ABC Tells Viewers Not To Watch Obama's Half-Hour Special Tomorrow Night
ABC, which is the only one of the networks that won't air Barack Obama's unusual 30-minute special during prime-time tomorrow, has taken a bit of a swipe at Obama and told its viewers not to watch Obama's appearance.
A source sends over some video he took of an ABC ad that the network has now aired for its program "Pushing Daisies," which airs tomorrow night at 8:00 P.M., the same time as Obama's special. The ad urges viewers to ignore the other networks' programming at that time:
"Wednesday, America, you have a choice," ABC's ad says. "Get political with the other networks, or enjoy the Emmy-winning drama full of surprising revelations: ABC's `Pushing Daisies."
At the mention of getting "political with the other networks" someone intercedes with an expression of disgust: "Please."
ABC lost its chance to air Obama's special tomorrow because it delayed too long in answering the Obama campaign's request to buy the air time.
As swipes go, it's a pretty light-hearted one. But telling viewers dismissively not to watch one of the the two candidates make his case less than a week before the election seems like a pretty dodgy place for a network to go.
Meh. No big deal. It's advertising their show. ABC came around to agreeing to air the Obama infomercial but it was too late and Obama said he already spent that money elsewhere.
In actuality, I think this is the only network advertising the Obama spot, or at least the only one I've heard of.
October 28, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. There is no "swipe" here. To get upset about this is ridiculous. Besides, according to the GOP faithful, ABC is an Obama network because of the Gibson interview with Palin.
October 28, 2008 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
In what respect CT?
October 28, 2008 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
They are upset that Gibson practiced "gotcha tactics" on Palin.
In other words both sides seem to force a viewpoint based not on reality, but rather on which side they are on.
October 28, 2008 6:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess I should have said, In what respect Charlie?
October 28, 2008 6:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course, ABC is also the network that asked Biden why Obama shouldn't be considered a Marxist.
October 28, 2008 10:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Supa reply..... :)
October 28, 2008 8:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Notwithstanding the GOP faithful's view, ABC is not an Obama network. In the debate with Hillary in Pennsylvania all Charlie and George wanted to talk about was Bill Ayers.
October 28, 2008 5:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, man, I almost forgot about that particular clusterfuck. One of the more moronic moments in a long election season.
And then came Sarah!!!!
October 28, 2008 5:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, duh! It's neither for nor against.
Although Greg's headline might reflect this point a bit better.
October 28, 2008 6:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
And let's not forget "The Road to 9/11."
October 28, 2008 6:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, "The Path to 911."
October 28, 2008 6:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I doubt that. Charlie Gibson was trying really hard to ask tough questions, after that debate spectacle with Georgie Stephanapoulos...the "gotcha" questions that had no relevancy to the election at all. I haven't watched ABC news since.
I never really cared for Katie Couric, but she showed up Sarah Palin for the lightweight she is, and I have to respect her for that service to our country.
October 29, 2008 5:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
I doubt that. Charlie Gibson was trying really hard to ask tough questions, after that debate spectacle with Georgie Stephanapoulos...the "gotcha" questions that had no relevancy to the election at all. I haven't watched ABC news since.
I never really cared for Katie Couric, but she showed up Sarah Palin for the lightweight she is, and I have to respect her for that service to our country.
October 29, 2008 5:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Indeed, this may turn out to be more publicity for Obama's special than for that whatyoumacallit show.
October 28, 2008 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
They won't advertise it either - no revenue to be made. It is after all a commercial itself. They don't run commercials within commercials (at least not yet...)
October 28, 2008 6:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ditto on the No Big Deal.
Dodgy?
It's not as if people who want to watch Obama's infomercial won't have plenty of other stations on which to watch it, including basic TV.
October 29, 2008 10:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
I've seen "Pushing Daisies" -- no offense to fans of the show, but it's pretty horrible if you're not already a fan, and quite possibly a bit too quirky for the undecideds that are targeted by the Obama ad; I think most viewers will be wandering back over to see what Senator Obama has to say for himself after the first commercial break.
October 29, 2008 10:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
will msnbc and/or cnn or anyone else be streaming this on the web? No tv in my house.
October 28, 2008 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
It will be on the net, not sure if it will be shown live or w/e but it will find its way on the net quite quickly.
October 28, 2008 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm guessing Obama campaign website may be streaming it during the hour.
October 28, 2008 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah your prolly right, good call.
October 28, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Pushing Daisies" - that would be the McCain half hour special.
October 28, 2008 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!
Certainly come Nov. 5th!
October 28, 2008 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now that is funny.
October 28, 2008 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
HA!
October 28, 2008 5:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!!
October 28, 2008 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well Done!
October 28, 2008 6:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Post of the year!
October 28, 2008 6:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
If there were rep points here, I would definitely give you one for that!
October 28, 2008 10:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree, "post of the year"
Yes, ABC should have accepted the ad time and yes, ABC has problems BUT that station amoung MSM has done tons more on investigating 'loose nukes' than any other. Check out:
http://mfile.akamai.com/16688/wmv/abcondemand.download.akamai.com/16688/free/051010loosenukes.wmv
Brian Ross and his team deserve great credit on this under reported story over the last few years!
October 29, 2008 9:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
ABC = Disney = right-wing media
October 28, 2008 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Disney is NOT traditional right wing media. They support lgbt couples/rights at the theme parks, their programming is way more racially mixed than other networks....just my opinion.....
October 28, 2008 5:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good point.
I was thinking mostly of how Disney Corporate influences the editorial viewpoint of ABC News. Horror stories abound.
As far as entertainment programming goes, I'm sure they follow the ratings and the dollars just like very other network.
October 28, 2008 6:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
And ABC wonders why it is the last-place major network. :)
Another brilliant programming decision gone awry.....
October 28, 2008 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anybody know if Obama's info-mercial will be on at 8:00 PST or 5:00 PST? If it's 8, what will happen if the baseball game is still happening?
October 28, 2008 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
They already postponed the start by half hour.
October 28, 2008 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
They didn't actually delay the game, only cut the pregame out, which got them $1 million.
Game starts up at the same time. We just don't get to hear Joe Buck talk about it ahead of time.
October 28, 2008 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fuck you, ABC.
October 28, 2008 5:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
My sentiments exactly!
October 28, 2008 6:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dodgy? ABC? The network of Charlie Goodson, George Stephanopolis and Jake Tapper? Perish the thought. What can you be thinking?
October 28, 2008 5:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
As a fan of Pushing Daisies, I actually don't mind if ABC draws larger ratings than usual as the only major network not showing the Obama commercial. If people want to watch, that's fine by me.
October 28, 2008 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agree! Obama's campaign bought 30 minutes of time - it's not the state of the union or a presidential address - no mandatory carriage required. Everyone's getting paid.
I would suspect lots of folks who have already voted and/or have other things to do are not going to be sitting by their TVs - even Dems.
October 28, 2008 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
ABC is having a difficult time with "Pushing Daisies". Its ratings keep on dropping, even if it's Emmy winning.
October 28, 2008 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I watched the first season and lost interest. I actually enjoyed it for the first few, but it's really not all that well done in my opinion.
October 28, 2008 6:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
America has a choice: It's called cable TV (For those that can afford it). I'll watch the Obama special, of course. ABC sucks!
New polls from LA Times - Bloomberg:
OH: Obama winning 49%-40%
FL: Obama ahead 50%-43%
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-poll29-2008oct29,0,7008892.story
October 28, 2008 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ahh, state polls. The ones that matter now.
Adoring those FLA numbers.
October 28, 2008 5:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
And yet another Ohio poll showing Obama surging past Grampy & Vampy!
Oh and BTW, Screw ABC.
October 28, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dodgy? Self-serving, certainly.
But if Obama is elected, do you think he's going to forget the Charlie Gibson led Rev. Wright-Bill Ayersathon that masqueraded as a debate, followed by foot-dragging on the part of ABC in this instance?
George Stephanopolis? Something tells me you're not going to get any Obama love any time soon.
Hmmm. Wonder what the ratings are like for "Pushing Daisies"?
October 15 (pre-debate):
The New Adventures of Old Christine 7.74
Knight Rider (Seriously?)7.65
Phillies-Dodgers 7.26
Pushing Daisies 6.29
Whatever. ABC seems stupidly incompetent at this point.
October 28, 2008 5:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh man, Micky Mouse must be pissed!!!! Which reminds me of an old stupid joke. Mickey was getting a divorce from Minnie and the judge stated to Micky "you know acting silly is no grounds to seek a divorce". To which Micky replied "I didn't say she was silly, I said she was f'ing Goofy".
October 28, 2008 5:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
You just flipped me back 30 years (honest to god). My lawyer told me that joke just before we went into court for my divorce. He told me that because he thought I was upset about the divorce. I was actually getting extremely sick and ended up in the hosptial before the end of the day - but not before the court appearence!
October 28, 2008 6:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
You just flipped me back 30 years. My lawyer told me that joke just before we went into the courtroom for my divorce!
October 28, 2008 6:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Getting better all the time. First no record of comments now back to the dreaded double post. No indication the first ever posted. Dang it. And I don't even think the ABC ad is a big deal. It just brings back the 'remarkable' flag pin discussion - oops - debate.
October 28, 2008 6:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wasn't it ABC that made a 9/11 documentary-type movie that blamed it all on Clinton?
October 28, 2008 5:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes. "Path to 9/11"
October 28, 2008 5:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
ABC aired it.
October 28, 2008 5:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, but I think the intent here is not so sinister. They're doing their best to promote a struggling show, one that is actually pretty damned good. Seeing how much money they pour into Pushing Daisies' production, they really need it to succeed...
October 28, 2008 5:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
yeah, I'm not yet a fan. But the couple of episodes that I've seen have been almost movie quality.
October 28, 2008 5:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Eh. It was a lot better before it got lowest-common-demoninatored for network TV. When it was called Dead Like Me. Now it's sort of adrift as they try to recover the "edge" after realizing that making it lame to get it on network TV didn't garner any viewers.
October 28, 2008 6:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
'Pushing Daisies' is one of the best (and lowest rated) shows on TV. They need the viewers and I for one will be watching. I'll have plenty of time to watch President Obama on TV for the next eight years.
October 28, 2008 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well you just enjoy yourself sir.
October 28, 2008 6:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
As a Pushing Daisies fan and a TiVo user (with dual tuners) I'll see both.
October 28, 2008 6:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
ABC is worse than Fox. Because with Fox what you see is what you get- but ABC is a troll in disguise.
If you track their coverage over the 20 months...it's clear the are very Anti-Obama
October 28, 2008 5:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Co-sign.
October 28, 2008 6:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Look at the criminals we put in office.
Gotta be fool not to play.
October 28, 2008 6:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh so true! ABC is disgusting. Charlie Gibson's and George Stephanopolous' obsession about non-issues during the debate clearly tipped their hand.
October 28, 2008 6:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's a shame CNN didn't get a chance to air as well as people on the road with satellite radio could have listened to it.
But since NBC is airing it, does that mean MSNBC is as well?
October 28, 2008 5:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
MSNBC will air it.
October 28, 2008 6:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Greg:
I repeat, I response to your frontpage story.
Newspapers helping spread B.S. How's it different from the "The Hype: Obama Effect" Click Ad I see on the TPM quite often?
I'm not blaming you. Your editorial does more than sufficient job is distancing TPM views from the content on these DVDs, but I'd be interested to read the TPM's take on comprimising integrity for ad dollars.
October 28, 2008 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
SPELL CHECK...
Greg:
I repeat, in response to your frontpage story.
Newspapers helping spread B.S. How's it different from the "The Hype: Obama Effect" Click Ad I see on the TPM quite often?
I'm not blaming you. Your editorial does more than sufficient job in distancing TPM views from the content on these DVDs, but I'd be interested to read the TPM's take on comprimising integrity for ad dollars.
October 28, 2008 6:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
ABC takes a pass on a 30-minute political ad, so what? I will be interested to see the viewer numbers on Barack versus Daisies on the night.
I don't think any less of ABC as a news organization than I did before. Not possible.
October 28, 2008 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well played!
October 28, 2008 6:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Which network was it that bailed on the Reagan bio under pressure from the right?
October 28, 2008 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I believe it was CBS.
October 28, 2008 6:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks - that sounds right.
October 28, 2008 6:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, it was CBS.
October 28, 2008 6:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
That was a shining moment of courage in broadcasting.
October 28, 2008 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fox interviewed Joe The fake Plumber today, to which Joe said that "electing Obama would be death to Israel" during the interview.
I think it's time Obama buries this clown, or at least paints him as the no-nothing extremist that he is. This isn't the first ridiculous thing he has said either. And this is a guy McCain has out on the stump with him now, representing the campaign?
October 28, 2008 6:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, is he taking over the Israel stump for Joe the Senator? Figures, as Lieberman is doing his best to save his sorry ass.
BTW the way, my dad was a plumber, proving that plumbers have more dignity than "plumbers".
October 28, 2008 6:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't you think the guy's doing a pretty good job himself? The more his opinions get aired, the less valuable his opinions are shown to be.
October 28, 2008 6:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who cares what Joe the Plumber said on Fox?
Jonzie, the other day you were making that same argument about something someone else said on Fox.
who cares? Fox viewers aren't voting for Obama.
October 28, 2008 6:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually David "DB" Gregory just played a clip of him saying this. I can't watch this guy next Tuesday. I just can't!
October 28, 2008 6:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is it true that Joe the Plumber is actually Jeff Gannon (nee James Guckert)?
Someone said it in jest, but maybe that should be checked out.
October 28, 2008 9:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is clear that "Joe" whose real name is Samuel and who owes back taxes (love how Repubs curl up with criminals!) is simply someone who desperately craves attention. The media and McCain are giving it to him, unfortunately. He is clearly a wacko. Which means the local conservatives will ask him to run for office. Mark it down.
October 28, 2008 6:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Come on, the guys name is Samuel Joseph Worzelbacher. Making an issue of the fact that he prefers to go by Joe instead of Sam is childish and petty. There are so many other things wrong with the narrative he and the Republicans have created that focusing on his name of all things just gets in the way.
October 29, 2008 3:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oops, sorry that's Wurzelbacher, Worzelbacher is the name on his voter registration.
Which is also irrelevant except that it is minor errors like that that make up the 200,000 mismatched registrations that Republicans are so hysterical over in Ohio.
October 29, 2008 3:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Joe the Fraudulently Registered Voter!
October 29, 2008 8:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Republican "base" is traditionally known as "lunatic fringe". It is primarily white supremacist and Neo-Nazi -- racists on religionut grounds.
October 28, 2008 9:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Republican "base" is traditionally known as "lunatic fringe". It is primarily white supremacist and Neo-Nazi -- racists on religionut grounds.
October 28, 2008 9:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Drudge Report headline:
ABC DISNEY DISSES OBAMA
October 28, 2008 6:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Forget 538 and all the polls. This election was called a long time ago with campaign donations. McCain had a few big spenders, but Obama received more cash in smaller increments. It was a real grassroots uprising for Obama, with the volunteers he has.
I subscribe to the College Republican Facebook mailing list (pure curiosity, I assure you), and they have to pay people to canvass neighborhoods.
Signs point to change.
October 28, 2008 6:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is decidedly so.
October 28, 2008 6:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Whatever the content may be it could eat up two, or more, days. I hope its a thought provoking documentary on how Washington really works, how we got into the mess were in, and how it needs to be changed. If its well received it could really get the undecided to break a bit early.
Side note: I was in western North Carolina on Sunday and Monday, quite a few Kay Hagan signs, Radio spots, and zero Dole radio ads with a few scattered signs.
The voters there need to retire Liddy that would assure 60 senate seats.
October 28, 2008 7:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, whatever. Americans can be dumb, but we're still very curious. Viewers' choice comes down to this:
Which will be part of the water cooler convo, Obama or whatever happens this week on Pushing Daisies?
October 28, 2008 6:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Joke's on them...we don't get ABC.
: )
October 28, 2008 6:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
But seriously, though. Does anybody have a clue what this Barry special is gonna be like? Man talking to the camera? Bio-documentary? A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants?
October 28, 2008 6:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe he'll freak you out by being white for you.
October 28, 2008 9:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is going to make a brief statement of thanks for all our hard work, thank his loving wife and patient children, remind us all to vote on Tuesday (or before!) and then turn the remander of the half hour over to a special performance by members of Motown's 'Funk Brothers', and Stevie Wonder.
No, I don't really know.
But wouldn't that be great?
Then sit back and watch Philly take the series.
Priceless.
(By the way, its been illuminating to be able to read smart, passionate, and often funny comments from the likes of TenaX,
Skymodem, Ct Voter, and all the rest of you here at TPM. Thanks for helping me get thru these times!)
Well, time to get back to the only bank worth bothering with these days, the phonebank...
October 29, 2008 9:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
I've been watching the RNC's version of "Pushing Daisies" for years. I think I can afford to miss week's episode on ABC.
October 28, 2008 7:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anyone want to bet, McCain will have a commercial on ABC DURING THE SHOW OR AFTER, questioning OBAMA’S EXPERIENCE
Pushing Daisies sounds like a subliminal message being presented.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daisy_ad
"Daisy," sometimes known as "Daisy Girl" or "Peace, Little Girl," was a controversial campaign television advertisement.... it was a factor in President Lyndon B. Johnson's landslide defeat of Barry Goldwater in the 1964 presidential election and an important turning point in political and advertising history.
The advertisement begins with a little girl (Birgitte Olsen) standing in a meadow with chirping birds, picking the petals of what appears to be a daisy
an ominous-sounding male voice is then heard counting down a missile launch, and as the girl's eyes turn toward something she sees in the sky, the camera zooms in until her pupil fills the screen, blacking it out. When the countdown reaches zero, the blackness is replaced by the flash and mushroom cloud from a nuclear explosion.
As the firestorm rages,
a voiceover from Johnson states, "These are the stakes! To make a world in which all of God's children can live, or to go into the dark.
We must either love each other, or we must die." Another voiceover (sportscaster Chris Schenkel) then says, "Vote for President Johnson on November 3. The stakes are too high for you to stay home."
These are the stakes" was also used at the end of advertisements for the Republicans in the United States general elections, 2006,
advertisements claiming that the Democrats would be soft on terrorism and expose the country to danger and featured Al Qaeda members and a threat of a nuclear bomb.
October 28, 2008 7:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have personally contacted over 200 people in the last week to remind them of the scandalous budget differential between the two major candidates, not to mention the even greater one between Obama and the third party candidates. I'm sure the arms manufacturers have contributed to his unbridled campaign fundraising along with the "small contributors" he flaps his lips about. After all he did affirm that he would maintain military presence in Afghanistan AND encouraged French President Sarkozy to follow his bad example which is now happening against French public opinion. Thank you, Obama, for your European tour. We know that neither he nor his children will go to the front. He'll just send other people's kids. A CHICKEN HAWK! The only
democratic thing to do is boycot his "spot" on tv.
October 28, 2008 8:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Vaughn B wrote "We know that neither he nor his children will go to the front. He'll just send other people's kids. A CHICKEN HAWK!
Chickenhawk? The Bush administration was full of those. What was Bushes military record, was it one where daddy's influence prevailed? How about Cheney? How about Rumsfield?
Always wanting to fly with the Eagles but proving they were nothing but turkeys.
October 28, 2008 8:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
No doubt the announcer was wearing his flag pin for the voiceover. I have not been to ABCland since George Stephanopoulos started taking dictation from Sean Hannity and I'll be pushing up daisies before I return.
I doubt if the news division has taken to directing entertainment promos, but it must be a Republican in Standards & Practices who let that line through. For a site with no Standards & Practices whatsoever, but an affinity for TPM, check out RealityChex.com at http://www.realitychex.com
October 28, 2008 10:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
mmm yeah, skrew ABC.
no viewing conundrum necessary tho for folks like m'self with plenty of internets but no teevees. both will be on Hulu within a few hours of being aired. lately i've taken to watching the daily show and colbert there instead of at comedy central's site because they hiccup a lot less.
October 29, 2008 12:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
spending that questionable campaign contribution money and rounding up the rest of the sheep...eh?
October 29, 2008 2:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'd like to see ABC News report this story:
NY Times Op-Ed, 10/25/08:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/opinion/26kristof.html?em
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Published: October 25, 2008
Op-Ed Columnist
The Endorsement From Hell
John McCain isn’t boasting about a new endorsement, one of the very, very few he has received from overseas. It came a few days ago:
“Al Qaeda will have to support McCain in the coming election,” read a commentary on a password-protected Islamist Web site that is closely linked to Al Qaeda and often disseminates the group’s propaganda.
The endorsement left the McCain campaign sputtering,........(the article continues from here)..
October 29, 2008 2:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Is ANYBODY actually pushing for the
release of Palin's medical records?
What could be in there that she doesn't
want people to see? An abortion, perhaps?
Honestly, I thought it was pretty much a
non-issue, until she said she would, but
then appeared to be hoping no one would
follow up before election day. I wasn't
suspicious initially, but now I am.
October 29, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink