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August 29, 2000
EXAMINING A SCHIZOID TV NATION
I couldn't figure out what to watch on Monday night. It was the Patriots first game, and there was the curiosity factor of Dennis Miller in the broadcast booth for Monday Night Football. There was also the Republican National Convention, and in case either got boring, that old stand-by, TV Land. Thank God for the remote.
The MNF gang was coy about introducing Miller, doing so only after bringing in the other new members, including the requisite Hall of Famer and the gorgeous woman on the sidelines. Miller's first in-game commentary, on the first series of downs was regarding a player with a groin injury, and at 7:31 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, for what I'm guessing was the first time in MNF's 31 year history, the word "genitalia" was mentioned.
Over at the convention, the GOP, trying to soften its WASP-y image, began the evening with a prayer from a rabbi.
CLICK-On TV Land, Mayberry R.F.D.'s Howard Sprague is attempting to prove his manliness by jumping out of an airplane (with a parachute).
Roll call at the convention. A black woman is "Madame Chairman" tallying the votes. American Samoa has four votes for Bush.
CLICK-Miller makes a reference to the Tigris and Euphrates River. The second quarter begins, and the Pat's go up 6-0. Miller makes a reference to the Socratic method.
CLICK-Private Gomer Pyle aggravates Sgt. Carter by continuously messing up during war games. Things work out in the end, though.
CLICK-Guam has four votes for Bush and the roll call is suspended. Next is a black couple singing "Rock This Town."
It is an irony that while Dennis Miller, whose forte is political humor is on Monday Night Football, Hank Williams Jr. who is perhaps best known for opening the MNF Broadcast with the line, "Are you ready for some football?" makes an appearance at the convention. He is the son of Country Music legend Hank Williams, and it's hard not to notice a link between him and George W. Bush as two guys who made their careers by virtue of having their father's names.
CLICK-Dennis Miller makes a reference to The Sword of Damocles.
CLICK-More irony at the convention as former Nixon speechwriter and current game show host, Ben Stein is introduced as a comedian. A black woman teacher makes a speech.
CLICK-Pat's go up 13-0 at the half, meanwhile on Emergency, a careless worker drops a cigarette and starts a fire in a skyscraper.
CLICK-the second half begins with Miller making a reference to the mathematical formula "pi."
CLICK-More minority entertainment. Frankly, I'm no longer sure if I'm watching the Republican National Convention or "Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater." For all the diversity of the speakers and the entertainers, occasional shots panning the audience show only a slightly higher percentage of people of color than that of your average Klan rally. This only serves to highlight the disingenuousness of the on-stage diversity. For the majority of the conventioneers, it's likely that their only dealings with people of color, is when they interact with their hired help.
CLICK-Gage and DeSoto work tirelessly to rescue people trapped on the seventeenth floor of a building.
CLICK-Miller makes a Rosetta Stone and Survivor reference. Pat's lead 20-0 at the end of the third quarter.
CLICK-Joe Friday and Bill Gannon are on the trail of a con man on Dragnet.
CLICK-A black Gospel group gets the convention hopping like a revival meeting.
CLICK-Miller makes a Hindenburg reference.
CLICK-Retired General Colin Powell closes out the convention evening.
CLICK-The Pat's are winning 20-0, and Al Michaels sounds very depressed. Cheer up, Al. Joe Friday got his man.
Posted by dmargarita at August 29, 2000 10:23 PM