So I was sitting in my colleague Alynda Wheat’s office last night, watching the CNN Democratic debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, getting my politics on (what? you think we’re all only interested in film festivals and Lost theories ’round these parts?) when the camera cut to Ed Helms.
"Hey, Alynda," I exclaimed, "it’s Ed Helms!"
Alynda looked at me strangely (at least, more so than usual). I rewound her DVR and showed her that the former Daily Show "reporter" Ed Helms was indeed studiously taking in the candidates’ wonkish discussion about health care policies. "Huh," replied Alynda, who then returned to her Scrabulous game as I returned to my Blackberry BrickBreaker game, both of us listening to the finer points of immigration reform.
Until I looked up, and, whaddaya know, there’s America Ferrera. And Stevie Wonder. And, er, Fran Drescher.
On one level, of course, this all makes perfect sense. Last night’s debate was in Los Angeles, in the illustrious Kodak Theater, home of the Academy Awards. Of course major Democratic party supporters like Steven Spielberg and Rob Reiner are going to show up and expect choice seats, and of course CNN is going to showcase them in an effort to goose the ratings of what turned out to be quite the civil and evenhanded (i.e. fireworks-free) discussion.
But do I really need to know that Diane Keaton’s in the house? Or Pierce Brosnan (who, says the ever-reliable Wikipedia, became a U.S. citizen in 2004)? Or Brandy? Is that in any way going to affect my thoughts on the realcelebrities in the room, the candidates? And what’s more, is it wise,during the first debate solely between the two Democraticfront-runners, for the audience to be so overloaded with so-calledHollywood liberals? I would think if this election is so much about change that the Clinton and Obama campaigns would insist that only people who haven’t appeared in the pages of Entertainment Weekly have the opportunity to be front-and-center, no?
What I’m really asking, PopWatchers: Does it matter to you if afamous person’s in the audience of a political debate? Do they serveonly as a distraction, or do they keep you engaged? And, mostimportantly, do you think that was West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin sitting next to Bradley Whitford? Alynda and I couldn’t tell.
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Keith Olbermann noted that Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), once a heavyweight on the House Intelligence Committee, was seated in the mezzanine. Not enough star power, I suppose.
It was definately not Sorkin next to Brad Whitford at the debate; but it may have been Eli Attie, also from West Wing days.
I personally loved it. Since I was going to be watching the debate anyway why not cram my other love of pop culture into it? I just wish Hillary was wearing couture and Barack was in a tux. Sigh…..
Oh and – Vote!
If it was at the Kodak Theatre, should Seacrest been the moderator?
I don’t really care who the Nanny, Remington Steel, Annie Hall, and Moesha support for president. That being said, at least they showed up which is more than they did for the Golden Globes. And, hey it’s Hollywood. We’d be upset if there wasn’t any celebrities in the house.
I think it’s great that celebrities have an interest in something outside of the Academy Awards and couture gowns. I thought it was great that so many famous people did show up and watch the debates. Truth be told, the celebrities do affect some of America, who doesn’t have a brain themselves. Diddy urged people to Vote or Die, and sure enough, more people wanted to vote in 2004 rather than die. If your not registered to vote, do it. ASAP!
Hey, I don’t care if Fran Drescher is a democrat, but somebody does. Why else would celebrities stump for their favorite candidates? They’re generating big fundraising dollars.
Well this may be their only chance in the Kodak,given the chances of the Oscars not going down, im surprised there wasnt a red carpet.
I personally don’t care if celebrities are present or not. I don’t vote for someone because Steven Spielberg said to. I vote for who I think is going step up and defend the issues I care about most. Having said that, I don’t think CNN did the Democratic Party any favors by cutting to the famous people in the audience. This is a party that claims to protect the middle and working classes – classes to which celebrities do not belong. Hollywood’s connection to the Democratic Party hasn’t exactly provided it with any kind of advantage. If it did, we’d have a Democrat president every single election because goodness knows come election year every celebrity with a camera is going to tell us who to vote for. So highlighting all of them in attendance most likely didn’t serve any purpose other than to boost viewership. Still, despite their presence, I did enjoy this debate. My state doesn’t vote until May so I still have some time to figure out who I like best.
My best friend Cheri and I made a game out of who could name the celebrity quickest when they were shown. It definitely made the whole thing more interesting. I think they were probably there for the PR. Topher Grace was all: “Look at how seriously I take politics. I’m not just Eric Foreman.”
I completely agree with you Adam. I love being part of this nation of democracy and the democratic process of voting for our political leaders; politics out plays sports and especially Hollywood pretentious entertainers any day. Don’t get me wrong, as citizens, celebrities to have every right to participate in the democratic process, but it was quite nauseating to see these celebrities act like half of what these intelligent and educated candidates were discussing even affected them; like they even care about affordable healthcare and the mortgage crisis. Let’s have audience members who reflect real Americans, not a who’s who of superficial pretentiousness. I enjoyed hearing Obama state that many of the audience members appeared “well dressed” and his alluding to the fact that he did not trust his young daughters to Hollywood entertainment. continued…
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I guess I am just an average American, and would not have been able to have the opportunity to be part of the audience last night, I guess I need to be a liberal Hollywood SAG card holder who has no idea, or does not remember what it is to be affected by the everyday.
I was hoping there would be some discussion of labor issues, given the Hollywood strike. I figured Rob Reiner would be there, but does he even count anymore? Hasn’t he become the Larry Gatlin of the Dems? The only time he’s mentioned as a celebrity is when it comes to who he is supporting politically.
There may have been no red carpet, but it looked like the paps and respectable press were in a lineup watching the celebs come in.
I agree that CNN overplayed the famous-people reaction shots. For a moment there it looked like the Oscars.
I’m surprise there wasn’t no red carpet treatment because I doubt were going to see the Red Carpet for the oscars this year.
Would have been fun watch E!,TV Guide do the pre-ceremony of the LA Debate
“What are you wearing” LOL
I think we may have accidentally stumbled across the best way to get people to tune-in for debates… we mix them with awards shows. In between questions of substance, Hilary and Barack can pull the envelope and announce the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.