For the past few weeks, something sinister has been infiltrating
my favorite nightly news shows. And just because my friends and
family members keep trying to convince me that the normal content
of programs like “Access Hollywood” and
“Extra” shouldn’t qualify as “news”
(clearly these individuals have very screwed up priorities)
doesn’t make this recent trend any less disturbing.
The entrance of Arnold Schwarzenegger, along with other
pseudo-celebrities like Gary Coleman, Angelyne and Larry Flynt,
into the race to replace Gov. Gray Davis has resulted in regular
features on the candidates, especially Schwarzenegger, on all of
the major entertainment news programs.
Not only was Pat O’Brien of “Access Hollywood”
granted the first interview with the “Terminator” star
after his big announcement on “The Tonight Show with Jay
Leno,” but “A.H.,” “E.T.,” and every
other reputable purveyor of delicious Tinsel Town gossip has since
churned out “serious” campaign stories on a near
nightly basis.
What are fans of fluff to make, for example, of a report from
the Warner Bros.-produced “Extra” earlier this month in
which its team of ace reporters broke the news that Arnold had
earned a key endorsement from TV’s “incredible
hulk,” Lou Ferrigno?
How should loyal “Access Hollywood” viewers be
expected to decipher entertainment reporter Tony Potts’
in-depth campaign analysis in which he described the status of the
Schwarzenegger campaign being “as rock solid as his
biceps?”
And how dare a journalist from “Entertainment
Tonight,” as the Los Angeles Times reported, show up to
Arnie’s recent press conference at the Westin hotel near LAX
and ask the candidate to clarify the role that actor Rob Lowe will
play in his campaign? It’s no wonder the room exploded in
hisses and moans: No one expected “E.T.” to ask such an
“important” question.
And I, for one, am here to say that this madness has to stop!
Nobody watches these infotainment shows to be assaulted by
“hard-hitting” investigative reporting or
“actual” political commentary.
We watch because we want nightly updates on the status of Ben
and J. Lo’s relationship. We watch because there’s
always a chance that Christina Aguilera has put on another five
pounds. We watch because we need to know when Michael Jackson makes
any kind of freakish public appearance, and we need to know it
now.
Of course there will be those of you out there who will argue
that the real tragedy here is not that people like me are forced to
sit through a minimal amount of election coverage.
No, you’ll say, what’s wrong with this picture is
that the entertainment reporters who have suddenly been thrust onto
a political beat have long-standing relationships with candidates
like Schwarzenegger, resulting in an enormous amount of free press
for the Republican front-runner.
You’ll point out that being able to avoid facing
mainstream political reporters on a regular basis could mean that
the Austrian superstar might win the election without ever having
to fully flesh out his stance on key issues.
And you’ll jump up and down demanding that programs like
“Access Hollywood” behave like responsible journalists
and ask at least a few questions of candidates that might actually
illicit relevant answers.
But that’s all poppycock. Obviously, somebody should be
asking Arnold the tough questions, and it should be informed
political reporters who do it.
But who will stand up for the apathetic majority who is tired of
seeing its precious entertainment news programs sullied by even a
shred of “real” or “informative” news
stories? I will. I implore E! Entertainment Television and all the
infotainment shows to dismantle their newly established political
desks and use those freed up resources to give us more of what we
really want to see on television, like how Enrique Iglesias finally
had his giant mole removed. Leave the political reporting to
programs with viewers who want to be informed. The rest of us want
our E! TV.