The candidates' favorite TV shows

[DeepModem Mom]

Media Bistro: Barack Obama Is A SpongeBob Fan

It's time for the 2008 presidential candidates to do some crucial humanizing PR gigs before the primaries. Chief among them: Talking to TV Guide about your viewing habits. The listings mag was kind enough to give us a sneak peak at their December 3rd "Presidential Candidate Edition" issue, which is hitting stands on Thursday:

Hillary Clinton is a fan of HGTV makeover shows, Grey's Anatomy, American Idol, and Dancing with the Stars, but her all-time TV favorite is The Ed Sullivan Show.

Barack Obama tells TV Guide that his favorite TV character of all time is "SpongeBob SquarePants, because SpongeBob is the show I watch with my daughters." His favorite TV shows of all time are M*A*S*H and The Wire.

John Edwards is a fan of Boston Legal, and tells TV Guide that his viewing guilty pleasure is "Fred Thompson on Law & Order."

Dennis Kucinich is a fan of late-night TV, citing The Tonight Show, Late Show, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and Saturday Night Live as his favorites. "When I get a chance to watch TV, it's usually late in the evening," he tells TV Guide. "Those shows have brilliant writers. It's just great to watch them." He also adds that he doesn't mind being the punch line of their jokes. "It's hilarious. I take what I do seriously, but I don't take myself seriously."

John McCain lists Prison Break among his favorite TV shows "because as a fellow prisoner, I always dreamed and plotted how I would break out of the Hanoi Hilton," he tells TV Guide.

Mitt Romney tells TV Guide he is a fan of Lost because it has "a very captivating plot, and if you live a busy life, escape is always welcome."

Fred Thompson's favorite TV show is SportsCenter. He tells TV Guide, "I always need to stay up on my Titans, Vols, Vanderbilt and, of course, my Memphis Tigers."...

http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/ (Scroll down.)

[Warpy]

1. Edwards can laugh at himself and his profession

That's a trait I find utterly irresistible.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. I can't help but notice that none of the candidates listed "The Simpsons".

[goodgd_yall]

13. Is that significant to you?

[chelsea0011]

3. Honest to gawd. How many times do you think they actually watch

any of these shows? I only believe Kucinich and the late night shows. And thankfully, Mitt picked LOST.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Good catch -- LOST! nt

[shain from kane]

5. And his favorite movie, "Without A Clue".

[DeepModem Mom]

6. Good one!

[rurallib]

7. Sometimes the jokes just write themselves.

[monmouth]

8. Giuliani and the Sopranos no doubt....

[Clintonista2]

9. Ugh. I have to agree with Mitt.

Lost is the greatest thing on TV.

[Adelante]

10. Ooh, The Wire, one of my all time faves nt

[snowbear]

11. Ed Sullivan?

Sorry Hillayites, but....

[goodgd_yall]

12. You don't know what you're talking about---Ed Sullivan was an institution

Perhaps you aren't old enough to have experienced the show? I still remember the many comedians he presented, never mind the Broadway show bits and all the British invasion groups. I was watching when Jackie Mason did his famous "giving the finger" to the cue card guy. That was shocking stuff back then. I was too young to understand the significance except through my mother's strong response of titillated shock.

I have to say Hillary's taste is closest to mine, but I do like Spongebob too.

[snowbear]

15. I'm happy for you..

Really I am.





. . .

[PurityOfEssence]

14. Nice interlude. Thanks.

The Dems all show some nice character here: Hillary is comfortable to admit being drawn to some glitzy fluff which makes her feel much more "real" than so much of what we're given about her, Barack's inherent joie de vivre shines through, Kucinich has great taste and it takes the edge off of what has become a rather shrill bent of sanctimony of late, and Edwards comes off as someone who really relishes the life he's followed and led. Nice little moments here.

McCain's seems a bit stagey, but I can also buy it. Thompson's DEFINITELY telling the truth, and from someone who CAN'T STAND sports, I have to say it's reassuring to see that he's as comfortable with himself as he is. Mitt seems a bit calculated, but never having seen the show, I won't comment beyond that.