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Montel Williams attacks the media & tabloids

post #1 of 15
1/31/08 at 5:04pm
Thread Starter 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co3Spcq6Uzs

This video aired 5 days ago.

Quote:
For just over three minutes on Saturday morning, TV talk show host Montel Williams owned the hosts of Fox and Friends. A former Marine officer, Montel lectured the stunned hosts on the stupidity of spending air time on the death of Heath Ledger, rather than covering the war in Iraq. It was a spectacle rarely seen on live cable television, as Montel exposed and condemned both tabloid "news" shows and much of American culture for what they have each become: shallow and greedy.
Now I don't know how "true" this part is, since I've been finding conflicting stories (show was up for renewal and CBS didn't, Montel cancelled his own show, etc).

Quote:
Three minutes into this awkward segment on Fox, one host cut off Montel in order to go to a commercial. Montel did not return after the break. Four days later, after 17 years as a television host, Montel lost his job.
(Both quotes from: http://rawstory.com/comments/44345.html)

So what is your opinion: Should we cut back on the amount of coverage that celebrities (such as Heath Ledger...even going back to Anna Nichole) receive when they die? Should we be hearing reports of the deaths in the Middle East (IMO, not just Iraq...all of the Middle East & Southwest Asia).
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post #2 of 15
1/31/08 at 5:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lunasmom View Post
So what is your opinion: Should we cut back on the amount of coverage that celebrities (such as Heath Ledger...even going back to Anna Nichole) receive when they die? Should we be hearing reports of the deaths in the Middle East (IMO, not just Iraq...all of the Middle East & Southwest Asia).
First of all, it is supply and demand. The news agencies are rewarded by us when they show celebrity news. More people know about Britney's latest downfall than how Barak or McCain want to shape foreign policy. But by allowing us to eat all of this sugar, we become disinterested in what really affects us.

The news won't change until we demand it. There are so many alternatives that when they stop mumbling about the celebs and start talking about the hard stuff, we probably will move onto the next entertainment venue.
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post #3 of 15
1/31/08 at 5:24pm
well lol he is right for the most part.
i think it is really sad the amount of time, people spend on celebrities .
heck i did not even know who Heath Ledger was, nor did i care. the amount of time they spent on him was silly.

Anna Nichole was famouns for what? being naked and getting married to old rich guy that left her a ton of money. BIG deal.

why people care about and waste money on these people is beyond me.
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post #4 of 15
1/31/08 at 5:55pm
I agree with Montel. I have noticed that Leno has been much more interesting lately because he has not had shows full of celebrities. Instead he has has a lot of news reporters and polititians. Plus he only has ones guest maybe two and they actually get into deeper discussions of what is going on with this country and the world.

(Ok, I like all the animal people that have been coming on too )

Celebrities belong on ET or whatever those shows are. The lack of serious meaningful news is disgusting.
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post #5 of 15
1/31/08 at 6:37pm
While I haven't seen any of the american tabloid news shows and I get all my news from the bbc, I'm not entirely sure I agree.
While a huge outpouring of false sentiment by d-list celebs to raise ratings is trashy and cheapens what his family must be going through, I loved 10 things... and Brokeback Mountain, and was at just the right age for him to have been my movie star crush.
So although I wouldn't begrudge time spent commemorating someone's life, I have seen the news reports and read the articles safe in the knowledge that 'real' news is only a click away.
I do understand and agree with Montel's message, particularly about people like Britney Spears (who I think would have been a much better example of shallow celeb focus in the media), who is hounded by reporters, all of whom will suggest that the 'intense media spotlight' is to blame for her going off the rails.
TBH Given a choice between hearing about an actor I actually gave a darn about, or yet another bulletin concerning the MP who gave taxpayers money to his spoilt brat of a son , I know which I'd choose.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...nconway529.xml
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post #6 of 15
1/31/08 at 6:57pm
So the normal Montel's show is now cancelled? He's one of the very few DECENT talk shows worth watching - he does SOOO much good for different causes and bringing things to the attention of America.

I don't agree with his relationship and shows with Sylvia Brown, but other then that he's a great talk show host.

Did I miss something?
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post #7 of 15
1/31/08 at 8:06pm
Hooray for Montel!! I was amazed at how many people complained about the over-emphasis on Heath Ledger's passing away
I did see this article on how Britney is good for the economy!
http://www.hollyscoop.com/britney-sp...omy_14266.aspx
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post #8 of 15
2/1/08 at 4:32am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by katachtig View Post
First of all, it is supply and demand. The news agencies are rewarded by us when they show celebrity news. More people know about Britney's latest downfall than how Barak or McCain want to shape foreign policy. But by allowing us to eat all of this sugar, we become disinterested in what really affects us.

The news won't change until we demand it. There are so many alternatives that when they stop mumbling about the celebs and start talking about the hard stuff, we probably will move onto the next entertainment venue.
Bear with me since its been close to 10 years since I last sat in a TV& Media class.

Are most of what media basis their decisions on for ratings is the Neilson monitor? Yes, among other things, however if I remember right the people that have signed up for the Neilson monitor makes most of the decisions in what we watch as they consider that to be the closest they have for sampling who watches what.
So if the Neilson volunteers (or paid volunteers?) are flipping through their channels looking for the Heath Ledger minute-by-minute details, then of course the TV media is going to view that sampling as what Americans want...

Quote:
Originally Posted by catsknowme View Post
Hooray for Montel!! I was amazed at how many people complained about the over-emphasis on Heath Ledger's passing away
I did see this article on how Britney is good for the economy!
http://www.hollyscoop.com/britney-sp...omy_14266.aspx
That's the funniest thing I heard So our economy could be recovered if more celebrities (A-List of course ) have year long mental breakdowns??
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post #9 of 15
2/1/08 at 4:56am
It is more than just Nielson ratings - look at all of the gossip magazines out there. They are selling well enough to stay in business. The internet keeps track of when we click on a Britney or Lindsey article. These people run businesses and keep very close track on what will draw people to their news.
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post #10 of 15
2/1/08 at 5:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by catsknowme View Post
Hooray for Montel!! I was amazed at how many people complained about the over-emphasis on Heath Ledger's passing away
I did see this article on how Britney is good for the economy!
http://www.hollyscoop.com/britney-sp...omy_14266.aspx

He's right. The current media situation has far over emphasized celebrity gossip. So much so that I canceled my cable just to get away from the constant distraction.

Here's a story about how much money people make off of Britney Spears.
http://www.portfolio.com/culture-lif...reer-Analysis/

The long and the short of the article is that her "value" to other people is around $110 million dollars. No wonder no one wants her to get help. It would cut off the gravy train.
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post #11 of 15
2/1/08 at 2:57pm
I rarely watch television, other than news broadcasts, but I really think Montel Williams is making a very important point, and therefore applaud him. There's far too much emphasis put on "infotainment" in most societies today. Many photographers, web sites, etc, may be earning a lot by providing the "latest news" about Britt, Ledge, Lindsay, etc., but do such "new developments" really have an impact on our lives? If I get an email from an old friend telling me that a former classmate's son or daughter was just killed in Iraq or Afghanistan, that affects me far more personally. I'm familiar with some of B.S.'s songs, but have never seen a single film starring Lindsay Lohan or Heath Ledger, and quite frankly find such reports boring. Ditto the whole Princess Diana inquest.
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post #12 of 15
2/1/08 at 3:03pm
It's sad when people die, but really there is TOO MANY shows that spend MONTHS talking about a celebrity death! It's annoying and i'm sure the families hate all the publicity afterwards let the people RIP already and let their families heal without being harassed!

Besides, they hardly ever find the REAL cause of death, it's mostly speculation to keep you watching even though the truth is hardly ever revealed.
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post #13 of 15
2/1/08 at 6:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by keith p View Post
Besides, they hardly ever find the REAL cause of death, it's mostly speculation to keep you watching even though the truth is hardly ever revealed.
Ain't that the truth
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post #14 of 15
2/1/08 at 6:16pm
It has become sickening, the waste of time & energy spent on celebrities. It's as if we are being force-fed this crap whether we like it or not. Of course we can always change the channel, & alot of us do, but still it's becoming harder to escape from it. It's actually pretty bizarre that people care so much about Paris Hilton or Brittney Spears or the celebrity/glam girl of the week. If that's considered some kind of escape from our reality, read a book!!! Wow, what a concept.
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post #15 of 15
2/1/08 at 7:55pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by lookingglass View Post
Here's a story about how much money people make off of Britney Spears.
http://www.portfolio.com/culture-lif...reer-Analysis/
No way! I'm not clicking on anymore celebrity links That will just make someone think that I like it and multiply my click by 5.
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