Murdoch is playing with democracy
September 23, 2002
BY ROGER EBERT

I am both intrigued and alarmed by the notion of a TV game show designed to create a third-party presidential candidate. On the one hand, the show could elevate the level of political debate in America. On the other hand, it could wreak havoc with our electoral system, and result in yet another minority president.

"American Candidate" is a proposed weekly "reality" program from FX cable, a division of Fox. In January 2003, it will begin with 100 candidates who want to run for president, and eliminate a few every week, as on "American Idol."

According to Variety, shows will be telecast from locations such as Mt. Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty. "The final episode," Variety says, "will be an 'American Candidate' convention, held on the National Mall in Washington around July 4, 2004--about the same time the Republicans and Democrats will be prepping their conventions."

The winner would then decide whether or not to actually run for office. Variety was unclear about whether Fox would subsidize the campaign; probably not, since if there is a shred of sanity left in our election laws, that would be illegal.

If the Green Party indeed elected George W. Bush in 2000, as many think it did by drawing votes away from Al Gore, what effect would an American Candidate Party have? The show's candidate, by the time he (or she!) is chosen, will have had more TV exposure, in a more entertaining format, than either of the major party candidates. Answering to no party or electorate, groomed to be slick, selected as most popular, packaged as entertainment, quite possibly female, perhaps "ethnic," could this AC candidate tilt an American election? Of course. If you doubt it, I have two words for you: Jesse Ventura.

By timing the climactic show to compete with the national political conventions, FX and Fox will distract from the real debate, at a time when America desperately needs to pay serious attention to politics. If the American Candidate qualifies as a legal nominee, would he or she expect to join the presidential debates? Inevitably. And if the Democrats and Republicans refuse, will they risk offending the AC candidate's . . . fans?

Who stands to lose most--apart from the American citizenry, of course? I suspect it would be George W. Bush, the presumptive 2004 GOP nominee. The Fox channels skew to the right. They feature conservative commentators and attract conservative viewers, who are likely to flood the phone lines for the most attractive conservative on "American Candidate."

This game show winner, saying many of the same things as George W. Bush but inevitably in a more articulate way, is likely to take more votes from the Republicans than the Democrats.

My guess, however, is that "American Candidate" will never air a single episode. It is dangerous mischief. Rupert Murdoch, who owns FX and quickly ascertains which way the wind is blowing, will bring it down with a thunderous oath, probably later this week.



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