Which network was it that was accused of broadcasting opinion journalism masquerading as news? 

On Friday, during the “CNN Newsroom” hour, the network broadcast a story of the White House’s use of Hollywood to promote national service. Your humble Big Hollywood contributor was interviewed for this “news” segment. 

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Their conclusion: 1) promoting volunteerism is a pretty benign message, and 2) Presidents throughout history have also promoted volunteerism so this White House Hollywood effort is nothing new. 

After coming to these two conclusions, the host Rick Sanchez asked the reporter Brooke Anderson, “What is the threshold then…at what point do we get past that slippery slope when now we’re going to be taking orders from the Commander-in-Chief and we in Hollywood have to be the ones that deliver that order?”  (more…)

In my piece posted earlier today, I mentioned previous television network public service campaigns  and the “clunky exposition awkwardly inserted into your favorite show” to further whatever that campaign was. Last week’s episode of “The New Adventures of Old Christine” might have provided an early preview of how the networks will — per the infamous memo – “organically produce and create as many stories as possible about service and volunteerism” — and if so, it appears as though I owe “clunky exposition” an apology.

Put your politics on hold for a second and at right around the 2:38 mark watch and listen to two awkward minutes of lazy, poorly written pro-ObamaCare propaganda:

For those of you not willing to put yourself through it, the entire episode is littered with jarring references to the 45 million uninsured (I thought it was 30 million, or have 15 million lost their jobs and insurance since the stimulus?), “jokes” about the long lines at American hospitals and even a line desperately seeking a rim-shot about death panels. (more…)