Barack Obama has been the President of the United States of America for a little over a month now, and in that short time, he’s done a lot: He’s gotten an economic recovery plan through Congress, he’s announced several new foreign-policy initiatives, and he’s preempted primetime TV programming on two occasions — with a press conference a few weeks ago and tonight’s State of the Union-ish address at 9 p.m. Eastern. Barack!
Obama may have been dubbed "President Rock Star" by a certain weekly entertainment magazine, but who knew he’d so quickly turn into a TV star, too? Not that I’m complaining. Usually, these prexy pep talks feel like an annoying hindrance to watching The Mentalist (which, ahem, you can see next week, at its regularly scheduled time), but given the economic crisis, I’m actually kinda looking forward to hearing what Obama’s going to say tonight. What about you, PopWatchers? Do you endorse all this Presidential preemption, or will it be getting your veto?
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What happened to escapism television? That’s what I turn to television for. If I want to hear about political situations, I’ll read the paper.
Nope. Too busy getting an MBA to watch live. But I’d make room for a new Office and 30 Rock.
Yes, I will definitely be watching. There is more to life than escapist television–like real life.
I’ll definitely start it, and I’m only slightly ashamed to say I probably won’t make more than an hour no matter how interesting he is (he did seem a bit verbose in the last press conference).
As an aside, there’s only one place to watch: C-SPAN. Absolutely every other channel insists on spinning even minutiae, and I just get nauseous.
No.
He’s screwing up American Idol for the week. He can go to hell.
I hate that they have to pre-empt everything!!! Can’t they just pick a freaking network and let everyone else run regular programing? No I won’t be watching. I’m actually going out tonight, but I wouldn’t watch it anyway. I read msnbc. I listen to the radio. What could he possibly be planning to say that won’t be recapped all over the place for the next 3 days?
A DVR’d “24″ from last night or a speech? Think I’ll take Jack Bauer over Obama EVERYTIME!!
I would rather watch President Taylor from “24″ give the speech. Now she is a president!
No, he is a jackass…I want my American Idol. He is a friggin idiot!
Oh, how terrible to pre-empt American Idol to discuss something so petty as the future of America. Give me a break people, TV is TV and life is life. Those who have both won’t mind listening to the most inspirational public speaker the oval office has seen in a long time. Surely he’ll have something of more substance to share than Simon and Paula’s weekly drivel. If you can’t get over it just think of it as “Reality TV”.
These presidential telecasts are nothing but propaganda. I love Obama, but I will not be watching. I HATE having my TV schedule interrupted.
Some of you people sound as bad as the soap opera watchers did back in 1981 when General Hospital was interrupted because Reagan got shot. They all called the network cause they missed Luke and Laura that afternoon.
Can you blame them? I hope they reaired General Hospital. That was back in the days when there was no TiVo, VCRs, or reruns of soap opera episodes.
Why can’t it air on the cable news networks, the internet or something? Now tomorrow night I’ll have to choose between Lost, Life and AI. I’m guessing AI gets the boot. In the sucky climate we’re in now I like having my TV to cheer me up. Is that really so awful?
What?! TV is what keeps you going? How pathetic.
The mush brains need to watch this. Then they can tell their kids they were there when this great country was brought to their knees by the socialist agenda.
I’m fine with the President preempting TV, although I probably won’t watch (I did last time and was in a funk for the next three days). What I do NOT like is some frakkin’ basketball game (NC State vs. Wake Forest) preempting Survivor. They’re showing it at 2am instead. Not cool, CBS. NOT COOL.
Spenceer, are you for real? What does black have to do with anything? You’re just propagating racism. And his date profile on the internet? Surely you’re not that dumb! Then again, you mentioned you didn’t like a black president…
American Idol is more important than knowing what’s going on with our country and in our lives? AI stuff will be forgotten by the end of the year, and so will Obama’s words, but I’m willing to bet what he says will impact us as a people much more than AI…
No I’m not going to watch Obama yapping in primetime yet again. I’m in Canada and pay for cable and I’m getting sick of this. Issue a press release, people who are interested can read that.
I am sick of hearing about the simulus package. I am sick of hearing Obama. I am sick of paying for cable and missing my shows because the jerk wants to speak. Put it on the black entertainment channel!!!
Allison
You are right on. President Taylor is far superior leader of our nation than our socialist/Communist President. Let’s be entertained rather than depressed by his doom and gloom.
Spenceer, pull your pants out of your crack and breath. Get a life buddy and not hating!!!!
wow, think about all the people that had cable tv and lost it along with their jobs & houses and your all complaining about missing an episode of american idol…. be lucky you can watch tv… you might be next to lose it!
Obama stills says nothing…offers nothing for “my class” other than I will take care of everyone else. I am taken back by the fact that he was signing autographs after his speech. He has not made the transition from campaigning to being the actual president.
american idol schedule~~ i am definitely waiting for it~~
i have no words for all the things i just read in these comments. no words
I watched the speech in its entirety. I have not listened to a presidential speech since the first one George gave. People need to wake up. George and his buddies are the ones responsible for the current state of this country. Unfortunately, the American people are going to pay for it as we seem to pay for everything (other countries disasters and wars). It might be prudent to listen as it will get worse before it gets better. I don’t understand how you could possibly put watching AI before the possibility of another Great Depression. I have people in my neighborhood who have lost their jobs. How can you become so insulated that you don’t care for your neighbor? I like AI also,but it’s not going to care for my neighbor’s children.
What was more nauseating was the fawning and slobbering of the press as they worshipped at the feet of their new idol. Katie Couric was so whimpering and dewy-eyed that I wanted to puke.
i found racist-jealousy-and ect in these comments, at least obama say something good better than bush->”uhh tomorrow we are going to plunge Iraq and rape their women”…