Austin360 blogs > TV Blog > Archives > 2004 > September > 02 > Entry
Bush vs. Cowboys tonight
So, it’s Must-See TV tonight, but what will true Texans choose:
George W. Bush, our twangin’ adopted Texan, accepting his nomination for a second term? Or the Dallas Cowboys in a pre-season game against the Kansas City Chiefs?
This is an interesting dilemma, because presumably both choices appeal to the same demographic — men. More men than women voted for Bush in 2000, and more men always watch football. If he had the choice, even Bush would probably rather watch the Cowboys than a political speech.
The Big Three broadcast networks, PBS and all the cable news channels will carry the president’s speech tonight at 9 from Madison Square Garden. Fox, however, is cheerfully presenting football, beginning at 7 p.m. Fox figures people who want to see Bush can switch to the Fox News Channel on cable.
The Republican Convention has been pretty amazing this time around, much more colorful and, uh, energetic than the Democrats. There was Arnold Schwarzenegger in all his tan-and-muscular glory. There were the Bush twins and Laura.
The highlight so far, purely on the basis of heat-and-passion, came last night. The keynote address by Sen. Zell “Give ‘Em Hell” Miller of Georgia was a scorcher — especially riveting coming from a man who claims to be a Democrat.
This was the first time a member of one party has been keynote speaker for another party. But it wasn’t the first time Miller has served as keynote speaker. He opened the 1992 Democratic convention that nominated Bill Clinton, praising his party as “the party of hope.”
As NBC’s Tom Brokaw pointed out before the Georgia senator took to the podium, Miller has praised Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry in the past as a true American hero.
But last night, Miller lashed out at his former political colleagues, frowning and barking his way through an especially venom-packed speech. He portrayed Kerry as unsteady and unprepared. It was compelling TV — and cork-poppingly annoying to Democrats.
Too bad the networks ran out of time and couldn’t cover the response to Miller’s speech from a bar in Atlanta where Democrats gathered to boo. The evening concluded with a mock divorce between Miller and a costumed Democratic donkey, who ticked off a list of irreconcilable differences.
If the networks want to bring eyeballs to political coverage in the future, that’s the kind of theater that draws a crowd. Either that or have the candidates speak at half-time of a football game.
And now for real TV …
With the two political conventions and the Olympics behind us, we can finally look forward to the new fall season. You know, real TV shows — although that includes fake reality as well.
More than 30 new shows join the six broadcast networks’ lineups over the next month or so. To get the low-down on the newcomers, check out our critical rundown in this Sunday’s Austin American-Statesman.
And for a quick look at some of the returning shows, check out Tuesday’s TV column in the newspaper.
Yep, that was more shameless self-promotion. Sorry.
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