The World’s Most Popular Job Interview
The New York Times is baffled by the popularity of the Republican presidential debates. The ratings for the past few have been stratospheric – double what they were during the 2008 primaries, and steadily growing.
They try out a lot of theories, most of them wrong:
What explains the fact that debates this year are garnering almost twice as many viewers as any of the early debates, Democratic or Republican, did four years ago? Cable news executives don’t know for sure, but they have theories. Chief among them is that widespread anxiety about the economy and disapproval of the political system is building viewership.
“The ‘pox on all of their houses’ sentiment of the summer debt limit debate is clearly affecting voters,” said Mark Lukasiewicz, the senior vice president for NBC News specials. “It’s driven them to be a lot more interested and more engaged in the process early on.”
Nope. A “pox on all of their houses” sentiment would mean fewer viewers, not more. And this one isn’t convincing, either:
Other theories involve livelier contenders, showier production values for the debates and an increase in online chatter about them — some of the same traits that make reality TV shows successful.
Nope again. Herman Cain is lively, but liveliness isn’t what’s making the show a hit. It isn’t Mitt’s calculated smile, or Rick Perry’s startled expression, or Ron Paul’s crazy old man warble. It isn’t Newt’s broadsides against “Warshington” or Jon Huntsman’s Tommy-Bahama vibe. As a seasoned and experienced television producer, I can tell you what makes the Republican presidential debates so popular.
It’s Obama. People want him out. They’re interested in who his replacement is going to be.
This is the world’s longest, most popular job interview.
What’s special this time is that people really can’t wait to replace the guy who’s in there right now.
Which isn’t something I expected the NYTimes to understand.
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Comments :
May '10
Re: The World’s Most Popular Job Interview
I love it when they focus on "messaging". Cold, still cold, colder, freezing... Ever since Reagan, they seem to think we got some sort of Dark Magic that convinces people to vote against their interests. Oh, and we cheat, too.
Nope. People are desperate to leave Obama in a ditch along with his Slurpee. The search for the next guy is agonizingly suspenseful. We know drama.
Jan '11
Re: The World’s Most Popular Job Interview
"It’s Obama. People want him out. They’re interested in who his replacement is going to be."
Bullseye, Rob.
Apr '11
Re: The World’s Most Popular Job Interview
Good point Rob.
I'm watching the debates on channels I hardly ever watch, listening to talking heads I rarely would choose to hear, suffering questions that a first grader would do better at framing to see exactly what you pointed to, Obama's replacement
Rob, maybe we could get the presidency produced by one of the big networks so when a president flopped and his ratings fell we would see him replaced faster than a a finance officer at the DOE.
The fall previews of the coming president would be quite a refreshing thought.
May '10
Re: The World’s Most Popular Job Interview
Rob Long: The New York Times is baffled ..
It’s Obama. People want him out. They’re interested in who his replacement is going to be.
This is the world’s longest, most popular job interview.
What’s special this time is that people really can’t wait to replace the guy who’s in there right now.
Which isn’t something I expected the NYTimes to understand. ·
"Ding, Ding, Ding, - Rob You win the Daily Double on Jeopardy'
May '11
Re: The World’s Most Popular Job Interview
If these doofusses could just dance, we might have a hit show.
Re: The World’s Most Popular Job Interview
Stick 'em all on a sitcom on NBC. The network needs the ratings.
Jun '10
Re: The World’s Most Popular Job Interview
NBC is the sitcom.
Re: The World’s Most Popular Job Interview
Pravda-on-the-Hudson will never admit that the American people regard progressivism as toxic. What will they do when there is a landslide against Obama? Blame it on his lack of eloquence? It is a delight to watch these people squirm.
Oct '10
Re: The World’s Most Popular Job Interview
And dust off the old sitcom title "When Things Were Rotten."
Mar '11
Re: The World’s Most Popular Job Interview
With the recent kidnapping of TOTUS that may be no idle rumination.
Apr '11
Re: The World’s Most Popular Job Interview
"It’s Obama. People want him out. They’re interested in who his replacement is going to be."
I view it slightly differently. People want something better than Obama, so they are viewing in hopes of finding that someone. The reviews are mixed, but the general sentiment seems to be that any of them are a better choice than McCain in '08. That's a good sign as '08 McCain could probably beat Obama in a rematch.
Re: The World’s Most Popular Job Interview
Diego Sun Devil: "It’s Obama. People want him out. They’re interested in who his replacement is going to be."
I view it slightly differently. People want something better than Obama, so they are viewing in hopes of finding that someone. The reviews are mixed, but the general sentiment seems to be that any of them are a better choice than McCain in '08. That's a good sign as '08 McCain could probably beat Obama in a rematch. · Oct 18 at 11:33am
I tend to agree. People are shopping. Which is good news for Herman Cain. And bad news for Barack Obama. Which is good news for us. And bad news for the NYTimes.
Re: The World’s Most Popular Job Interview
It's closer to FBC's "The New Girl."
Sep '11
Re: The World’s Most Popular Job Interview
Exactly right, Rob.
And so the debate winner is whoever tears Obama's record apart most convincingly.
The candidates should ignore moderators' entreaties to attack one another, and try to spend every second attacking our nation's Incompetent-in-Chief.