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Home Front: Politix
ABC's White House special struggled for viewers - beat out by a rerun of CSI
2009-06-26
President Obama's town hall meeting on health care delivered a sickly rating Wednesday evening.

The one-hour ABC News special "Primetime: Questions for the President: Prescription for America" (4.7 million viewers, 1.1 preliminary adults 18-49 rating) had the fewest viewers in the 10 p.m. hour (against NBC's "The Philanthropist" debut and a repeat of "CSI: NY" on CBS). The special tied some 8 p.m. comedy repeats as the lowest-rated program on a major broadcast network.
Just for the record, "The Philanthropist" episode was about as tedious as television can get. We kept watching in the hope that it would get better, but it never got as far as awful. It didn't occur to us to check ABC to see if the president was any better.
The special was shot at the White House and featured the president answering questions about his health care plan. The president's primary message was that those who like their current insurance will be able to keep it and that taking no action will result in higher health care costs.

The special drew fire from Republican leadership after refusing to allow an official opposition response, or even a paid ad. ABC also interviewed Obama on "Good Morning America" to help promote the special.
Posted by:GolfBravoUSMC

#6  ABC tanked. No surprise. Everyone already knew ABC was in the tank. Viewers said nothing of interest here, I guess we will move on.
Posted by: JohnQC   2009-06-26 16:46  

#5  The health care thing is not even a good show. Today's Dilbert is far more relevant about what is on the minds of more and more of the electorate:
Dilbert 26 June 2009
Panel 1:
Coworker to Dilbert & Asok the intern, all holding coffee cups: "I can't afford my mortgage because of my pay cut. The bank will take my house.
Panel 1:
Asok the intern: "I saved a bundle by being a renter. I should buy your house for next to nothing."
Coworker eyes bug out in silence.
Panel 3:
Coworker glowers at Asok.
Asok the intern peering at glowering coworker over the edge of his coffee cup: "Too soon?"
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418   2009-06-26 16:19  

#4  Well, since you raise the point. Given that Americans are living longer today than any other time in history and we probably have the largest population of over 80 year olds on the planet, 'universal health care' is a political entertainment gambit to enthrall the masses. The 21st Century version of the traveling barker selling snake oil. It's a good show but lousy in really curing ills other than to suppress with some form of opiate.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2009-06-26 11:25  

#3  I'm sure TASS, oops, ABC will say that it exceeded expectations and was compelling, important television.
Posted by: Cornsilk Blondie   2009-06-26 09:44  

#2  P2k, I have to question if "universal health care" is even a critical issue, much less even necessary.
Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839   2009-06-26 09:19  

#1  You've got to know your audience. Those watching the teley on that night and time are likely more interested in 'entertainment' than critical issues of the republic. Apparently, even with all the 'kings horses and all the kings men' Obama just isn't that kind of draw to attract much beyond his koolaid krowd. A warning that will be ignored by the egotist in the room.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2009-06-26 07:41  

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