Body Politic: churning waters

The pundits are nonplussed. How did Donald Trump get to the top of the Republican pack? He's never held office. He has no loyalty to any particular party. His views, though emphatically stated have very little conviction. Why is he dominating the airwaves?

In the new electronic format-- Trump understands the format. It's theater. He's performing. He's not stuck to the ward politics of the party system. The backroom deal-making by old codgers smoking cigars is a thing of the past. The election happens on TV and on computers.

Trump's ace is the Dean Martin attitude-- Fug it... I don't give a damn what anybody thinks. He doesn't let the electron powered griddle cook him. Ditto for Bernie Sanders. They have figured out the new medium. You get front-and-center and let the electrons fly. It doesn't matter what you say. It's how you say it.

Donald Trump v. Bernie Sanders? A raging capitalist real estate developer versus a self-proclaimed socialist! Wow!

In the meantime everybody struggles to counter with theater of their own. Rand Paul tries to get loose and funky. But he's not loose or funky. Hillary ducks for cover. She's not used to playing it loose and shooting from the hip. Could Bill Clinton flourish in the new environment? This world where policy matters less and image counts for all? Bill learned to function with bullets flying all around him. He probably could have beat these guys.

Al Gore? A bit slow-moving. He showed no skill in managing the 2000 election fray. George W. beat him when it counted. Joe Biden? Another ward politician type.

Woe is us. Whoa is us... who survives the new environment. He who cares less. Barack figured it out. Stay cool. Be cool. Don't let birther accusations get you down. They may call you Muslim. That's okay. Don't get flustered. For it's a cool medium. And only the cool survive.

Top 10 Reasons to Watch Andy Cohen's "Watch What Happens Live"

Andy Cohen is the first 21st century Talk Show Host for the following reasons:

#1 Live

The title of the show indicates Andy’s deep understanding of digital-era media. It’s live, in the moment and the audience is part of things.

#2 Interactive

Andy gets questions in the moment-- phone calls and tweets from his audience—and directs them to the two guests sitting directly to his left.

#3 Eye candy

Andy always has one or two Guest Bartenders and they’re almost always young and beautiful. They don’t say much.

#4 Repetition

Andy’s special segments—Mazel of the Day and Jackhole of the Day— provide brief editorial comments. They let us know what Andy feels strongly about it and we feel closer to him.

#5 Pun
Games with guests are always based on Puns. Andy’s guests are pop culture stars and the games he plays with them always have a name based on a pun—related to the careers of the guests.

#6 Fun

Andy’s a naturally upbeat person and smiles constantly. Racy without being raunchy.

#7 Lighthearted

Andy never takes himself too seriously.

#8 Open-minded
Andy seems free of prejudice. Embraces people of all races, sexual orientation. Comfortable with women.

#9 Pop References

Andy refers to pop culture constantly, including his own Housewives shows. There are many rewards for the connoisseur of Bravo TV.

#10 Man of the People

Andy is bright, brilliant maybe, but not as well-read as Dick Cavett or as naturally witty as Howard Stern, David Letterman, or Joan Rivers, some of his talk show heroes (see below). He never takes a superior attitude towards his guests. Maybe Andy is the first gay Everyman?

*****

The material below comes from Entertainment Weekly—the Aug 14, 2015 issue—with Andy Cohen as its guest editor.

Andy Cohen’s Top 10

Greatest Talk Show Hosts of All Time

1)          Dick Cavett—so erudite, calm, urbane, classy

2)          Howard Stern—he’s my inspiration for WWHL, and the best interviewer working today. He has his Wack Pack and I have my Housewives.

3)          Tom Snyder—cigarettes and a hearty laugh

4)          David Letterman—he deconstructed the talk show right before our very eyes.

5)          Kelly Ripa—she doesn’t get credit for how hard her job is because she makes it look easy. Plus, she know how to overshare without giving too much away.

6)          Johnny Carson—chic, chic, chic

7)          Joan Rivers—when she guest-hosted on The Tonight Show it was like Christmas for me. The clothes, the monologue, the personal questions—perfect!

8)          Jimmy Fallon—he’s brought a new energy, enthusiasm, freshness and positivity to late-night.

9)          Rosie O’Donnell—she reinvented daytime TV with hilarious games and a love of pop culture.

10)      Robin Byrd—a live Manhattan public-access show hosted by a yenta in a crochet bikini, featuring strippers and call-ins? Why is this not still on?