Joseph Planta's Commentary - thecommentary.ca

Thursday, 03 February 2005

The State of the Union, and other notes from television

By Joseph Planta

VANCOUVER - First of all, you will find a review of Don McKellar's Childstar at my friend Michael Kwan's website, Now That's Entertainment. I wrote it exclusively for that publication, so you'll need to go there to read it: http://www.geocities.com/now_thats_entertainment/nte_v6_01.html.

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George W. Bush's State of the Union address was, for me at least, a memorable one. More memorable than that 'axis of evil' jive he pulled a couple of years ago, and certainly more than any of Clinton's I'd watch growing up. First, I'm not American so I'm not listening to the speech for its content. Of course, if the President calls out another nation to war, ones ears perk up. Even if you stuck me in a pile of naked Iraqis with women's knickers on my head, I couldn't explain what 'No Child Left Behind' meant. I watch speeches of this sort for the theatrics of it and the delivery. For this President it's often been icky seeing him stumble along with his syntax, as well as have to deal with the blocking his handlers have staged for him in rehearsals. This time around, with a mandate that's not so much renewed as it is earned, President Bush doesn't appear as gun-shy as he was in the first term. He actually won the election this time and he is confident; not smarmy or sneering.

At first I thought Bush's explanation of the different schemes that government workers have for retirement plans, as well as the figures he rattled off, made him sound like some zealous banker looking to land an account, giving some sort of extensive tutorial. Regardless of what you think of the President's desire to overhaul social security, one ought to admit he sounded confident enough with his figures, that it seemed he was truly making an effort to make the case to the public. Very often, presidential addresses like last night's are the only time the public get to see the President up-close. The President did well in previewing the case he'll be making across the country in the coming months. He made a good presentation, backing it up, unlike that one year when he lumped North Korea, Iran and Iraq in an 'axis of evil,' without much evidence to go on.

Like everyone else, I was moved by the President's introduction of Janet and Bill Norwood, the parents of Sergeant Byron Norwood, who was killed in Iraq. The President himself was moved, introducing neighbours of his, as Pflugerville is not far from his Austin in Texas. Mrs. Norwood wrote the President telling him about her son: "When Byron was home the last time, I said that I wanted to protect him like I had since he was born. He just hugged me and said, 'You've done your job, Mom. Now it is my turn to protect you.' Then he introduced them from the balcony where they sat in the row behind the First Lady and her guest last night, Safia Taleb al-Souhail, a proud Iraqi, whose father was killed under Saddam Hussein's regime, who voted in last Sunday's election. It was a very moving scene, when Mrs. Norwood bent down to hug al-Souhail. It was a long embrace whereupon Mrs. Norwood, clutching her son's dog tags, got them caught on al-Souhail's sleeve. It was an overwhelming image seeing the two women embrace. One woman from Iraq got to avenge her father's death at the hands of a hideous thug by participating in the democratic process, a process made possible by the other woman's immense loss, her son for the cause of freedom, and for people like al-Souhail. In a perfect world, the al-Souhails and the Norwoods probably would never have met. They did last night, in an embrace borne in loss, wrought in the pursuit of liberty. I defy any hardened cynic who viewed that wonderful, and yes, perfect moment last night to come away from it unmoved and dry-eyed.

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Was it just me, or do you wonder too what the deal was with the hug and kiss President Bush gave Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT), as he made his way out of the chamber last night?

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The New York Post reported yesterday that ABC News is thinking of moving around two of its stars, the legendary Ted Koppel, and the former Clinton aide George Stephanopoulos. Koppel has hosted the late night Nightline program since its inception and has in the last few years had to face his networks desire to lure David Letterman to replace him. Koppel prevailed, but it seems now they want him to host the network's Sunday morning program, This Week instead, which Stephanopoulos has hosted since taking over from Sam Donaldson and Cokie Roberts, who in turn took over from the legendary David Brinkley. This Week lags in the ratings, behind its counterparts CBS's Face the Nation with the popular Bob Schieffer, and NBC's powerhouse Meet the Press moderated by Tim Russert. Moving Koppel, who's got journalistic gravitas adept for the vaulted Sunday morning culture, would be ideal for a network looking to boost ratings, as well as make headlines on Monday morning. Stephanopoulos isn't as held back by his partisan credentials-he's overcome them just as Russert, who used to work for Patrick Moynihan. Nevertheless, there is a bit of a lag there, and perhaps his Clinton ties are the reason. Nonetheless, this proposed bit of musical chairs at ABC sounds great, a win-win. Stephanopoulos could do great at Nightline, but what does that mean for Jimmy Kimmel though?

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CBS News has announced that when mercifully Dan Rather steps aside from the CBS Evening News in March, Bob Schieffer will succeed him on an interim basis as the network tinkers with the news format and a replacement program is put together. CBS President Leslie Moonves has expressed a desire to overhaul his network's supper hour newscast, even going so far as to suggest an anchor team, as well as mentioning Jon Stewart's name. Whatever they choose to do, having Schieffer on is good news. He's easily the most respected and credible journalist in Washington, and he's a decent and trustworthy fellow. He was in the running for the job 24 years ago when Walter Cronkite retired. It's a little late, but it's deserved and totally apt.

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David Letterman's vacation last week prevented him from addressing the death of his mentor Johnny Carson, upon the former Tonight Show host's passing. He issued the requisite statement, but viewers were awaiting what he'd say and do when the Late Show returned to the air. He did so on Monday, with a great program. It wasn't as high in emotion as it could have been had he done it the night after Carson's death, but it was fortuitous timing nonetheless. Leno had his eulogy a week prior, and he did a serviceable job in remembering his immediate predecessor. But Letterman was obviously closer and seeing how the favoured successor would laud the man to whom he owed his career made for fine television viewing. The monologue Letterman delivered was great, and it turns out, a collection of the jokes that Carson himself had been feeding Letterman in the last few months. As well, seeing all the clips of Carson cavorting with Dave was neat. Touching were those final cameos that Carson did in his retirement. (Remember it was Letterman that Carson went on, not Leno, even though Leno inherited the franchise.) The appearance of Peter Lassally seems an unlikely choice of guests, but it was just perfect. The critic in the New York Daily News said Lassally's guester was akin to booking television's Garbo. And though the broadcast, with the appearance of Carson vets like bandleader Doc Severinsen, saxophonist Tommy Newsom, and drummer Ed Shaughnessy, was moving, as they played one of Carson's favourite songs "Here's That Rainy Day," it was a wonderful hour from Letterman, that was very appropriate-there was reflection, a bit of pathos, and some laughs. It wasn't maudlin, and of course, being from the Midwest, Carson wasn't.

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By the way, the other song Carson adored was, "I'll Be Seeing You."

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It seems Martha Stewart is set to host an Apprentice spin-off. Just when the world is sick of Donald Trump, his hair, the wedding, the 158th edition of the reality television show, you'd think news of the jailed Stewart hosting a spin-off would add to our woes. Alas, it sounds intriguing, and I can't wait. It's sort of like Oprah spinning off Dr. Phil to his own huge success. Stewart's a definite fit, and it'll be good to get the spotlight away from Trump. Enough already. No mas, Mr. Trump.

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It's been mentioned for weeks, but it's official now, that MSNBC has signed Tucker Carlson. He's taking over the 9.00 pm eastern slot on the cable news outlet next week. After not getting re-upped by CNN, Carlson will host a program in the slot previously occupied by Deborah Norville. It's a pity Norville couldn't carve that niche in cable news, but I guess she's happy at Inside Edition, plus she didn't want to spread herself so thin. Perhaps MSNBC chieftain Rick Kaplan, who once headed CNN and was at ABC News, will pair Carlson up with his old Spin Room colleague Bill Press, who is probably still a contractor to the news outlet that's an offshoot of NBC News.

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