Will Ben Mankiewicz Be Allowed to Destroy Turner Classic Movies?
by John NolteWhat makes Turner Classic Movies uniquely special? In order of importance, here are the three main reasons: 1. TCM is a politics-free zone; 2. The presentation; 3. The films.
You would think the films would rank number one, but that’s simply not the case. Now and again, TCM might screen something not available on Netflix or elsewhere, but for the most part what makes the fifteen year-old network so addictive and such a unique pleasure for movie lovers is the infectious enthusiasm for great (and sometimes not-so-great) cinema, legendary movie stars and Hollywood lore that envelopes every aspect of my #2 — the presentation.
The Mighty Robert Osborne simply is TCM. His class, deep well of knowledge, and abiding passion for all things classic Hollywood is contagious. Even if you happen to own the DVD of that particular film, Osborne makes you want to watch whatever it is on TCM just to enjoy his informative and affectionate bookends.
But nothing is more important to the success of the network than the fact that up till now it has remained a rare refuge from the partisan politics that today seem to have infested everything from our White House Christmas tree to “Sesame Street.” TCM is first, last and always a place for movie lovers of all political stripes. Under the soft plasma glow of TCM we are united members of one political party: Cinema Enthusiasts.
That’s not to say that TCM awkwardly whitewashes political realities to sidestep any kind of controversy. Film and politics have been tied at the hip since the beginning and during interviews with legendary actors, politics frequently come up — and just as frequently Osborne frames the historical political realities surrounding any given film, be it what was going on in the world at the time — the Cold War, WWII, the blacklist — or the agenda of the film and filmmakers.
All appropriate, all welcome, all appreciated…
Which brings me to weekend host Ben Mankiewicz. Commenter Other Stories saw what I did this weekend and put it best:
Love TMC! But did anyone catch the weekend host Ben Mankiewicz (had to Google to find his name) snide comments regarding “A Face in the Crowd”?
If you’re not familiar with the film, it starred Andy Griffith and he portrayed an evil media personality who fools the public by coming across as a likable down to earth kind a fella. Host Mankiewicz openly wondered if the producers had been able to see 50 years into the future and witnessed how people in this country were being manipulated and duped by angry media personalities, some who could cry on cue. He clearly was referring to conservative talk radio.
I caught this as well and for the first time in my fifteen years of dedication to this irreplaceable reservoir of the medium I love, I felt sucker-punched.
Not only was Mankiewicz clearly referring to right-wing talk radio, it was just as obvious with his snide ”cry on cue” comment that he was specifically targeting Glenn Beck.
Why is this one comment worth complaining about? Because we all know that this is how it always starts. Those of us who just want to sit back and relax and enjoy something without having to be on guard concerning a cheap sucker shot aimed at who we are and what we believe in have seen it start just like this a thousand times. Once the dam springs a leak … the dam always ends up bursting. Always. And then, once again, we lose something we love.
For the record, had Mankiewicz abused this opportunity to trash Chris Matthews or Keith Olbermann it would have been just as gratuitous and unwelcome.
The Goatee’d One can interpret the meaning of Elia Kazan’s masterpiece in today’s world all he wants, but he needs to keep that interpretation to himself and show his viewers the respect of allowing us to interpret it for our own selves.
If Mankiewicz isn’t mature enough to understand how important this is to the success of a network that enjoys the affection of a whole swath of Americans who have otherwise given up on Hollywood, he needs to be fired. And if Mankiweicz is too thick to understand that ”A Face In the Crowd” remains as effective a piece of filmmaking today as it was fifty years ago specifically due to the fact that it transcends petty partisan politics, he needs to take a leave of absence and read a book.
It says everything that of all people Alec Baldwin has shown more class than Mankiewicz. The hardcore leftist actor has impressively risen to the occasion of co-hosting ”The Essentials” with Osborne. Not once has he sent the show into a screeching halt with any kind of obnoxious political injection. Osbourne’s 77 years-old and I hope he outlives me and works until he’s 150, but should he retire, Baldwin’s energetic, informative, enthusiastic and yes, apolitical, approach would make me very comfortable with the idea of his someday stepping in as weekday host.
In summation: My complaint has nothing to do with the politics of the host, but everything to do with that individual’s class and respect for their audience.
I don’t know if the dam’s burst on TCM or not, but now — just like everything else Hollywood — we have to worry about it, don’t we? And I’m not above admitting that I’m more than little heartbroken over this … just like anyone who’s heartbroken when something or someone they love disappoints.
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234 Comments
How 'bout Tarantino as weekday host – that dude can talk movies 24/7.
I caught this too and cringed. I love TCM. I love Rober Osbourne and you are right, sometimes I will watch a movie I already own either because Osbourne has sucked me in with his intro or because I want to see his intro and extro. Other than the true classic movies, I love TCM Underground. I met my girlfriend by inviting her and a few friends over to watch the awesome Otto Preminger film, Skidoo. The Love Ins and The Apple were also awesome films I had never heard of before TCM Underground. I do wish Rob Zombie or someone had continued to introduce these films that time forgot.
Well written piece. Ditto on my feelings on TCM, I simply love to watch Robert Osborne in his presentation and special insights into the movies being shown. As I read your article I kept thinking: "But have you seen Alec Baldwin?" Yes he is a leftist tool but I'll be darned if he isn't very good working with Robert Osborne. When you finished with your comments on Mr. Baldwin I really connected with you. He offers a fresh perspective and the "inside baseball" comments I just love about the movies. His commentary is obviously based on a love for the art and a depth of knowledge and experience few have.
Wow I just typed all that saying nice things about Alec Baldwin, what is the world coming to?
I fear foreboding things to come. TCM is a jewel amongst the rubbish, but it is still owned by time/warner. Perhaps Mankiewicz is the new turk? He'd be better off following Rick Sanchez on CNN, blathering on about the evil conservatives. Bet he checks under the bed at night. Please keep TCM neutral. Officially, there is nothing else to watch.
Maybe Quentin was the one who got them to show the Wicker Man (!) the other week.
Well, angry media types DID scream pretty loudly leading up to April 2003 that Saddam had WMD and was working in conjunction with AQ to nuke the US and even helped on 9/11. Sure, basically all the "evidence" for this turned out to be transparently phony, but the aforementioned angry media types never exactly went back and said "sorry, we got that wrong". So, let's not get too outraged that someone noted a current day example of angry populist media manipulating the public, shall we?
Mankiwicz always stirkes me as trying too hard to be post-something hip.
two things here…
First, TCM needs to have a HD channel.
Second, Mankiewitz needs to be part of a rotating crew of analysts. His views have some merit; he just needs to have counterpoints.
But most important? High Definition!!
"Those of us who just want to sit back and relax and enjoy something without having to be on guard concerning a cheap sucker shot aimed at who we are and what we believe in have seen it start just like this a thousand times. Once the dam springs a leak … the dam always ends up bursting. Always. And then, once again, we lose something we love."
Here's the rub though. As time passes what was lost is becoming increasingly less relevant. I don't buy recent press about how the Industry is booming this holiday season. Circumstances might have created a up tick (not unlike an equity) but the trend is down.
SAG members may not understand credit markets but this epic contraction hasn't even reached the third inning yet. And those who intend on mastering "the craft" better stay used to being broke.
I love Robert Osborne. And he usually says something different about the same movie, no matter how often it has run.
TCM is the ONLY reason I miss cable, and the reason I will get it again when I can afford it.
Unless Mankow takes over.
It never fails for a liberal to miss the point entirely and get sidetracked in the land of rambling asides about imaginary, stereotypical attributes of conservatives as a whole. For people like this, I continue to bring conservative asides in comments of every site I view (sports, movies, videogames, etc…), just so one day, maybe, they'll say, you know what, maybe politics invading every single avenue of entertainment wasn't such a good idea after all.
My what a moron you are. 5 year old talking points ,eh?
Would that be basically ALL of the Democrats in the senate and house you are including as the "manipulators?"
And the "some people (heh heh, we know who they are, wink wink) believe Saddam was responsible for 9-11"? Jeez, can you not learn even one new lie?
Mr. Mankiewicz Is one of the voices of the Talk Radio show "Left Jab". That's right, He's a "Lefty-Liberal". So far he has kept it under control, But don't forget, that the only reason he has a job on TCM is he has the "Right" genetics.
Please don't forget: in Hollywood, "The Son-In-Law also rises"
Talk about a Jeesh, how pathetic that Leftists are not only reduced to the weakest kind of snark to defend the indefensible, they're also reduced to using some kind of anti-intellectual alchemy that turns a cry for NO POLITICS into a demand that a particalur point of view be stated out loud. Breathtaking ignorance. Truly.
Is Mankiewicz the grungy fellow who yaks from a set that looks like a SOHO loft, complete with bicycle? If so, long before he said anything remotely political, it was obvious that TCM was – as just about everything has – pouring filth over gold to appeal to the younger crowd.
To the Progressives, nothing good from the past can remain clean and untouched. It has to be 'modernized', made 'hip'.
Or, as Rand once put it, "Enshrine mediocrity and all shrines are razed."
Great article, John. You left out the very best thing about TCM though…no commercials! I can't even put into words how much I love Robert Osborne. His knowledge of Hollywood is breathtaking and he seems to be a genuinely nice guy. Oddly enough I even like Alec Baldwin when he hosts "The Essentials" with Osborne. He brings in his little bit of knowledge and stays out of politics and it's fun. I also have always liked Ben but he needs to keep his personal political opinions to himself. I don't watch TCM to be preached at, I just want to see a great old movie. Come on, Ben. You can do better. Look to Robert if you have forgotten how to be a professional.
Thank God for DVR! I generally look a week or two in advance to select which movies I want too see on TCM. This practice has given me the option to watch what I want without having to suffer such fools as This totally irrelevant Ben Mankiewicz. This weekend I had the entire Sherlock Holmes series, with Basil Rathbone, to help ignore the unwanted interruption of Mankiewicz and it was a joy to hit the fast forward button every time his ignorant visage was displayed. But his appearance on the network is a predictable thing on any network bearing the name "TURNER"!
If you want thin-skinned authoritarians who demand that only their point of view be stated out loud, look no further than your socialist President and the Democrats. They sure love telling everyone how to live their lives, but say one little thing to criticize them and they start kicking and screaming about how everyone's a Nazi. Come to think of it, that generally describes thin skinned liberals to a T.
Zwingli/Titov — Nothing displays how frustrated you are by this website than you need to comment under different names. Yes, Titov is also the below Zwingli are the same. Pathetic, indeed. Imagine being so annoyed by another point of view that you desperately create different user names to cover your sad tracks
Oh My God, I thought I was the only person who saw that and thought the exact same thing.
Osborne is great.
The young guy is a schmuck.
Politics aside, he's just not good. Mankiewicz was booted from "At The Movies" (he and Ben Lyons followed Ebert & Roeper) when it became clear that he knew zero about movies and was a terrible tv host. It can only be nepotism that got him a job at TCM, and hopefully they'll fix that error soon.
Did anyone see Alec Baldwin on Letterman recently? (I dvr'd it because Darlene Love was making her annual rousing visit, which did not dissapoint, as usual) He gave a pretty funny impression of Osbourne's insane level of knowledge of minutiae. There's a guy I'd LOVE to be sitting next to an a long plane ride!
TCM is one of the few joys left on tv, in large part because of Osborne.
It would be a shame to see it go South, er, I mean, Left.
I have been stunned that Baldwin has been able to retrain himself from any liberal commentary. He's really shown a bit of class. I've gone from despising him to just thinking he's maybe kinda okay, just boneheaded.
Makenwhatever is at TCM for one reason, his last name. He's movie royalty, but that does not mean he deserves the crown.
Face in the Crowd is a masterpiece. Andy Griffith is brilliant to behold. I am sad to hear some dbag had to get in his 2cents worth of commentary that is not even on the mark.
I also caught this segment and was sorely distressed by Mankiewitz's not-so subtle, not-so disguised attack on Conservtive radio in general and Glenn Beck specifically.
As you know (or not) I devour TCM's movies. Robert Osborne is a wonderful host with an encyclopediac knowledge of movie history.
It seems that TCM and Osborne made a conscious decision to avoid partisan politics.
What makes Mankiewitz's comments even more outrageous is the fact that “A Face in the Crowd” is a masterpiece that explores the power of electronic celebrity. It's about the terrible contrast between a man and his image.
Yet it seems to me that “A Face in the Crowd” can more accurately be read as an indictment of Barack Obama, a man with no real accomplishments at anything save running for office, a man who rose to the highest office because of his ability to project and package an image, a man who nimbly used and uses the liberal media as a powerful tool of propaganda.
So, not only did Mankiewitz violate a tacit, no-politics contract with his devoted audience, but his reading of the film is shockingly narrow-minded.
I fear that TCM will cease as a politically free zone for those of us—Democrat, Republican, or Independent—who love movies.
That's disappointing to hear. I have, in the past, enjoyed Ben as host on TCM and TCM's Cartoon Alley. He is clearly knowledgeable and has a great pedigree (his cousin Frank is a screenwriter; grandfather co-wrote Citizen Kane and grand-uncle wrote All About Eve) that may provide insight. He is openly liberal, formerly co-hosting The Young Turks radio show and his father worked as Democratic operative for George McGovern and Robert Kennedy (and his brother works at NBC). I agree with John Nolte that there's no problem with Ben having whatever opinions he wants, just that he should discuss them in the proper forum (like maybe his radio show).
what else can you expect from a time-warner venture ? if a conservative said something similar about a liberal movie (what modern movie isn't liberal ?) wouldn't have lost his/her job ? go ahead and e-mail tcm and let them know what is going on with benny. remember what happened when amc started putting commercials in their movies. one question – was benny too liberal for the disney syndicated movie review program ??? something to think about
doesn't help much here in the cold wasteland of Obamaville- but thanks for the heads up and we will watch for it…
BM did a great job with the vintage cartoons (Cartoon Alley) but maybe real films pose too great a challenge for him.
If I could change one thing about TCM it would be to eliminate the hideous TCM.COM watermark/bug that pops up every 20 minutes. Seeing it at the exact instant Harry Lime's fingers emerge from the Vienna street grate in The Third Man was particularly egregious.
The only reason Mankiewicz is on TCM is because of his name, and the fact that he's under 60 years old. I love TCM, but it is a cable channel, and those in charge have to feel that putting someone like Mankiewicz on (and having him appear in a pseudo-trendy yuppie-like apartment "set" ) will help to attract the 20 to 30 crowd. I'm 40, and I have been watching TCM for years. It's one of the few channels I actually do watch that does not involve sports or news. Other than Robert Osbourne, there's really no need to have any type of "host".
Is it a coincidence that it's near 0 degrees outside?
Might hell really be freezing over?
Isn't crying on cue Oprah stock in trade?
The original reply that started this thread was gone by the time I got here, but I can guess what it said.
Modern liberals wrongly believe themselves to be absolutely politically neutral. Therefore, every position they have on any and all issues is not political, correct, and if you don't agree, it means you are the political person in the debate, not them.
This particular sub-strain of modern liberalism can be found in much of the MSM.
Didn't Nick Clooney used to be the face of TCM? I always liked him.
I actually agree Alec Baldwin is a good choice for host. Even though he's a hardcore lefty, I don't think he would sully classic film with his political opinions. I think he usually chooses what he thinks is the appropriate place to espouse his crazy ideas. I think he knows there's a time for everything. We'll see if that is true when he hosts the Oscars this year.
Tons of UN documents on saddam's WMD program were dumped on the web years ago. I spent a couple of weeks sifting through them. By the UN's own records, Iraq was still in possession of tons of this stuff in April 2003.
These weren't estimates, guesses, or shaky assumptions based upon secret intelligence. These were weapons that were rounded up by the UN weapons disposal team (remember Scott Ritter?), cataloged, tagged, and scheduled for disposal before saddam ran the UN out of Iraq. They were turned over to the UN following the cease fire of the first Gulf War.
Following the fall of Baghdad, saddam's WMD scientists stated they had all been disposed of years ago. How ever no records were kept, there was no evidence they were destroyed. Which is kind of strange considering how document oriented Iraqis were.
That means that either saddam's love for his fellow man was so great that he willingly finished the job the UN started, didn't want to bother the UN with telling them, because I guess, he really enjoyed the US no fly zones and the sanctions.
Or, they're some where else now.
You stick with the first possibility, but I'm a logical kind of guy. What the left should really do is start worrying about who's got all that stuff. My guess, Syria.
So you wanna talk about how the media manipulates the public? How about the media selling people on a jr senator that has no business leading our country? How about the media savaging a woman that was nothing but a successful governor, mother, and wife in favor of this jr senator?
Wanna talk about that? Or are you too big a p*ssy to imagine your beliefs are wrong? I'm gonna go with option 2…..
Talk about projection – this post is a case study in how wishful thinking metastasizes into "facts."
One more time for the idiots. No "transparently phony" evidence – unless your BFF Bill Clinton is equally culpable. Courtesy of Agence France-Presse: http://www.spacewar.com/2004/040109015020.8ivyabd...
No one knows but Zwingli/whatever your name is today. Any other BS you wanna peddle?
Robert Osborne is a national treasure.
Until conservatives hold position's of power at places like TCM we will always be in this up and down ride with the liberals. Conservatives own talk radio, FOX and we are gaining a major strong hold on the internet with sites like BIG HOLLYWOOD and BIG GOVERNMENT and internet radio. The other option is to have conservative investors start up movie channels like TCM and control the content like the liberals do. We should be able to play the same game they play and lets see who gets the ratings. There can be a lot of great movie channels that show the old stuff and promote American values before this generation took over. They are all going to be retiring and like the old conservative movie moguls who had a great 70 year runs, this leftist cult of malcontents won't last 50 years because the kids behind them are more conservative then the tune in drop out baby boomers who are on their way out.
This is spot on. Face in the Crowd is absolutely more appropriately assigned to media creation Obama. Mankiewitz totally missed the boat either by ignorance or by design, he tried to spin the movie to fit his narrow view.
Either way, this person does not deserve to hold that job.
I, too, love TCM. Even the filler between the films is must-see worthy. Hopefully they won't go the way of good ol' AMC, and make with the commercials.
Although I am disappointed that Mank… made the comment, I am too tired to boycott yet another cable channel. After removing PMSNBC, the MTV and VH1 freak-a-thons, and others, I have only a dozen and a half favorites on a digital cable line-up that numbers over 100! I'm sticking with the network.
Next thing you know, he'll talk about what a traitor Kazan was for ratting out Communists.
They planned that, didn't you know?
:p
Time Warner cable is in a battle with Fox over pricing. If it is not settled by December 31, subscribers will lose the channels.
Hopefully, TCM doesn't go the way of AMC and 1. make with commercials, 2. go fullscreen, 3. edit for time, 4. go non-classic movies.
Love TCM. Head's up. One of the greats on tonight…8/est…5/pst:
http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=4749
I noticed it too! I felt like snarling at his assumption that his audience would agree with his facile linking of conservative media and the megalomaniac character played by Andy Griffith.
Thank you for noticing and writing this article!
No TCM? I don't need television. I wouldn't toss the set but it better
be a damn good emergency for me to turn it on.
Apparently you can't take the Turner out of TCM.
I guess Baldwin thought the tonight show was an appropriate place to suggest that Rep. Henry Hyde and all his family including children should be killed because of his role in Clinton's impeachment.
If and when he reveals that was clinically insane when he made that and other similar statements and abjectly apologizes to all of us for his past anti-American positions, then and then only will I allow him into my home via television.
I would never under any circumstances attend a movie or other event in which he appears.
Oscars? Are they still on?
I think It's because conservatives in general are more concerned with ideas, and less concerned with personal animosity. Liberals are the ones who usually want absolutely nothing to do with conservatives, under any circumstances. I don't think we as conservatives see liberals as defective human beings. They may have opinions that we disagree with, but it doesn't mean we ostracize them from our lives, and that they don't have other positive things to offer aside from politics.
I honestly think conservatism is generally more about the big picture, realizing that people are people and that we actually can get along with people who are different from us. I think liberals often just want to burn bridges and question the right of a conservative to even breathe.
Obviously there are going to be conservatives who completely write off liberals as worthless human beings, but I can't help but think that the balance of being more "open minded" is actually on the conservative side.
In short, I think that's why it's ok to acknowledge the good things that Alec Baldwin does.
If anyone is interested, TCM has a very cool blog worth checking out:
http://moviemorlocks.com/
Yeah I remember when he did that, saying they should be stoned to death. I don't think he was serious, but maybe he's mellowed out a bit in the years since then. His career is on the upswing, I suspect he's more aware of alienating his audience these days. I could be wrong though. You don't have to watch him. I'm not big on grudges though. People say stupid things and sometimes you have to let it go and be the bigger person, and figure that if they don't see how they are wrong now, maybe they'll see the light in the future.
Lonesome Rhodes always seemed like Bill Clinton to me.
Robert Osborne proves there are plenty of interesting facts behind the movie and little time to say it. Who needs to waste the time with snarky remarks. No one tunes in for that. It's the movie and the enhancement of the opening and closing.
Charles Krauthammer said it nicely, "We think liberals are wrong; they think we're evil."
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TCM is an oasis of old-time values in a rapidly declining culture. Of course it will be destroyed. Everything good is dying. The lights are going out all over the world.
Mankiewicz has made several snide political comments in the past, particularly jabs at George Bush and his administration. He is your classic leftist — nothing is above using as a platform to spread his agitprop. When he's yakking, I mute the sound.
I think he's seen every movie ever made…twice.
Ol' Ben was catching hell at the TCM message boards for his comments, but the Powers That Be there have locked the thread:
http://forums.tcm.com/jive/tcm/thread.jspa?thread...
Here's the contact info for TCM — send them an email or a letter, tell them how you feel.
http://support.tcm.com/ics/support/default.asp?de...
For me, Robert Osborne is TCM. I can't imagine the network without him.
As for Mankieicz, he is an annoying buffoon. He worked(s) on TMZ and has no idea what the heck he's talking about.
I must say, Alec Baldwin was pretty good with Osborne. But I rather have Dennis Miller as host. I think Dennis will love to have that job if it ever becomes available. I know of no one else, other than John Nolte of course, who has such a depth of knowledge of movies.
All correspondence for Robert Osborne and Ben Mankiewicz can be sent to:
Robert Osborne (or Ben M.)
c/o TCM
1050 Techwood Drive N.W.
Atlanta, GA 30318
Contacting Robert or Ben via email is not possible.
Snail mail? You can't be serious.
Ben…its TCM! 16 of your buddies saw you make a fool of yourself. Advice: GET A CAREER.
John:
I caught the comment and glad you did too. All I can say is "Amen." I hope TCM reigns him in.
Charles Krauthammer says just about everything nicely. A brilliant man with a definite way with words.
Watching Andy Griffith's performance brings Bill Clinton to mind. Lonesome Rhodes had his geetar and sweet-talk and Slick Willie, his sax and AstroTurf lined pickup truck bed.
Look up Ben on Wikepedia and see what you get – former air america host, had a liberal talk show for years by himself, dad was a super hollywood lib that was on Nixon's "enemies list". This guy is from ground zero of the liberal world, his whole family is a who's who of liberalism AND HE JUST HAPPENS TO GET THIS GIG and then HE JUST HAPPENS TO SPOUT HIS LIBERAL DRIVEL. He is another foot soldier in the liberal army providing his drip-drip-drip of liberalism as best he can and in the same way that a NYT film critic or even sports writer cant help but add to the drip-drip-drip by injecting more of their ideology where it doesn't belong.
"…of all people Alec Baldwin has shown more class than Mankiewicz. The hardcore leftist actor has impressively risen to the occasion of co-hosting ”The Essentials” with Osborne. Not once has he sent the show into a screeching halt with any kind of obnoxious political injection."
Not only that, but I once heard him (Baldwin) actually praising Charlton Heston in one of his intros (Ben Hur, I think), and when Osborne took note of that, Baldwin mentioned that, despite differences of opinion, he would never let politics get in the way of his appreciation of someone's talent.
I gotta give him at least a little bit of credit for that.
Wow, this is really grievance mongering and pettiness at it's finest.
I caught on to Mankiewicz's game awhile back after he made one too many smartass comments towards The Duke.
I caught on to Mankiewicz's game awhile back after he made one too many smartass comments towards The Duke.
Well, if networks are based on ratings, all they have to do is observe how their own prestigious CNN is doing in the ratings, and decide if they want TCM to suffer the same fate.
maatkare – Really? I have full digital Time Warner in LA too, but no sign of TCM-HD anywhere, on my TV or in their channel listings. Pray tell, what channel number is it??
I love TCM, but Ben Mankiewicz's comment regarding the Essential Film masterpiece "A Face In The Crowd", and Andy Griffith's portrayal reminds me exactly of what the Leftist media "turn on the tears" for their man, Barrack Hussein Obama & his administration DO ON A 24/7 basis.
If TCM ever gets rid of Robert Osborne and starts doing the "political commentary" thing, this is when I am OUT OF HERE WITH CABLE T.V.!!!
Grievance? You want grievance listen to your boy Obama … the mean media, George did it, my daddy didn't love me, my mommy didn't want me, leave me along, I'm tired …
Yes, I heard somewhere that NOT ONCE has one of his intros/outros been a repeat. Every one of them is brand new. He's done thousands of them by now.
"…no commercials!"
No kidding! I used to love AMC for about 5 minutes when it came out — until they started ruining it with commercials. Oh, and the fact that they edit their movies too.
Now it's TCM all the way!
I second your thoughts on A Face in the Crowd. One of the wonders of that brilliant film is that it never tips its ideological hand. Lonesome Rhoads could just as easily be a leftist as a right-winger, just as demagogues come in all shapes and flavors. The movie is a cautionary tale about putting a demagogue on a pedestal, and no demagogue stands higher in the eyes of the media today than Obama.
Great art is a Rorschach test, everyone sees something different. A great critic acknowledges that, and doesn't try to compartmentalize it in order to score points with his ideological compatriots.
That particular battle only involves the broadcast network. The news channels are unaffected by it — thank god! Couldn't live without my Redeye!
Though, the thought of losing The Simpsons isn't pleasant either.
I thought I was the only one ….thank you for mentioning it…sigh!…it made me sad, and annoyed.
Obviously, Mankiewicz is sucking up to Ted Turner, hoping to get Osborne's job when he retires.
Sadly, Osborne's currying favor, too, by buddying with Baldwin.
I won't watch Baldwin.
Simple as that.
I used to love AMC and TMC.
It's sad, but frankly, I can put movies on my home network and queue them up any time I want.
The number of films not yet released to DVD is no longer that large.
Channels and networks are dying because of political crap like this, but then, they have nobody to blame but themselves.
When I think of Ben Mankiewicz, I think of him and some other guy riding around Hollywood in a convertible going to classic restaurants. They look like two middle-aged office workers acting out their favorite scene from Swingers.
For real commentary on and enthusiasm for the movies, I'll take Osbourne and his guests.
Normal people know when they're being political. The problem facing clowns like Mankiewicz is that they live such an insular existence amidst a reflexive orgy of self-congratulatory leftism that they have no clue that they're being political at all. They're imply speaking the way "smart" people speak, and thinking the thoughts of "smart" people have. It's a lifestyle where every last choice from food to transportation to clothing is political in some way and it is such a mindless existence that there's no hint of self-awareness at all.
"They're imply speaking the way …"
That should read "simply," not "imply."
Dennis Miller for TCM host!!
Being in rural NSW, one of the pleasures of getting to Sydney is TCM on my sister's cable. Recently caught up with I Am a Fugitive from a Chaingang. What a joy!
I'm aware that a great many of the artists from cinema's earlier years were leftists…but they were leftists with a job to do, not celebs with an axe to grind. I'm one of the few people who think that Sean Penn is just a clumsy ham most of the time, but that's because I hate his acting, not his politics. There are any number of present day leftists whose work I'd love to love…but they need to go to work in the entertainment business and get out of the business of "empowering" or "educating" people they perceive as naive slobs.
Archie should have thrown Meathead out which is what I hope they will do with Mankiewicz or not let him in at all.
Its no fricking secret that Osbourne and many if not all of his guests are liberal leaning. That said Osbourne and many of the guests say good things about conservative filmmakers and conservatives actors when presenting their films. Heck, even Alec Baldwin was praising Charlton Heston on the great job he did in "Ben Hur" when he was a guest host which surprised me. I am conservative and like TCM and the movies they show.
I caught the remark and took notice of it. To start with, Mankiewicz adds nothing positive to TCM. Just in general, he comes off as arrogant.
If it continues, I will cancel extended basic cable, which I only have because of TCM. I will notify TCM and Comcast as to why and will have my mother record the movies I want to see.
Leftists are totalitarians. The urge to shove their agenda on everyone from every angle will be their downfall.
Great point about the dam. I have a particular science blog I go to frequently. One day, out of nowhere, one of the more infrequent article posters suddenly drops this climate-related 'science is settled' garbage. At no point anywhere on the blog do they cover this stuff. Naturally, I went off in the comments (and started a several days-long battle involving a lot of posters) for the very reason you mention – this is how it starts: One post and they get away with it, then two, then four, eight, sixteen, thirty-two, etc. And suddenly your favorite site is a Lefty propaganda garbage dump. My efforts were rewarded. There hasn't been a single climate related post since. It's back to good hard science.
Ditto the remarks so far. I am amazed how much I enjoy watching Alec Ballwin, knowing he is working his craft, not his leftie mouth. Hopefully these blog comments will get to TCM management, and they will keep this American TV institution political free.
Your right he needs to apologize and leave TCM and grow up. These bastards can't leave anything alone. I going to submit an e-mail to TCM requesting this. There has got to some place to go to get away from politics.
"Saddam had WMD and was working in conjunction with AQ to nuke the US and even helped on 9/11"…." turned out to be transparently phony"
Sorry, you are flat-out wrong. Did you even bother to research this?
1) After the US invasion, stockpiles of Saddam's banned WMD were found. The Pentagon reports the total at 500. Fact Check reports it as 50. So much for the lie that Saddam had no WMD. While these were not new nukes as some claimed might exist, they were WMD, they did in fact exist, they were a significant, material and aggressive violation of the Gulf War cease fire, and in the post 9/11 world, it made no sense at all to let a major terrorist warlord keep them.
2) No one ever claimed that Saddam caused 9/11, or was working with AQ to nuke the US.
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So, no media-types need to apologize for telling the truth that Saddam had WMD. But perhaps the liars who oppose striking back at Saddam should. They were wrong then,and are wrong now.
He's not my boy, so what is your point? If this kind of stuff is what moves you. try prunes.
Your comment is exactly what I would expect from a brainy Beck fan. Turn on your tears so your whining won't seem such a petty trivial thing
Love the idea, but there may be a real difficulty in attempting a new start-up against TCM (and AMC, for that matter…). Check me if I'm wrong, but I believe the foundation of TCM lies in the enormous library of old movies that Ted Turner bought up back when he was newly flush with money from his then-new upstart CNN… I believe he *still* has a huge number of original reels of celluloid deep-stored in the old Carey salt mines under Hutchinson (NW of Wichita, in central KS)… I *think* it would probably be prohibitively expensive to pay the royalties/exhibitor's fees, etc, just to get the "classic" material on the air… add to that the "No Commercials" mandate? [*sigh*]
As much of an uphill battle as it likely will be to ever teach Libs like Ben Mankiewicz how to behave themselves in polite company, it may prove MUCH more attainable, certainly in the near-term… I'm just sayin', because the notion of a Conservative-run movie channel (perhaps an extension of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp/Fox empire?!) is HUGELY appealing to me otherwise!!
Dennis is a national treasure.
Thanks for a great read and I agree with most of the comments here. I have been telling my wife for months that I don't like that guy. (Mac) Now I know why. Somehow I can always spot a lefty.
Yeah, I caught Mankiewicz pinching out another one of these turds a few weeks back following "Capricorn One." In that case, he felt the need to point out that the film's government-faked Mars landing looked extra believable since the events of the last eight years had shown Americans that their government is still lying to them.
Not only was it an unwelcome sucker punch on a lazy Sunday afternoon, it was particularly muddy-headed.
Also, I disagree that it would be just as bad if someone were taking a shot at Olbermann or any other of the Left's pundits. Part of what makes the constant conservative bashing so objectionable is how it has gone on relentlessly year after dreary, cliched year.
I don't want the opposite to happen, but if someone was taking a shot at Olbermann or Matthews, it would at least be novel.
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