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Edited on Mon Jul-24-06 08:30 PM by calimary
situations in which I do miss the news biz.
If that's true, that IS a de facto announcement of how important the network brass regards Keith. Evidently, they see him as the "hot" commodity, which is why they trotted him out to the TCAs. These twice-a-year junkets for the TV Critics Association promotes new shows, power people, and power lineups. They always roll out the red carpet, the big stars, the biggest names (the more A-listers there are, the more likely the critics and other press people are to show up, and to cover it, so the networks routinely pull out all the stops. The network chieftains themselves are available for interview, either in session or in one-on-one's. There are all kinds of goodies: free food and cocktail parties and perks and give-aways everywhere and side trips and meet-n-greets galore, and the stars are there, en masse. After whatever session or interview set-ups there are, the same stars are very likely to be "staffing" the after-hours receptions and cocktail parties and dinners so the individual press people can rub elbows with 'em, party with 'em, break bread with 'em, pose for publicity photos (and even vanity things that you can take home and show your editor or producer or company promo person - "look! And yeah, sometimes you get to meet and pose with George Clooney - or his manager who will now set you up with a one-on-one, since he/she now knows you.
I'm DELIGHTED to hear that Keith is there. I haven't checked in. Is Rita Clear-Your-Throat out there to help the hype? NO... she's home, filling in, as the B-teamer she is. As I'm watching, evidently joe scarborough is out here for the TCAs, too. They're showcasing only their best people for press events like these. MOST satisfying to hear Keith is part of this.
AND - it could indicate something else, even better! Somebody in the network brass or promo department figured out that Keith is hot at the moment. Evidently, they think something he's doing is working. The ratings tell it. And why? Is it because the critics or the viewers (or both) just enjoy his show, or do they get some really great, consistent response on the "Oddball" section? Or is his unique, irreverent, liberal-leaning approach an increasingly popular one? Or is it the "Worst Person in the World" revue? Or maybe the public fight he's now picked with o'reilly - which is sexy gossip water-cooler-style news for the media-savvy and news junkies? There could be any number of reasons why they want him out there available to the media - and they're all positive, in some way, for the network. They don't promote their losers. Dan Abrams is probably out here, the new executive-suites fair-haired boy, 'cause he's new on this big job and therefore he's news - people are gonna wanna talk to him and ask him questions. Olbermann being part of this - SWEET!!! VERY good news, guys.
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