And this, kids, is why television really is a vast wasteland. February is "sweeps month", which means that networks roll out the wierd and wonderful in an effort to pump up their ratings. In the case of NBC News, though, the ridiculous has clearly trumped the sublime.
HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 17: NBC News will do an entire hour on Michael Jackson's face during the February sweeps, NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker announced today.
The "Dateline" special "Michael Jackson Unmasked" was approved by NBC President Andrew Lack, who left the network last week to head Sony Music -- Jackson's record label. Oops.
"I just hope the folks at Sony Music don't complain," Zucker quipped at Winter TV Press Tour 2003 here.
Via an NBC News rep, "Dateline" Executive Producer David Corvo explained that the special will use the "transformation" of Wacko Jacko's face as a metaphor for the transformation of his career and will feature one of the singer's former plastic surgeons, among others.
One critic wanted to know why NBC News was doing a whole hour on Jackson's face: "Aren't there more pressing things in the world right now?"
Zucker said that Tom Brokaw just did a "Dateline" hour on Iraq, and that it's a shame that "didn't get any coverage or any questions." Apparently it's the critics' fault.
Sadly, the average American probably DOES care more about Jacko's umpteen nose jobs than the impending war with Iraq. Yes, we are a shallow, ignorant, self-absorbed lot, and we are obsessed with celebrity- no matter how, twisted, loony, and irrelevant that celebrity may be. Perhaps we're getting exactly what we deserve. All I know is that I won't have any problem finding something else to do.
Next, on NBC News, Celebrity Sex-Change Operations. How DO they maintain those girlish figures after they've gone under the knife??"
Whatever....
