Glenn Beck, as seen from across the pond.

[elisi]

Have seen people talk about the Glenn Back rally here and there, and as always I flashed back to this wonderful piece by Charlie Brooker. (For those unfamiliar with him, this is how he's described on wiki: Charlton "Charlie" Brooker is a British journalist, comic writer and broadcaster. His style of humour is savage and profane, with surreal elements and a consistent satirical pessimism.) Anyway, here he is, commenting on American news. The Glenn Beck segment starts at approx. 4:30, although I'd recommend watching the whole thing.

Oh! And there's A LOT of swearing.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/woman_of_/]

Makes you proud of the good old British news broadcasts. Sad really that the American population is subjected to that reteric every night.

[elisi]

Makes you proud of the good old British news broadcasts.
Yeah, the BBC etc. aren't perfect, but comparatively... Although Fox, of course, only caters to a v. small minority.

[http://users.livejournal.com/opalescence_/]

Actually, Fox News ratings are pretty consistently the highest of the cable news networks. Glenn Beck's ratings have gone down recently, I believe; however, you must remember that he's not a news show, but a political opinion show.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

True.

But, they're still less than the average rating for "The Hills" or "Days of Our Lives"

[http://users.livejournal.com/opalescence_/]

Um...okay.

[(Anonymous)]

Point being ratings and quality are not synonymous.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

OOps! That was me. Didn't realize that I wasn't signed in.

[elisi]

Actually, Fox News ratings are pretty consistently the highest of the cable news networks.
I knew this, actually, thanks to Charlie Brooker. :) I'm not sure whether to be worried about it, or to take shippex's point.

he's not a news show, but a political opinion show.
Very true.

[jerusha]

Dude. Glenn Beck scares the crap out of me. The man is a bonafide wackjob/charlatan and fear monger. And the worst part is that there are a lot of people who take him seriously.

Charlie Brooker, OTOH, is made of win, with a side of awesome sauce.

[elisi]

Dude. Glenn Beck scares the crap out of me.
It's a case of 'it'd be funny if it wasn't true'. :(

Charlie Brooker, OTOH, is made of win, with a side of awesome sauce.
::nods vigorously:: The world needs people like him. Not many though, since he's best in small doses.

[teragramm.livejournal.com]

I was raised in the Walter Cronkite era where the news was relatively neutral. I don't remember when it changed but it is rather upsetting. No wonder I try ignore the news.

During 9/11 my family and I tuned in to BBC America for news because it was honest and straight forward not full of opinions and hate. The clip is very amusing and enlightening, thanks for sharing.

[elisi]

I now feel obliged to post this clip [from a comedy show] dealing with English newspapers, many of whom are pretty... biased and stupid, just to balance out the relative sanity of our TV news:

[pfeifferpack.livejournal.com]

Brilliant!!! He has it right but how nice he doesn't have to worry about these clowns actually wielding power and making a right mess of things for all of us over here *******sigh

Thanks for sharing this!

Kathleen

[elisi]

He has it right but how nice he doesn't have to worry about these clowns actually wielding power and making a right mess of things for all of us over here *******sigh
I think they're just very good at making a noise, and in reality far fewer people support them than it seems. I hope.

And sharing was totally my pleasure! :)

[promethia_tenk]

I think they're just very good at making a noise, and in reality far fewer people support them than it seems. I hope.
Living in the liberal, elitist northeast, that's the pleasant sort of fiction I like to tell myself but, really, the country is so massive and so regionally diverse that it's nearly impossible to get an accurate picture of these sorts of things. I can go whole months without talking to someone who takes Glenn Beck seriously, but that doesn't mean they're not out there, and in large numbers.

The good news is that, modern abuses of executive power to the contrary, our entire system of government really is built from the ground up to balance out opposing forces and to resist sudden changes in direction. They're not going to take over the country, no matter how much they yell and wave their arms.

[elisi]

The whole Tea Party thing (along with Sarah Palin) is... bizarre. But, as you say, at least they won't be able to take over the country.

[timeofchange.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! Hilarious. Also kind of sick-making.

[elisi]

That pretty much sums it up. Glad you enjoyed. :)

[1-mad-squirrel.livejournal.com]

As Nine would say "Fantastic!"

[elisi]

Indeed! :)

[promethia_tenk]

Tee hee. Actually, what strikes me about this segment is how restrained it is in its criticism. The reality is even more ridiculous.

Have you seen Jon Stewart's Glen Beck impressions? They're creepy as all get out because they're barely a parody.

[elisi]

Hello you, I was just thinking about you! (No really, I was. I've been watching the Angel episodes these last few days, and I remembered what you said about River - underneath the bluster - coming across as very nervous, and you are so, so right! I have thoughts about this, although I might turn it into a proper post. Tomorrow...)

Tee hee. Actually, what strikes me about this segment is how restrained it is in its criticism. The reality is even more ridiculous.
*nods sadly* Although it is quite old - he describes Glenn Beck as 'a recent acquisition' or similar.

Have you seen Jon Stewart's Glen Beck impressions? They're creepy as all get out because they're barely a parody.
I have not, since I'm in the wrong country and the videos won't play. :(

[promethia_tenk]

Hello you, I was just thinking about you!
Me too! I've missed you :-) All my free time of late has been subsumed in this epic email exchange with another Doctor Who fan. We're picking the characters apart, and I'm putting together a personality analysis of each of them to post on doctoreleven sometime.

I've been watching the Angel episodes these last few days, and I remembered what you said about River - underneath the bluster - coming across as very nervous, and you are so, so right! I have thoughts about this, although I might turn it into a proper post. Tomorrow...)
O_o I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Glad to hear someone else agrees she was acting nervous in those episodes--it's subtle, and I kept wondering if my mind was playing tricks on me, but ultimately I think it all fits. It's like, at the beginning and the end of the episode, she's a little too expressive, like she's trying to force it or maybe a bit manic, and in the middle she's too clamped down and very . . . watchful.

*nods sadly* Although it is quite old - he describes Glenn Beck as 'a recent acquisition' or similar.
Is it really? I was under the impression that Beck hasn't even been on the air that long--that he was something of an insta-sensation.

I have not, since I'm in the wrong country and the videos won't play. :(
Oooo, more's the pity. I'll bet you'd have a hard time finding it without a region lock too, because the people who make The Daily Show are that rare breed who understand that the way to prevent internet piracy is to post everything online themselves. If you're in the US, you can pretty much get all the Jon Stewart you want, any time you want, through official channels.

[elisi]

Me too! I've missed you :-)
Awww. I missed you too, muchly!

All my free time of late has been subsumed in this epic email exchange with another Doctor Who fan. We're picking the characters apart, and I'm putting together a personality analysis of each of them to post on doctoreleven sometime.
This sounds awesome! *I* have been busy sorting out my house... I am SO TIRED of sorting out stuff that's been stuck in cupboards for years!

O_o I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Not sure there are that many to be honest, although writing them down might help clarify things.

Glad to hear someone else agrees she was acting nervous in those episodes--it's subtle, and I kept wondering if my mind was playing tricks on me, but ultimately I think it all fits. It's like, at the beginning and the end of the episode, she's a little too expressive, like she's trying to force it or maybe a bit manic, and in the middle she's too clamped down and very . . . watchful.
That's a good description. And it's definitely there. I didn't pick up on it when the eps first aired since it had been so long since I saw the Library episodes and quite simply couldn't remember her behaviour in any detail. But watching it now, post-the finale? She's skittish, definitely.

Is it really? I was under the impression that Beck hasn't even been on the air that long--that he was something of an insta-sensation.
Well I say 'long', it might be like a year or more? *is fuzzy on the details* But yes to the insta-sensation.

If you're in the US, you can pretty much get all the Jon Stewart you want, any time you want, through official channels.
So this is where I have to weigh up the pros and cons of living in the UK: Pro - no Glenn Beck. Con: No Jon Steward. Hmmm. I think I'll stay put!

[promethia_tenk]

Awww. I missed you too, muchly!
*hugs*

*I* have been busy sorting out my house... I am SO TIRED of sorting out stuff that's been stuck in cupboards for years!
Oh, I do love a good clean-out. I think it's good for the soul. But there's no denying that it can be massively draining to go about. Good luck to you!

Not sure there are that many to be honest, although writing them down might help clarify things.
I always feel like, with this show, I sit down to jot down a few thoughts . . . and then a dissertation comes out. For your sake, though, I hope it will stay manageable.

I didn't pick up on it when the eps first aired since it had been so long since I saw the Library episodes and quite simply couldn't remember her behaviour in any detail.
Yeah, that was me too. Well, actually, it hadn't been that long, but it's so hard to judge behavior with so little context.

So this is where I have to weigh up the pros and cons of living in the UK: Pro - no Glenn Beck. Con: No Jon Steward. Hmmm. I think I'll stay put!
LOL--very similar debates can be had vis a vis Sarah Palin. On the one hand: Sarah Palin. On the other hand: Tina Fey's Sarah Palin impression. Life would seem dull and purposeless, surely, without Tina Fey's Sarah Palin impression?

[elisi]

*icon snap* :)

Oh, I do love a good clean-out. I think it's good for the soul. But there's no denying that it can be massively draining to go about. Good luck to you!
Thank you! And to be honest I wouldn't mind it if I could just to do it peace and quiet, but there's a week until the children go back to school, so everything gets interrupted twenty million times...

I always feel like, with this show, I sit down to jot down a few thoughts . . . and then a dissertation comes out.
Well that's just how I write, generally... ;)

For your sake, though, I hope it will stay manageable.
Thank you. I'll try to stay on topic. (Which reminds me - the kiss? SO MUCH WRONG! *shudders*)

it's so hard to judge behavior with so little context.
*nods*

Life would seem dull and purposeless, surely, without Tina Fey's Sarah Palin impression?
"And I can see Russia from my house!" Ah yes, those were INCREDIBLE! (And I've seen them all - I was following US politics v. closely before the election. it was almost like having a new fandom. Bit scarier though.

[promethia_tenk]

*icon snap* :)
I don't know the rules of British games. Do I owe you a Coke now, or something?

Well that's just how I write, generally... ;)
Me too, really. But the whole tendency is horribly wonderfully exacerbated by season 5.

(Which reminds me - the kiss? SO MUCH WRONG! *shudders*)
IKR? So, so wrong. Watching through my fingers levels of wrong.

I was following US politics v. closely before the election. it was almost like having a new fandom. Bit scarier though.
Ah, yes. It was quite a good show. I actually started watching the election results on BBC America because they started an hour before all the other outlets and because I like their sober approach. It was 1) hilarious to watch them try to explain the electoral college to British people and 2) so sedate I got antsy and was downright relieved to switch over to CNN.

[elisi]

I don't know the rules of British games. Do I owe you a Coke now, or something?
Oh not at all. I just love it when I can match people's icons. :)

Me too, really. But the whole tendency is horribly wonderfully exacerbated by season 5.
Rather. (Like I've said before, it's Buffy all over...)

IKR? So, so wrong. Watching through my fingers levels of wrong.
Did you see Matt and Karen on The One Show? The presenters talked A LOT about the kiss (and even showed it) and the two of them were just sat there looking all uncomfortable, poor things.

Ah, yes. It was quite a good show.
It was, wasn't it? With plenty of batshit insane to keep everyone entertained. Look, I even have an icon! :)

[promethia_tenk]

Did you see Matt and Karen on The One Show? The presenters talked A LOT about the kiss (and even showed it) and the two of them were just sat there looking all uncomfortable, poor things.
I heard about it, and it was like "I would never be able to watch that" (interviews are often a bit uncomfortable for me to watch anyway? Like, I feel like I'm being invasive.) So I found a clip online of just the bit with the batter walking--that was fun.

It was, wasn't it? With plenty of batshit insane to keep everyone entertained. Look, I even have an icon! :)
Lovely :-)

[elisi]

I heard about it, and it was like "I would never be able to watch that" (interviews are often a bit uncomfortable for me to watch anyway? Like, I feel like I'm being invasive.)
This one certainly was.

So I found a clip online of just the bit with the batter walking--that was fun.
Oh yes, loved that. Esp Matt being all Doctor-y and explaining things! :)

I had my friend kathyh make me the Obama icon - I love having talented friends! This is another one she made for me. :)

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Glenn Beck is an embarrassment. And crazy.

[elisi]

I've been trying to imagine what would happen if a British TV presenter was so overcome with love for his country that he started to cry and... well, he'd never live it down. Ever ever. It'd probably be on his gravestone.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure that Beck is only 3/4 as insane as he pretends to be. 1/4 of it is just pure drama whore.

[elisi]

Oh yes. But it works...

[empresspatti.livejournal.com]

LOVE IT

Um - you know it's all sound and fury, signifying nothing, right? The vast majority of the electorate pays no attention.

[elisi]

THOUGHT YOU MIGHT!

And yes, I'm well aware that it's a small minority making a lot of noise. Otherwise I doubt I could sleep easily at night. ;)

[makd.livejournal.com]

We have a bunch of loonies in the media - fershure!

[elisi]

I think the media attracts them - they like the spotlight!