "can't control what media writers write. We live in an echo chamber," with media reporters more fascinated by her status than the general public is. "The attention befuddles me," she continued. She's concentrating on doing "the best job I can."
Continue reading As far as Katie Couric knows, she's staying - TCA Report
Posted Jul 9th 2008 9:25AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Industry, OpEd, Reality-Free
TV One, the cable network aimed at African-American viewers, will cover the Democratic National Convention and Barack Obama's nomination, but not John McCain's and the Republican National Convention.
"Obama's nomination as the first black to be a major party presidential nominee is an historic event for African-Americans, so it's important for the network to be there," said Johnathan Rodgers, the network's president and CEO. He continues by stating that while viewers can get convention coverage from any number of networks, they plan to present a uniquely African-American perspective.
I see Rodgers's point. TV One is not a news network and if the network specializes in African-American coverage, then this is pretty much the biggest news story of the century. On the other hand, don't elections require some sort of provision for equal television time? Of course enough networks will be reporting on both conventions to the point that I doubt John McCain will offer any complaints about a lack of equal coverage.
Continue reading TV One: all Obama, all the time
Posted Jul 9th 2008 9:03AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: News, Celebrities, Reality-Free
Now that the Democratic party has decided to present the
final night of their convention from Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver before as many as 80,000 enthusiastic voters -- a venue that will underscore Senator Barack Obama's skill as a speaker -- the networks are deciding how they want to cover the event. Will the big three give the Democrats the entire night? One hour, two hours?
Will ABC and CBS be compelled to cover the night, when NBC and Fox have the option of using their cable outlets and keep entertainment on the broadcast side?
Continue reading Obama's acceptance speech has been supersized
Posted Jul 2nd 2008 11:38AM by Jay Black
Filed under: OpEd, 24, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free
Dennis Haysbert
recently claimed that his role as President Palmer on
24 may have helped pave the way for a viable African American presidential candidate. He went on to claim that his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in the movie
Goodbye Bafana ended apartheid and that his role as Jonas Blane in
The Unit cured polio. Haysbert was then wrestled to the ground by his handlers and is now "recuperating" at the Clay Aiken Home for Delusional Celebrities.
My first thought upon hearing this news was that Dennis Haysbert is obviously insane. Since I've been criticized in this space for not having an open mind about
insane things, I decided to take Mr. Haysbert at his word. I then went even further and went to work putting together a list of other politicians who exist mainly due to the hard work done for them by TV actors. After researching Wikipedia for almost a full fifteen minutes, this is the list I've managed to put together...
Continue reading Six other politicians who have had their ways paved by TV actors
Posted Jul 2nd 2008 9:22AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Celebrities, Reality-Free
Would America be ready for an African-American president, which is now a 50-50 proposition with Senator Barack Obama the presumptive Democratic candidate, if actor
Dennis Haysbert hadn't done it first on
24?
A lot of people have wondered if Haysbert's brave, commanding President David Palmer influenced the way people are thinking about Obama. Dennis Haysbert has now weighed in, and he believes that
his role on 24 made a difference.
"My portrayal of David Palmer may have helped open the eyes of the American people," he told the AP.
"I mean the American people across the board - from the poorest to the richest, every color and creed, every religious base - to prove the possibility there could be an African-American president, a female president, any type of president that puts the people first," he goes on to say.
Continue reading Dennis Haysbert says he paved the way for Obama
Posted Jun 5th 2008 12:25PM by Erin Martell
Filed under: Celebrities, Talk Show, Reality-Free
Another potential First Lady is set to join the ladies of the
The View. Following Cindy McCain's April appearance,
Michelle Obama will be a guest host on the show's June 18 episode. Obama was offered a guest appearance, but wanted to try her hand at hosting instead. This will be her first appearance on the talk show; Barack Obama has been a guest twice before.
As a guest host, Michelle Obama will help conduct interviews, participate in the show's "hot topics" segment, and chat about current events. She'll also be interrupted by her co-hosts on numerous occasions. The guest lineup for Obama's episode hasn't been set yet.
Cindy McCain interviewed Craig Ferguson when she guest-hosted.
Continue reading Michelle Obama will be a guest host on The View
Posted Jun 4th 2008 10:39AM by Annie Wu
Filed under: OpEd, The Daily Show, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
Spoiler alert:
Barack Obama has scored the Democratic nomination. Of course, with
The Daily Show taping around 6:00 in the evening, none of this was addressed in this night's episode. Just, you know, keep that in mind for maximum awkwardness while watching the proceedings.
"
Anarchy Under The UK": After London's mayor banned alcohol, rowdy drunkards without cars took to the Tube and got wasted. Yeah, way to show the man that you guys are responsible enough to handle alcohol. Senior Mass Transit Analyst John Oliver drunkenly explained the beauty of subterranean drinking and then promptly urinated on the spot. Well done, good sir.
Continue reading The Daily Show: June 3, 2008 - VIDEOS
Posted Apr 22nd 2008 11:41AM by Jonathan Toomey
Filed under: News, Industry, Cancellations
If you're sick of hearing about Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, then this should come as welcome news. According to TV Newser, the North Carolina Democratic Party has canceled a scheduled debate between the two remaining candidates. It was set to air on CBS. Katie Couric and Bob Schieffer were scheduled to moderate. It would have probably earned decent ratings, too, since CBS planned to air the hour long debate following an episode of 60 Minutes.
According to the NCDP website, the debate was canceled due to "time constraints and logistical issues." I suppose that makes sense. Both Clinton and Obama are running around like crazy in an effort to secure last minute votes during the final Democratic primaries. Pennsylvania's is today.
Continue reading CBS Democratic presidential debate canceled
Posted Apr 22nd 2008 9:02AM by Annie Wu
Filed under: OpEd, The Daily Show, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
"Blessed Week Ever: The Pope In America": The Pope wrapped up his visit to America with a few big final stops. First was
Mass in New York's Yankee Stadium, where heathens came in droves to see the Pope in his new Yankees mitre. He also
visited the Park East Synagogue to awkwardly stand next to the rabbi. Only on the
Daily Show could someone do coverage of the Pope's visit and work in a "Spy vs Spy" joke.
Continue reading The Daily Show: April 21, 2008 - VIDEOS
Posted Apr 18th 2008 10:05AM by Annie Wu
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, Celebrities, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
What in the hell happened last night on
The Colbert Report? Or perhaps I'm really wondering why I attended
Monday's taping of TCR in Philadelphia and not the final and certainly most epic one.
In true Colbert fashion,
TCR ended its four-night run in the City of Brotherly Love with a big ol' Democratic bang. Thanks to Chris Matthews' big mouth, the nation expected Hillary Clinton's "surprise" appearance, but little did we know both Barack Obama and John Edwards would be appearing as well... On the same night! Despite the fact that this was all a blatantly desperate attempt to get a little Colbert Bump action (Edwards knows it's too late, right? I mean, what with him dropping out of the race and all), there really is no better way to seem hip to that all-important youth vote.
Continue reading Colbert, Clinton, Obama and Edwards take on Philadelphia - VIDEOS
Posted Apr 11th 2008 9:20AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Eli Stone, Reality-Free
(S01E11) Wow! What an episode. Well, not the whole episode; the last two minutes. For the first time on
Eli Stone, we got a glimpse of where the visions may be taking Eli. Also, if the vision of the future he had is on target, then the thing in his head, the aneurysm, is either not fatal as we've been told, or -- perhaps -- Eli will have the surgery and live many more years. At least until 2018. That's if we're to believe that the vision he had is the real future...
But first let's talk about the "Patience," this week's episode. I'm not really loving that title, but I guess it makes sense when you think about the totality of the show. Eli has one of his sensory hallucinations and finds himself in Times Square, New York City, in the middle of a huge rally. People are chanting a theme, "Live Brave," and there are signs and banners promoting the Live Brave movement. The man at the microphone is named David Mosely and he's being cheered.
Continue reading Eli Stone: Patience
Posted Mar 14th 2008 9:02AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Entourage, Web, Celebrities
File this under the category of do-it-yourself politics. In this YouTube.com era, it was only a matter of time before it happened. MoveOn.org has joined forces with Oscar-winners Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Oliver Stone, multiple Grammy-winner John Legend and author Naomi Wolf to a TV ad contest for Barack Obama.
The contest is called "Obama in 30 Seconds," in which Barack supporters are being asked -- challenged -- to come up with half-minute videos that focus on what it is about the Senator from Illinois that inspires them. The winning entry will be shown on national television.
Continue reading A new challenge for Obama fans
Posted Mar 3rd 2008 10:02AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Late Night, Saturday Night Live, Watercooler Talk, Celebrities
It wasn't April 1st so it couldn't be April Fool's Day. It was March 1st. Still, there she was, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton saying those famous words, "Live from New York, It's
Saturday Night Live."
In an unannounced and potentially savvy political move,
Senator Hillary Clinton, appeared on the NBC late night comedy and showed that she can laugh at herself. This surprise appearance, coupled with her agreeing to be on Monday's
Daily Show with Jon Stewart, can only help her in Tuesday's primaries in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont. It's pretty much desperation time for the Clinton candidacy and if Hillary wants to make it to the Denver convention with a chance to beat Barack Obama, she must win Texas and Ohio -- the big states -- decisively.
Continue reading It's Hillary, Live from New York, on SNL
Posted Feb 29th 2008 11:01AM by Joel Keller
Filed under: Industry, OpEd, Saturday Night Live, Video
In today's
Washington Post,
Saturday Night Live kingpin
Lorne Michaels defended his choice of Fred Armisen to play Barack Obama, starting with
last week's episode. After the much-publicized search for an Obama impersonator (or
Fauxbama, as some are calling it), Michaels decided on Armisen, who is of white and Asian origin. Armisen, who's talented enough to do excellent imitations of people ranging from Prince to Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, did a credible job playing Obama, a man who is somewhat hard to pin down, imitation-wise.
But some critics,
including the Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan, have very bluntly wondered why an African-American didn't play Obama. "They couldn't find an African-American performer who was funny enough to play the junior senator from Illinois? They couldn't find one in New York? Not anywhere in the country?
Really?" wrote Ryan on her
Tribune blog.
Continue reading SNL's Michaels defends choice of Armisen as Obama - VIDEO
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