ABC Tells Viewers Not To Watch Obama's Half-Hour Special Tomorrow Night

[jefferson_dem]

ABC Tells Viewers Not To Watch Obama's Half-Hour Special Tomorrow Night
By Greg Sargent - October 28, 2008, 5:27PM

ABC, which is the only one of the networks that won't air Barack Obama's unusual 30-minute special during prime-time tomorrow, has taken a bit of a swipe at Obama and told its viewers not to watch Obama's appearance.

A source sends over some video he took of an ABC ad that the network has now aired for its program "Pushing Daisies," which airs tomorrow night at 8:00 P.M., the same time as Obama's special. The ad urges viewers to ignore the other networks' programming at that time:

"Wednesday, America, you have a choice," ABC's ad says. "Get political with the other networks, or enjoy the Emmy-winning drama full of surprising revelations: ABC's `Pushing Daisies."

At the mention of getting "political with the other networks" someone intercedes with an expression of disgust: "Please."

ABC lost its chance to air Obama's special tomorrow because it delayed too long in answering the Obama campaign's request to buy the air time.

As swipes go, it's a pretty light-hearted one. But telling viewers dismissively not to watch one of the the two candidates make his case less than a week before the election seems like a pretty dodgy place for a network to go.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/abc_tells_viewers_not_to_watch.php

[TTUBatfan2008]

1. If he wins...

I am pretty confident ABC's reporters will be banned from the White House press corps.

[MadBadger]

4. Well that wont make him look petty and power hungry at all

[TTUBatfan2008]

5. It's not about being power hungry...

It's about respect. These assholes have an agenda similar to Sean Hannity. Fuck 'em. Or perhaps you weren't watching the debate earlier this year when they literally pulled out every single Hannity-esque attack as a "legit question" for Obama.

[MadBadger]

7. Bullshit, this sounds like Hugo Chavez

[TTUBatfan2008]

8. Please...

tell what Obama did to deserve that bullshit attack from Gibson and Steph during that debate? Do you think that was fair journalism? I don't. I think it was Fox News "journalism," aka a hit job.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. That would be a terrible move

and I'm pretty confident Obama's administration will never do something so vindictive and stupid.

[blueclown]

15. Not ABC. Just Fox News. n/t

[Milspec]

23. I really like "Pushing Daisy's" and will watch it

thats what DVR is for

[mrreowwr_kittty]

2. Actually, I don't have a problem with it.

People should have a choice. I've never understood why certain events need to be broadcast on every network. One network and one cable station is perfectly sufficient.

[Sebastian Doyle]

10. It would be less significant, if not for the obvious Anti-Democratic turn that ABC took years ago

Pretty much about the time Peter Jennings died. And I'll leave further elaboration on that point in my box of Reynolds Wrap :tinfoilhat:

[still_one]

3. Thank you abc, you just got us more viewers /nt

[TheDonkey]

9. Looking at Pushing Daisy's cratering ratings that sort of commercial will probably draw audiences to

the other channels instead!

[Xithras]

11. Which is tragic, since PD is one of the best shows on TV.

I fear that the show will be a late victim of the writers strike and inept ABC management. It was pulled from the air prematurely during the first season because of the strike, and hasn't recovered this season. That's tragic, since it's one of the funniest and most original shows going at the moment.

[seabeyond]

13. what is it about. never heard of it. n/t

[ellisD]

16. its about

a guy who can touch dead things and they come back to life... if he touches them twice they die again forever - and if he brings something back to life for more than 1 minute, something else dies in its place... basically he uses his power to ask murder victims who killed them then solves the case - its an alright show, more family oriented I guess... definitely has its own unique visual style, kinda reminds me of the movie Big Fish

[seabeyond]

20. aapreciate it. i have gone to books the last year or two and i NEVER watch tv anymore. n/t

[Xithras]

19. Short version.

Backstory: Little boy discovers he has the power to raise the dead with a touch, but only for 60 seconds. If he touches them again, they die forever. If he leaves them alive for more than 60 seconds, someone nearby dies in their place. As a boy he fell madly in love with the girl next door and they had their first kiss together. One day, the boys mom died and, without understanding the implications, he brought her back to life for more than 60 seconds. The neighbor girls dad dropped dead in her place. Later that day, the mom went to give the boy a kiss goodnight and dropped dead too. He was sent to boarding school, she was sent to live with her aunts, and they didn't cross paths again until she was murdered at age 27. In a fit of grief, he brought her back to life, which killed a murderous undertaker who happened to be nearby.

Current story: The two, along with their detective friend, use his power to solve crimes (usually murders). The now-man and woman love each other deeply, but can never touch or she'll drop dead again forever. One of the ongoing plot lines is how they express their love for each other without contact.

Despite the death-heavy storyline, it's actually a very fun show to watch. The whole thing is very tongue in cheek with 100% computer generated sets, gaudy and brightly colored clothes, and storylines that are as nutty as they are funny. The whole show has a feel like a 1940's radio program set to film. It's very out there. More than that, it's unique and original, which tend to be rare things in Hollywood nowadays.

It's depressing to see ABC pitting such a great program up against Obama. I'm just glad I have a DVR so I can watch both. Of course, I also have Dish Network so I get to watch the OBAMA TV channel all day long when I want to :)

[seabeyond]

22. sounds fun. thanks. as i said above

i just dont watch tv anymore, but you explained really well and now i want to watch. lol

[CatBO]

12. What did you expect them to do?

It's like McCain's campaign saying that Al Qaeda hoping for a McCain win was "reverse psychology".

In these instances, there is only one tact to take. ABC has taken it. They need the money as much as McCain needs the votes. They are taking the obvious route out.

I would be surprised at their stupidity if they didn't take this tact. Much as I was surprised that the ever stupid McCain campaign didn't take the tact of "Oh yes Al Qaeda wants us, Country First goddammit!"

[rvablue]

14. In all fairness, the news and entertainment divisions of the networks

are totally separate. And this show is kind of a cheeky one....me thinks its just a publicity stunt and not a swipe of any kind.

[nyc 4 Biden]

17. Sour Grapes. eom

[ericgtr]

18. Anyone remember the lady that tried to get Married With Children taken off the air?

It made news and it doubled the ratings of MWS. So yeah, go ABC!

[underpants]

21. Let's see now-ABC aired that 9/11 monstrousity, Disney refused to distribute "Farenheit 911"

I am surely this is just a coincidence

:sarcasm:

[MrsBrady]

24. i think it's a bad move for their ratings....

if they want to push "pushing daisies"

they should have aired the commercial.

so many people will be watching the commercial, that they might actually get people to stay tuned if the show it AFTER.

network executives are sooooo stupid sometimes