Which genius told the President that this was a good time for an all-too-rare news conference?
The networks were scratching their heads Monday after the White House opted to schedule a primetime press conference for 8:30 p.m. ET tonight.
If Bush was hoping for a boffo “American Idol” lead-in, he can forget it. Fox — clearly the most impacted — quickly decided to bump tonight’s live edition of “American Idol,” which normally airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m., to a taped version on Wednesday.
“When the President asks for time on the network, the network provides that time,” a Fox exec said.
The “American Idol” results show originally skedded for 8 p.m. Wednesday will now be seen Thursday at 8 p.m. — directly opposite CBS hit “Survivor” and one of the last original episodes of “Friends.”
The trouble doesn’t end there. Since Bush’s press conference is starting at 8:30 — no one in the TV biz can remember such an odd start time for a White House event — and isn’t expected to wrap until 9:15 p.m., Fox also decided to bump “24,” which airs at 9 p.m. Tuesday.
This week’s episode of the Kiefer Sutherland starrer will now air Sunday at 9 p.m., against HBO’s hit “Sopranos.”
Note to self: remember to rejig the TiVo so it records the right thing at the right time. Thank goodness that “The Sopranos” gets rerun nineteen times (approximately 1.4 times per HBO channel) during the week. Via the equally peeved War Liberal.
Look on the bright side, Chuck. Think of all the people (voters) out ther who are just as PO’d as you are by the news conference.
You have to think that some will stick around a while and actually watch the prime time news conference. God love him, public speaking is not W.’s forte’ and a press conference where he has to answer on the fly…that has train-wreck potential…in prime time. Plus John Stewart will get a couple of days of snarkiness on the Daily Show out of this. Think of the potential upside for Kerry.
Of course there’s always the Rocket going to the mound in St Louis as an option.
Patrick, this “news conference” is more scripted than a Hollywood movie. If you think that you will actually learn anything new, forget about it. Chimpy will call on the hand-picked “reporters” and dutifully repeat his lines as Americans die.
Sure he’ll have some canned responses to some expected questions, but he’ll have to remember his “lines” without a teleprompter. Once he trips on a response, he becomes distracted and flubs something else. Those things have a tendency to snowball on him.
It’s not a matter of “learning anything new”. I don’t expect that at all, but this is an election year and image is important. There is the very real possibility that millions of people that were going to tune into American Idol tonight, will turn on their TV tonight and see W. The 10% that don’t switch to a baseball game or Emeril Live will be watching his “Adventures in Public Speaking” and that has the potential to help Kerry.
Good line. ” ‘Ws’ Excellent Adventure!”
Sunday at 9? That’s also when Alias is on! Those are the only two shows I watch! Dagnabbit!!! That’s it, Bush just lost my vote.
Plus John Stewart will get a couple of days of snarkiness on the Daily Show out of this. Think of the potential upside for Kerry.
i think the Daily’s in reruns this wk. sigh.
Plus John Stewart will get a couple of days of snarkiness on the Daily Show out of this.
i think the Daily’s in reruns this wk. sigh.
i think the Daily’s in reruns this wk. sigh.
Coincidence? You know with Karl Rove calling the shots, it’s entirely possible that they selected this week for the news conference specifically to avoid the Daily Show skewering. And if so, from a campaign perspective, it’s brilliant.
Seriously.
Kuff,
What day and time do you think would be good for this kind of press conference?
Honestly, just asking. I don’t have any input over these sorts of thing, I’m just curious.
Cheers,
Rob
Clearly, any time that doesn’t inconvenience me. I mean, let’s keep our eye on the real issues here.
Obviously, I’m just being silly. Starting on the hour instead of the half-hour would probably make for easier scheduling, but honestly, whenever he wants is fine. Having real press conferences trumps any other consideration.
I missed the press conference. Did Bush use the phrase “the sky is falling” any time after 9:00?
“Thank goodness that “The Sopranos” gets rerun nineteen times (approximately 1.4 times per HBO channel) during the week.”
You don’t get HBO on Demand? 😉