'The Big One' Close to a Big Zero by L. Brent Bozell III April 15, 1998 A story in the April 17 Entertainment Weekly on "Hollywood's Biggest Jerks" dealt mostly with the recent crop of nasty film and television characters (e.g., Jack Nicholson's Melvin Udall in "As Good as It Gets") and skewered a few real-life annoyances like "Titanic" mastermind James ("I'm the king of the world!") Cameron as well. Having seen Michael Moore's "The Big One," I found it disappointing that the article failed to include him. Given Moore's career in general and, in particular, his new movie -... continue reading
Pundits continue to puzzle over the public's strikingly non-judgmental reception of Bill Clinton (one new poll found 61 percent believe he's guilty of a pattern of sexual misconduct, but 66 percent give him a favorable job approval rating), and are developing a sanguine view of the public's moral confusion. As media analyst Robert Lichter told National Journal: "I'd give the don't-worry-be-happy response more respect...It's not a bad thing for the people to have a different view. A little ignorance can be a saving grace. They know that they don't know the whole story and are willing to wait for the... continue reading
Stern Wallows, CBS Enables by L. Brent Bozell III April 7, 1998 If you think entertainment television is now polluted, what with its graphic police dramas and racy sitcoms, just wait until August. That's when pottymouth Howard Stern's Saturday late-night show, which he promises will contain the same sort of "disgusting stuff" for which his radio filthfest is notorious, debuts. It will air on a dozen CBS-owned affiliate stations, which together reach about 30 percent of the national audience, and will be distributed in other markets by the network's syndication arm, Eyemark. Oh, happy day. At an April Fool's Day... continue reading
'Nothing Sacred': The End by L. Brent Bozell III April 1, 1998 In mid-March, after incurring the wrath of millions of Christians, ABC finally canceled the Catholic-bashing drama "Nothing Sacred," thereby granting blessed relief to opponents of blatantly, calculatedly offensive television. Those who pointed out, even before this series premiered last September, that it was a fiasco in the making have been proven absolutely right. Although liberal TV critics (predictably) heaped praise on "Nothing Sacred," its premiere finished only in the middle of the Nielsen pack. Be patient, ABC told the world; sophisticated shows take time to build an audience... continue reading
Well, what do you know. Almost two months after the Monica Lewinsky story erupted, the issue of feminist hypocrisy has bloomed into full flower. In one amazing weekend, Gloria Steinem proclaimed Kathleen Willey wasn't sexually harassed if the President took No for an answer after a introductory groping, and Anita Hill claimed that even if what Willey said was true, it wasn't sexual harassment since it didn't result in employment discrimination. What a fraud. What a charade. And let's face it, what fun it is to demonstrate liberal media hypocrisy! We take you back to 1991, when Saint Anita first... continue reading
It's understandable to presume that the movie "Primary Colors" is a $65 million pro-Clinton suckup, even a whitewash on the level of "The Man from Hope" - that treacle the Bloodworth-Thomasons crafted for the 1992 Democratic Convention. Don't believe it. Except for the brief closing scene, the action in the film takes place within a six-month time period (fall '91 to spring '92 in real life). During that time, the Bill Clintonesque Gov. Jack Stanton has a quickie with a woman he's just met on a campaign stop and later faces exposure for two more liaisons, one with the Gennifer... continue reading
'Primary Colors': Libido and Leadership by L. Brent Bozell III March 24, 1998 It's understandable to presume that the movie "Primary Colors" is a $65 million pro-Clinton suckup, even a whitewash on the level of "The Man from Hope," that treacle the Bloodworth-Thomasons crafted for the 1992 Democratic Convention. Don't believe it. Except for the brief closing scene, the action in the film takes place within a six-month time period (fall '91 to spring '92 in real life). During that time, the Bill Clintonesque Gov. Jack Stanton has a quickie with a woman he's just met on a campaign stop... continue reading
There's nothing reporters like more than bipartisan agreement on new sky-high levels of federal spending. Nothing, of course, except even higher spending. Perhaps this explains the deafening silence coming from the press as both political parties prepare to break their word to the American people on the budget. Last summer, when both parties in the nation's capital agreed to a budget deal which spends record sums of your money, network journalists had found paradise. They described the deal with remarkably similar language as that used by the politicians they were covering. NBC's Tom Brokaw called the agreement "a breakthrough deal... continue reading
Bochco 1, Broadcast Standards 0 by L. Brent Bozell III March 17, 1998 In a March 12 interview with the syndicated entertainment news show "Access Hollywood," television producer Steven Bochco stated that "the thing I'm really proud of is that I played a part in dragging this medium, kicking and screaming, I think, into the late 20th century." Actually, it's not the TV industry that's being dragged, kicking and screaming - it greatly admires Bochco. The outrage he's inspired comes from those who find his "innovations" - ever more graphic sex, language, and violence - tasteless and unnecessary. Bochco's latest... continue reading
Paul Robeson and Media Myopia by L. Brent Bozell III March 12, 1998 Even though it's been more than twenty years since Paul Robeson died, it may be at least another twenty before the media portrays him honestly. Of late, several reports - most pegged to the Grammy he received last month and/or the centenary of his birth next month - have correctly noted that he was a talented athlete, actor, and singer. As such, the conventional thinking goes, he was an exceptionally valuable role model for blacks during a racially turbulent time. Except he wasn't. The political Robeson was... continue reading