Don't Look for Real News Tuesday

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 09:17:47 AM EST
Tags: Michael Jackson (all tags)

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The Michael Jackson memorial service at Staples in L.A. is Tuesday at 1pm ET. 1.6 million applied for tickets awarded online through a computer-generated lottery system. 1 of every 182 who applied received a ticket. From CNN's website:

Tomorrow, join CNN and CNN.com/LIVE for all day coverage of the Jackson Memorial. Don't miss special primetime coverage of the day's events beginning at 8p.m. ET.

CNN will also broadcast the event online. How many plan to watch? The current tally from a poll on its website: 82% won't watch. Five other networks will broadcast the event live.

< Mediate Launches: When HuffPo Meets Gawker | WH Reaction To Biden Comments On Israel Bombing Iran >

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Don't Look for Real News Tuesday | 55 comments (55 topical)

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No (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by jbindc on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 09:24:04 AM EST

I'm sorry the man died. He was a great influence in American pop culture. But his troubles with money, creditors, and yes, his penchant for little boys, have been virtually ignored. This has been almost 2 weeks, and has been ridiculous in the amount of coverage. No news tomorrow? There hasn't been any other news since he died.

May he rest in peace - and may the rest of us be able to hear something other than about Michael Jackson.

you may not (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by Jeralyn on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 09:37:46 AM EST

use this site to spread accusations about him. Please re-write your comment without the "penchant for little boys." He was acquitted of criminal accusations regarding improper conduct.

He is being honored as an entertainer, not a politician. His financial troubles and issues with creditors are similarly irrelevant. And the media has covered them -- as well as his alleged overuse use of prescription drugs.

I, too, don't get the media fixation on his death (obviously, it's ratings driven and the public can't get enough) but there's no need to sully him by bringing up discredited allegations.

Parent

: Sorry (5.00 / 3) (#8)
by jbindc on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 09:47:20 AM EST

Then it should read - "the multiple accusations of child molestation and subsequent payoffs, even though he wasn't convicted"

Parent

I'm thinking 1:05 ET Tuesday is a GREAT time (5.00 / 3) (#5)
by steviez314 on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 09:41:35 AM EST

for any other Republican Governor with bad news to hold a news conference.

: Any politician, period (5.00 / 2) (#9)
by andgarden on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 09:48:23 AM EST

Parent

I wonder how many (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by Peter G on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 09:42:18 AM EST

of the 1.6 million who applied for free tickets wanted to use them to go the service/spectacle, and how many thought they could turn around and sell them at a quick profit to someone who really did care about going?

I hear there is something else (5.00 / 4) (#7)
by eric on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 09:46:33 AM EST

happening tomorrow, Tuesday, something about a swearing-in a senator...

Now that I'm actually excited about! (5.00 / 2) (#10)
by andgarden on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 09:48:47 AM EST

Parent

I know!!! (5.00 / 2) (#12)
by Militarytracy on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 09:51:57 AM EST

Can you believe it??? Finally!!! I know I'm not supposed to luv any politicians anymore but I'm madly hot for this new guy :)

Parent

heh (5.00 / 2) (#13)
by andgarden on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 09:59:38 AM EST

I wouldn't go that far, but I think he's going to be a really good Senator.

Parent

Well Paul K called him a policy (5.00 / 2) (#16)
by Militarytracy on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 10:02:05 AM EST

wonk and I almost went into gasms right there :)

Parent

And Politico (5.00 / 2) (#17)
by jbindc on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 10:06:45 AM EST

(Mike Allen) said that Franken wants to be a Senate work horse in the tradition of Bill Bradley and Hillary Clinton.

Soon-to-be-senator Al Franken arrived in D.C. last night. He'll meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today, and the two will go before cameras. He'll be sworn in by Vice President Biden tomorrow, walked down by Walter Mondale. Franken plans to pursue the Bill Bradley/Hillary Clinton strategy of being a workhorse, not a show horse. His interviews for the foreseeable future will be confined to Minnesota media. He even met this winter with Hillary Clinton's chief of staff in the Senate, Tamara Luzzatto, to talk about her successful wait-your-turn approach. Aides know the press will try to bait Franken into saying something funny. But during the campaign, he won acclaim for his no-gaffes performance.

Parent

Krugman says that Franken (5.00 / 1) (#19)
by Militarytracy on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 10:09:42 AM EST

will raise the level of Senate discourse. I'm so ready for it.

Parent

: sadly, (5.00 / 2) (#40)
by cpinva on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 12:30:31 PM EST

Krugman says that Franken will raise the level of Senate discourse.
it wouldn't require much to accomplish, merely being able to speak in whole sentences would do it.

Parent
: Reminds me (none / 0) (#50)
by cal1942 on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 02:04:21 PM EST

that when Specter "switched" parties he managed to lower the collective IQ of both parties.
The opposite of that was more than two decades ago when John Connally switched from the Democrats to the Republicans and thereby raised the collective IQ of both parties.

Parent

Wow (5.00 / 2) (#20)
by eric on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 10:26:48 AM EST

that's really fantastic, being accompanied by Mondale. I will tune in CSPAN for sure.

Parent

This is worrisome. Newly-arrived Jr. (none / 0) (#22)
by oculus on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 10:34:14 AM EST

Senator from IL met with Sen. Clinton for the same purpose. Just what is Sen. Franken planning anyhow?

Parent

I'm not worried yet (5.00 / 2) (#23)
by Militarytracy on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 10:42:58 AM EST

Heck, I'm not even concerned :) I'll probably be bawling like a heartbroken baby though next year. I'll probably inspire one of those fab Pols are Pols and Do What Pols Do write ups by some loud mouth :)

Parent

I don't know enough about Franken (none / 0) (#25)
by oculus on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 10:46:38 AM EST

to be thrilled and/or disappointed. Don't even know if I would have found his humor funny. Blank slate.

Parent

So now I've learned via Wiki Franken (5.00 / 2) (#30)
by oculus on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 11:13:08 AM EST

states he used cocaine while working for SNL but currently uses no illegal drugs. And he moved to Minnesota to run for the Senate. (Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln), he speaks out for the issues I would like both my Senators to support.

Parent

But... (5.00 / 2) (#33)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 11:23:56 AM EST

...can he play guitar and sing well?

Parent

Ha. (5.00 / 1) (#35)
by oculus on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 11:30:52 AM EST

He doesn't look like an aged rock star.

Parent

What does... (none / 0) (#58)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 11:21:36 AM EST

...an aging rock star look like?

Parent

I was thinking of Jagger and Richards. (none / 0) (#60)
by oculus on Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 11:54:07 AM EST

Parent

: Most people who look like Richards... (none / 0) (#61)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 12:09:27 PM EST

...have stopped aging (and breathing) altogether.
Like all of us, some of them age well (my lady friends tell me that Clapton is very much still teh hawt), some don't. Such is the crap shoot that is life.

Parent

i believe, (5.00 / 2) (#41)
by cpinva on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 12:34:58 PM EST

And he moved to Minnesota to run for the Senate.

he moved back to minnesota, since that's where he's actually from. you should have also read that he's smarter than 99% of the rest of congress. again, not saying a whole lot, but it is encouraging. as well, during the campaign, he didn't hesitate to flay his opponent and the outer right-winguttery press, by mocking them.

apparently, it worked.

Parent

Wasn't he (none / 0) (#31)
by jbindc on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 11:17:42 AM EST

originally from Minnesota?

Parent

Per Wiki, born in NY, moved to Minnesota (none / 0) (#32)
by oculus on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 11:21:27 AM EST

as a child.

Parent

Ah, thanks (none / 0) (#34)
by jbindc on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 11:24:09 AM EST

So he does have some connections there. Great.

Parent

: Despite the (5.00 / 3) (#36)
by eric on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 11:36:14 AM EST

attempts to paint him as a carpetbagger, Al did grow up here. He even got his start in comedy at a place called Brave New Workshop, which is in Minneapolis and is pretty much across the street from the bar/restaurant where I spotted him last week. He definitely has ties here.

Parent

Didn't Obama desire to be a policy wonk? (5.00 / 2) (#18)
by Militarytracy on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 10:07:06 AM EST

But nobody calls him that outside of the hopium dens. We soooo need a loud mouth Franken!

Parent

Yup (5.00 / 3) (#21)
by andgarden on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 10:33:48 AM EST

Ezra has a good point:

There are a lot of policy wonks in [Washington]. There are even a couple in the Senate. They don't seem very influential. In part, that's because policy wonks are better at being right than making other people look wrong. Franken, however, is sort of professionally-skilled at making people who believe foolish things look foolish. That's a toolkit that would be pretty useful in this town. Sadly, I worry that instead of Al Franken, political satirist, we're going to get Al Franken, hardworking junior senator from Minnesota. The danger with Al Franken is not, as Amy Klobuchar sneered, that he'll act like a comedian. Rather, the danger with Al Franken is that he won't.

Parent

: As I've said before ... (5.00 / 2) (#46)
by Robot Porter on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 01:52:18 PM EST

it will be nice to have someone in the Senate who KNOWS he's a comedian.

Parent

Be Careful (none / 0) (#37)
by squeaky on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 11:52:13 AM EST

He has gone from being an actor (comedian) to a Politician, and you know neither are to be trusted, at least their public persona. (pols are pols)

I have met him at a friends house, and he was not so loveable. Huge ego... and quite dark, imo.

But I am optimistic, that he will represent the leftish part of the Dem party at least for a while.

We'll see.

Parent

It is hard to see myself clearly but... (5.00 / 2) (#43)
by Militarytracy on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 01:41:00 PM EST

Ego problem? I have reason to suspect. Am I dark personality? Often :) I suppose I feel like I can relate to Franken when he is acting and talking all wonky. I seem to be able to follow his train of thought and conversation well on issues and I can't help it, I have liked his solutions in the past. I don't know if this is a plus or minus in the real world, but I trust geekish analysis over warmth of personality. If I can get the two together...well, Bill Clinton could often pull that off and he's pretty sexy. I think Paul Krugman is sexy too when he's talking because he's so geek and he's so respectful with a twinge of kindness. The sexiness only goes away for me with him when I see him in a still photo :)

Parent

: Attribution: GBS's (none / 0) (#47)
by oculus on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 01:56:33 PM EST

Back to Methuselah.

Parent

Michael Jackson is this summer's version (5.00 / 3) (#11)
by Democratic Cat on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 09:48:51 AM EST

of shark attacks and attractive young women gone missing. He was an influential cultural figure, but this is overkill.

: Am I bad if I take Jackson (5.00 / 2) (#14)
by Militarytracy on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 09:59:57 AM EST

over Nancy Grace?

Parent

It would be interesting (5.00 / 1) (#26)
by brodie on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 10:51:53 AM EST

if you had a day or two to squander, to somehow be able to see huge blocks of CNN news coverage from yesteryear, perhaps from the mid and late 80s then early 90s, to see how far tv news coverage has devolved and how the news has been dumbed down.

I seem to recall they actually had more substantive coverage of actual news back then, with a fair share of foreign news also, and not nearly as many interruptions for comm'ls (today, they break about every 3 minutes -- just appalling). Not perfect back then of course -- e.g., the decision by some mo-ron at CNN to go live in 92 when Gennifer Flowers had her RW-sponsored gossipy news conf about her and Bill, which remains an embarrassment.

By the mid 90s, iirc, CNN had become much more overtly ratings-driven, at whatever the cost to its journalistic integrity. The OJ coverage wasn't just 24/7, it was 24/7/52.

CNN, like the rest, also went far overboard when RR and the Pope died -- full nonstop coverage for an entire work week, then an unnecessary rehash of same on the weekend.

Sadly, most times these days I think I'm spending far more useful teevee time watching Monster Quest and UFO Files over on The History Channel rather than watching Wolf and Don Lemon and Larry serve up the standard and repetitive tabloid fare that now passes for legitimate news. If I want tabloid, I'll take the pure stuff over at THC.

I used to be a cable news junkie (none / 0) (#27)
by andgarden on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 10:55:22 AM EST

when I was a kid. Now I can hardly watch any more (though I may have changed just as much as the news channels).

My cable system carries CNN International, which remains a breath of fresh air. CNN done right.

Parent

I interned for one of the newsers a few (5.00 / 1) (#39)
by andgarden on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 12:29:40 PM EST

years ago, and ever since I've barely been able to watch.

Parent

: Is this like: (5.00 / 1) (#51)
by cal1942 on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 02:16:11 PM EST

If you like sausage don't watch 'em make it ..
or whatever the exact wording may be.

Parent

Our quirky cable system (none / 0) (#52)
by brodie on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 02:19:43 PM EST

delivers 150 channels, but, of course, no CNN-I. That would be too fancy for us rubes apparently.

Of those channels available that are primarily set up to honestly deliver news and politics, we get the choice of CNN and MSNBC only.

It's the 21st century, we went to the moon (allegedly) 40 yrs ago, we've had 30 yrs of cable programming, we can get endless choices to watch sports or cooking or CSI/Lawn Order this and that, but only two viable choices when it comes to the important stuff.

Where is today's Newt Minow to sound off righteously about the Vast Wasteland of Teevee and Cable?

Parent

: We have 100 HD channels alone (5.00 / 1) (#56)
by andgarden on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 03:35:19 PM EST

And believe me, there's still nothing on.

Parent

Is anybody (none / 0) (#2)
by Ga6thDem on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 09:31:45 AM EST

else as over this whole story as I am? To me it should have been given no more air time than Farrah's death and in a lot of ways should've actually been given less air time.

: Listened to NPR this morning. (none / 0) (#15)
by Fabian on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 10:00:38 AM EST

Another chapter in "Rich People Who Are Nearly Broke". Apparently MJ was repeatedly borrowing millions against his musical assets.
[sigh]

Parent

No news Tuesday. But Robert McNamara (none / 0) (#38)
by oculus on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 12:23:07 PM EST

died on Monday.

Oculus (5.00 / 1) (#57)
by lentinel on Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 05:20:14 AM EST

Read this:

Herbert writes about McNamara

A great column.

Parent

: Thanks. I had read it. Hope Obama and (none / 0) (#59)
by oculus on Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 11:53:25 AM EST

Gates did also.

Parent

NYT: (none / 0) (#55)
by oculus on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 02:42:31 PM EST

link

Parent

Six networks with live coverage? (none / 0) (#45)
by Anne on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 01:51:14 PM EST

Seriously?

No, I will not be watching or listening to the live coverage, the pre-memorial coverage (think there will be "black carpet" coverage with accompanying fashion and demeanor critique?), the wrap-up of the live coverage, or the wrap-up of the wrap-up. Thanks, but no.

What are the chances that Wednesday morning will be the last morning the news shows lead with MJ coverage? Slim, I'm thinking, unless there is Palin or Sanford "news."

But, it's summer, and this is our typical lull before something gruesome happens that "no one could have anticipated."

Weather permitting, we will be eating outside, and will read on the deck until it's too dark and the mosquitos start biting. I'll take bird and other critter noises, the rustling of the leaves and the thump-thump of lab tails on the deck over the mindless blatherings of those unfortunately assigned to cover any and all things Michael Jackson. And if it rains, I'd take that sound - I'd actually take sitting in the rain - over network MJ chatter.

The longer my TV is off, the greater the chances it won't be turned on again as often, too. Oh, well.

Hope someone lets me know if (5.00 / 0) (#49)
by oculus on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 01:57:55 PM EST

Elton John sings.

Parent

It won't (none / 0) (#48)
by jbindc on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 01:57:07 PM EST

What are the chances that Wednesday morning will be the last morning the news shows lead with MJ coverage? Slim, I'm thinking, unless there is Palin or Sanford "news."

This is just the memorial service - there's still the funeral a few days out. While that may be "private", you know there will be helicopters trying to get a shot of the hearse and the casket.

Parent

: I understand (none / 0) (#53)
by cal1942 on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 02:23:25 PM EST

that the burial may be as early as today.
Jackson will still be in the news Wednesday.
Gotta stretch out that ratings opportunity for as long as possible.
Tuesday will be a great day in my neck of the woods to sit out on the deck and read.

Parent

Mega Sports and Mega Entertainment (none / 0) (#54)
by cal1942 on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 02:27:16 PM EST

are our era's opiate of the masses.

Don't Look for Real News Tuesday | 55 comments (55 topical)

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