August 29, 2011
Catchy name, weather porn, for the media blitz preceding, during and after Hurricane Irene. The blitz is justified if it saves one life or one home. The curiousity is how people feed on it, mesmerized, watch the same windblown reporters shout the same dire predictions every 15 minutes, or until a new statistic surfaces. I'm wondering... Why do the networks put so much man/womanpower in harm's way to emphasize the obvious? How is a shot of a storekeeper boarding up his windows for Irene any different from Alice or Zora? Why cannot we tear our eyes away? Maybe because this is a real reality show instead of a fake. On Monday, the day after, the media turned criticism of hype into a new issue, extending prurience that would be diverted if, God forbid, Irene was trumped by plane crash or tornado. I agree that Manhattan's navel-gazing was a bit much. Mayor Bloomberg loves the spotlight. I imagined him doing an I-told-you-so jig for the old folks who hunkered down in their high rise senior residence which, thankfully, remained secure The experience reminds me of the oft-rerum footage from the Kennedy assassination and aftermath. It was steady, complete, emotional but restrained. The industry didn't have a fraction of our technology. But over five days they managed to show-and-tell in a manner that can only be called classic. The truth is, once one station offers up cute meteorologist bunnies round the clock others must follow -- or lose ratings. Next time, let's stick to what's important without working the story to death.
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Courseaire 1 year, 8 months ago
It was a great week for the Networks, 1st the Earthquake, then the Hurricane. I was riveted. It was the only thing that kept me away from Snookie, the Housewives & the Bachelor.
Courseaire 1 year, 8 months ago
Up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane, no, it's Viperman, here to save the day!
AbdominalDohMan 1 year, 8 months ago
He drank Al Gore's koolaid.
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