Mike Douglas and Roger Ailes?

[ovidsen]

This was news to me, but somehow it makes sense, in a sort of karmic, ironic way... from today's obituary in the NYTimes for talkshow fluffball Mike Douglas:

...The program also produced a pivotal moment in American political history: the creative mind behind the scenes at “The Mike Douglas Show” in the 1960’s, the producer Roger Ailes, became a crucial media adviser to Nixon in his successful run for president in 1968 after meeting him on the show. He went on to play a similar campaign role for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush and is now chief executive of the Fox News Channel and chairman of Fox Television.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/12/arts/television/12douglas.html?_r=1&ref=television&oref=slogin

[Cooley Hurd]

1. But Mike had John and Yoko on his show as co-hosts for a week...

...in 1971 or 1972,after Ailes' run as producer.

[Armstead]

2. He had a lot of interesting guests on

I remember that show. He actually brought on a lot of interesting political figures and thinkers, and helped to bring the "counterculture" to mainstream viewers back then.

[ovidsen]

3. Absolutely!!

I'm not really dissing Mike Douglas. At worst, he was harmless... unless you consider Totie Fields or Tiny Tim to be threats to civilization!

I just think it's interesting that this is where that "master of propagander" Ailes evolved from.

No, wait... he couldn't have evolved; he wouldn't believe it that! But he wasn't a product of "intelligent design" either. Hmmm... just where DID he come from??:crazy:

[Armstead]

5. TeVee Show Biz

What's often overlooked in explanations of the popularity of Faux is the fact that it's kind of fun to watch.

True, the actual content is gag inducing. And its' presentation is pure tabloid. But by the standards of modern TV "journalism" it's the Funnest Trash on TV. CNN and MSNBC (and NBC) are pale imitations in terms of flash and trash.

Political content aside, that what Roger is good at.

[ovidsen]

8. You're right. Style over substance

Or maybe style over content??

When I think about it, that's what sets the NY Post as well as the British tabloids (all owned by Rupert Murdoch) apart from other newspapers. Flash! Lots of blue smoke and mirrors! Like the Murdoch owned Fox TV empire!

No wonder Ailes and Murdoch get along so well!!!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

6. I bought a DVD of those episodes a while back...

had to get it from Brazil - the packaging is in Portugese, but the show is just as it was aired. Awesome stuff.

Mike wasn't exactly friendly with Jerry Rubin, though. :-)

[Rhiannon12866]

4. Larry King mentioned Roger Ailes yesterday when he was interviewed on CNN

after the announcement of Mike Douglas's death. Apparently, they'd been friends for years and Larry has had him on his show often in recent years. He chronicled Mike Douglas's long career and Ailes's name came up because he produced his long-running show. This was a bit of a shock to me, too, since Mike Douglas seemed so affable, but that was a long time ago and I was hardly paying attention back then...;)

Interesting perspective...:-(

[sludge man]

7. MIke's daughter married Paul Voinovich

His daughter married Paul Voinovich (deceased) who was the brother of Senator George Voinovich (R-OH).