quote: NEW YORK -- There's a real president, a fictional president on THE WEST WING, so why not a presidential candidate chosen by television viewers?
That's what the FX hopes to produce. The cable channel announced on Friday the start of a series, AMERICAN CANDIDATE, designed to pick a TV-endorsed potential president.
"We think it's a marriage of a tried-and-true concept, as shown by AMERICAN IDOL, with a down-home political spin to it," said Peter Liguori, FX president. "We are a nation where, quote-unquote, anybody can become president, and this is a concept that gives everyday folks a forum to express their point of view and have people respond to it."
R.J. Cutler, the filmmaker who made THE WAR ROOM, a documentary on the 1992 Clinton campaign, is producing the project with Jay Roach, director of the "Austin Powers" movies.
The series will begin in early 2004 and culminate around July 4 with a live show at The Mall in Washington, D.C., where viewers will choose their favorite candidate for president.
FX has no idea whether the winner will then actually run for president.
"We're just out to make a good, entertaining TV show," Liguori said.
Applications will be accepted from natural-born U.S. citizens who will be 35 years old by January 20, 2005. The candidates must produce a petition signed by 50 supporters.
A panel of experts will choose 100 semifinalists, two from each state, who will be introduced to viewers in the series' first episode.
Episodes will be broadcast live from locations like Mount Rushmore, Gettysburg and the Statue of Liberty, where the candidates will compete with such things as debates and stump speeches. Viewers will gradually eliminate candidates.
Liguori said FX is not trying to trivialize the process of becoming president by starting the series. "That's the last thing we want to do," he said. "The hope here is that this is straightforward Americana. Anyone can grow up to be president. We're just giving them a forum to do that." (As reported by the Associated Press)
Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :
ALRIGHT ROB!!!!!
Here's your big chance. First American Idol President, then a smooth transition to Dictator for life. I'm sure we can pull this off slicker then the Bush people, who have screwed thing up for themselves!
Posted by Free ThoughtCrime America (Member # 480) on :
I'm normally a calm person, slow to anger and quick to forgive, as level-headed as a Zen Master ... But THIS? What the fuck is wrong with this country? How can anybody be so far off track? Why not just take our constitution out into the street and take a flaming shit on it in front of some brownie hocking girl scout troop?
Do you understand what kind of weirdness we're going to see here? Mark my words, whether the "elected" canidate runs or not, he/she will have only won because the rest of the potential canidates were drunk, hedonist sloth-minds, barely better than a child molester.
I'll admit I am prejudging the piss out of this show, but the fact that they are blatantly using AMERICAN IDOL as a blueprint gives me true Fear and Loathing. The bankruptcy of our culture sends chills down my spine.
Posted by E. Cartman (Member # 256) on :
I am eager to find out what "culture" that would be.
Posted by Free ThoughtCrime America (Member # 480) on :
American culture, man. There is some of it left, though it be considered evil everywhere.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
And why would anyone shoot poop?
Posted by The_Tom (Member # 38) on :
To showcase their creativity?
Posted by E. Cartman (Member # 256) on :
*unanimously decides against clicking on that link*
Posted by Free ThoughtCrime America (Member # 480) on :
Alright, so i didn't click that link. Big deal. Bullshit deserves to be doubly exposed for what it is.
Posted by E. Cartman (Member # 256) on :
But isn't this, like, a textbook example of TEH UNITED STATES' GREAT DEMOCRACY!1!1!!1!! ?
Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :
I don't usually click on the links, as I ma at work, and end up in places where I could get into trouble for using the work computer.
I see from the other thread that Rob is still to young.
Posted by The_Tom (Member # 38) on :
quote:Originally posted by Free ThoughtCrime America: Alright, so i didn't click that link. Big deal. Bullshit deserves to be doubly exposed for what it is.
IRONIC TWIST! Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Re: .sig: Hmm.
Re: Candidate via TV: I am not convinced this is a Bad Thing.
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
I am also failing to see exactly why this is causing such anger and hatred. It's not as if it's legal or anything. It's entertaining and will get discussions going. In short, it's TV.
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
CANDIDATE
For what, the FX party???
Posted by Nimpim (Member # 205) on :
Sinbad for president!!!
Posted by Free ThoughtCrime America (Member # 480) on :
I'd vote for him.
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
Maybe we can get our first black female president....
Posted by Nimpim (Member # 205) on :
Ricki Lake for president!!!
Posted by Free ThoughtCrime America (Member # 480) on :
But Sinbad was in "First Kid", and he has a black belt. Ricki Lake only uses the word "booty" a lot.
Posted by EdipisReks (Member # 510) on :
if Sinbad became president, i would have to pull a John Wilkes Booth. unless you mean Sinbad the Sailer, in which case i would vote for him.
Posted by Free ThoughtCrime America (Member # 480) on :
Sinbad the Sailor is cool. He too had a black belt. He would tighten it up, and grow strong!