Austin360 blogs > TV Blog > Archives > 2006 > November > 15 > Entry

O.J. — Ick, Ick and More Ick

Ick, ick and more ick.

Just when you thought TV — and maybe the entire pop culture world — couldn’t get any sleazier, along comes O.J. Simpson, squeezing out money (we don’t know how much) from Fox and book publisher Regan Books right before our eyes.

On Nov. 27 and 29, Simpson will splash across Fox and hit the book stores with his new alleged fantasy, “If I Did It,” in which he reiterates that he really didn’t kill his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, but … you get the drift.

“O.J. Simpson, in his own words, tells for the first time how he would have committed the murders if he were the one responsible for the crimes,” Fox said in a statement. “In the two-part event, Simpson describes how he would have carried out the murders he has vehemently denied committing for over a decade.”

How a TV network allegedly licensed for the public good can make these statements is anybody’s guess, but the sleaze goes on:

“This is an interview that no one thought would ever happen. It’s the definitive last chapter in the Trial of the Century,” Mike Darnell, executive vice president of alternative programming for Fox, said in a statement.

Simpson, you may recall, was acquitted of slashing his ex-wife and her friend Ron Goldman to death in 1994. The former football star was later found responsible in a wrongful death suit brought by the Goldman family. Simpson, who has yet to pay the $33.5 million settlement in that case, lives in Florida and occasionally tries to make a buck off his notoriety.

The Fox interview, shamelessly conducted by book publisher Judith Regan, hits the air the week the book goes on sale (Nov. 30). In an excerpt, Simpson talks about all the blood at the scene. Does this guy not remember that he has two children whose mother died at that scene?

I’ve never in my life begged people to stay away from a TV show, but I’m begging now. Maybe, just maybe, if the whole world ignores this sludge, it will never, ever happen again. If millions of curiosity seekers do tune in for O.J.’s bizarre ramblings, we can count on any number of sickening “events” in the future.

Trust me, we do NOT want to open that door.

‘Lost’ teases tonight

As fans continue to bombard ABC about the ridiculous decision to take “Lost” off the air until February, the network decided to try to appease us with a bunch of teases

The teases will begin during tonight’s two-hour debut of “Day Break,” the new serial drama starring Taye Diggs in a “Groundhog Day” meets “24” format.

Dubbed “Lost Moments,” these little teases will be scattered throughout “Day Break” episodes for the entire run of the new series.

Will this appease “Lost” fans or further tick them off? I’m betting on the latter. If ABC already has this new batch of “Lost” episodes from which to cull teases, why not just run the series in its entirety until it’s finished for the season?

Permalink | Comments (9) | Categories: News coverage

Comments

By mldtexas

November 21, 2006 12:42 PM | Link to this

Where are all of the people that celebrated his verdict? Do they still believe he is innocent? Where are the riots in the streets for OJ?

By mldtexas

November 21, 2006 12:36 PM | Link to this

Where are all of the people that celebrated his verdict? Do they still believe he is innocent? Where are the riots in the streets for OJ?

By terriann

November 16, 2006 07:56 AM | Link to this

The more people boycott bad, ugly, immoral behaviour, the better this world will be. The people who help feed this animal are just as guilty. When will the decent people lash out at this type of programming. Just say no! Shame on the publisher and Television News for feeding this low level.

By Tommy Vasquez

November 15, 2006 06:51 PM | Link to this

Thank you Diane. I will not and would not have watched even if you hadn't requested us to not view this brazen display of sociopathic indulgence. Sleaze is not adequate to describe this crap. Thank you for taking a stand!

By Ken

November 15, 2006 01:08 PM | Link to this

Just to be clear, it is Fox Broadcasting showing this filth, not FoxNews. Yes, I understand they are owned by the same company, but I don't even think FoxNews would have done this story. But some will still say it's FoxNews (Lisa,Just another example of Fox's Fair and Balanced approach to journalism)....if it were, they would throw O'Reilly at him and I know people who hate O'Reilly but would pay to see him take on OJ. So don't get on a high horse about Fox, all of you are waiting with baited tofu breath for "24".

By Bob

November 15, 2006 01:03 PM | Link to this

I think the posters are a little mixed up. It's on Fox TV network, not Fox News Channel. And unfortunately it will probably set ratings records, of course.

By boxxer

November 15, 2006 12:42 PM | Link to this

This takes more gaul than 99.9% of America can muster. Everybody in law enforcement in Southern California knows he's guilty...now, he wants to snub his nose at us and tell us how he did it.

As for Fox, Bill O'reilly doesn't like it any better than the rest of us. He said so.

By austinights

November 15, 2006 12:34 PM | Link to this

I am not sure if I'm right on the TV schedule, but I think at the same time you can flip it over to TV Land and catch an episode of Reali-T with Mr. T. I think you would find it to be much higher quality programming compared to the "Whodunnit with O.J.?" The only thing that will be worse for television is if we see O.J. in the finals of next seasons Dance with the Stars. Like I said before....where the heck is Jack Bauer?

By Lisa

November 15, 2006 10:34 AM | Link to this

Just another example of Fox's Fair and Balanced approach to journalism. If he did it? Come on O.J. just get it over with already. Double Jeopardy attaches here, they can't try to for the murder again. And for those who actually believed in your innocence (those 12 jurors) I'm sure they'll be kicking themselves hard after your interview. Please, take what you have - whatever is left of your dignity - and go away. Far away. Where we don't have to deal with your self-aggrandizing behaviors and attempts to get back into the public spotlight with "If I did it". Fox, major thumbs down here. But for 24, you'd lose me completely after this.

 

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