A Reality TV President: Only a Matter of Time

[katty]

more:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barry-levinson/a-reality-tv-president-on_b_456844.html

Barry LevinsonAcademy Award-winning director, screenwriter and producer
Posted: February 10, 2010 12:18 PM

It seems only a matter of time until we elect our first Reality TV President. We have been seduced by reality TV faces. We adore and idolize them. The so-called "tipping point" is coming. Over the last ten years we have had a parade of reality TV names that have captured our imagination and attention in ways that are hard to describe. Today it is Snooki. Paris Hilton had her moment, famous for her existence rather than substance. Omarosa was famous on Donald Trump's The Apprentice. Famous for being tough and mean...I think. Jon & Kate Plus 8 were famous for being a family. Many faces have graced the TV cameras and captured our attention for reasons we can't explain.

Joe the Plumber had his moment in the sun. He was famous for being an average guy who asked a question about taxes. He was then elevated to star status, referenced repeatedly in the presidential debates. He had no discernible abilities or talents, other than to ask a question. Yet his fame burned brightly until he faded out as a war correspondent during the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. For reasons unknown, he thought he could be a war correspondent, qualifications be damned. Ironically, we require nothing of reality stars as long as we connect to them. We demand nothing of them and what they say is unimportant. Whether they make sense is unimportant. Whether they are individuals with real talent or intelligence is unimportant. They exist simply because they made that magical connection between a TV camera and an audience.

The trick about this magic is that it's not a trick. It is real. We embrace reality stars without reason.

[woo me with science]

1. Do you remember this from 2002?

I remember when it was in all the newspapers, but I don't think it ever materialized.

http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/new-fx-reality-show-nominate-american-presidential-candidate-643.php

New FX reality show to 'nominate' American presidential candidate


By Steve Rogers, 09/23/2002

Reuters reports that inspired by the success of the Fox hit "American Idol," sister cable network FX is developing a reality show called "American Candidate" that will choose a "people's" nominee for president in 2004....

They will be looking for natural-born leaders among the ranks of ordinary Americans to take part in a made-for-TV campaign that Cutler said would test the openness of America's political system. The winning candidate on the show will then decide whether to mount a real-life campaign for the White House. If so, a series of documentary specials will be produced following the candidate through Election Day.

The process will begin early next year with a panel of experts choosing an initial group of 100 candidates from applicants who fill out questionnaires accompanied by videotaped pitches of why they would make a good president. Applicants also must submit petitions signed by at least 50 supporters from their community.

The 100 semi-finalists, two from each state, will be introduced to viewers on the first of at least 13 episodes, probably in January 2004, as the real-life U.S. presidential campaign is getting under way.

In subsequent episodes, each broadcast live from a famous American location, like Mount Rushmore or the Statue of Liberty, the candidates will compete in debates and other campaign-related contests in a game of elimination that will narrow the field to three finalists by the final show....

(more at link)