Open Thread: Tim Russert's Death and the Media

Filed under: Sound Off, TV

Today on the show, we talked to Slate's Jack Shafer about the coverage of Tim Russert's death. Shafer criticized the media response in a recent Slate piece, "The Canonization of Saint Russert."

"I wonder whether the media grievers gave a moment of thought to how this Russert torrent they produced played with viewers and readers. Did the grievers really think Russert was so important, so vital to the nation's course, and such an elevated human being that he deserved hour upon hour of tribute? I wonder whether any of the responsible journalists paused to think, Hey, this is really weird. We're using our unchecked editorial power to soak the nation with our tears about our friend, and that's unseemly! On days like this, I, too, hate the press."

UPDATE: NBC News President Steve Capus talks to TVNewser about the criticism of NBC's coverage.

"I think it's been appropriate, balanced, loving. With all due respect, nobody can expect NBC to be objective. Tim had a remarkable, unique place in America. I can't think of anyone in our industry who would generate those type of intense feelings."

Caitlin Kenney

7:35 AM ET | 06-19-2008 | permalink | comments (71) | e-mail post

Lunchtime Laugh-In in Memory of Dick Martin

Filed under: Luncheonette, Stuff We Love, TV

Dick Martin of "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In" passed away over the weekend at age 86.

Martin was the comic half of the title comedy duo--the other being straight man Dan Rowan. (Want to know the difference between comic and straight man? Look it up in your Funk and Wagnalls.)

Although I am not of the generation for whom "Laugh-In" was made, as a lover of comedy, especially anything that has ties (however tenuous) to vaudeville, I have been a fan of the show forever. As a kid I was more interested in the zany characters like Ruth Buzzi's little old lady with the hairnet or any of Lily Tomlin's creations from Edith Ann to the telephone operator, than of Rowan and Martin themselves. But of course now I get the two mcs nattily dressed in tuxedos, carrying drinks and cigarettes as they kept the weirdness moving along. Or did I imagine the drinks and cigarettes? They made it seem like that kind of a party.

Coincidentally, yesterday I was surfing through youtube looking for Danny Kaye routines (see? the comedy thing again!), when I stumbled upon his brief appearance on "Laugh-In." And that started me down an hour or so journey laughing at "Laugh-In" clips. All before I heard about Dick Martin's death. Here, then, for your luncheonette pleasure today, is one of my favorites of yesterday's discoveries, in memory of Dick Martin.

Tricia McKinney

12:21 PM ET | 05-26-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

The Office's BJ Novak: Uncut

Filed under: TV

BJ Novak as Ryan Howard

NBC

 

Today we spoke with BJ Novak, co-star, writer, and producer from The Office, which many of us (read: me) consider the best show on network television. (30 Rock may be blatantly funnier, but The Office is overall better.)

Mike Pesca, himself a big booster of the show, spent about 40 minutes talking to Mr. Novak, covering some of the real nitty gritty of the show's production. In the end we cut it down to 14 minutes, with a bunch of clips from The Office mixed in. We tried to make a segment that would appeal to hardcore fans of the show as well as newbies. (Here's that segment.)

But we've also decided to make the raw, uncut version of the interview available here, for all you Office-obsessed fans out there. This version doesn't have the perfect mix, it doesn't have the sound clips of the show dropped in, and it might even contain--gasp!--a stutter or two. But it probably has as much insight into the show as anything you've heard or read. So grab some popcorn and enjoy:

Dan Pashman

2:59 PM ET | 05-12-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post