Linda J. Alexander http://www.lindajalexander.net
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Fred:
I think we agree w/different words, really. You put it very well when you said what's disturbing is WHY this sort of "entertainment" is considered, well, entertaining.
Still, the personality that takes to that sort of job is an interesting animal. I've done a lot of "celebrity" interviews, folks who make their living pretending to be someone else in some capacity. Whether it was TV, films, music, or even broadcast radio, I found to a large degree the person behind the "persona" was often to be much the same persona in front of it. That's not to say an actor who can well portray a cold-blooded killer IS a cold-blooded killer. It just means that someone who can dig deep enough to pull that out & play the part has something in him/her that understands it, &/or maybe even sympathizes w/the part in some way.
GLORINDA: What say you?!
Example: We've a radio duo in the Washington, DC area that became nationally-syndicated years ago. Don & Mike are an irreverant team, often abrasive & insulting. They can be funny & there's the brief, occasional glimpse of "good person" that shines thru but for the most part, they're boorish clods.
My ex- used to listen to them. This was well over 20 yrs ago. I did local personality interviews then & was always amazed at Don's classy, sweet, kind-hearted wife who'd occasionally be heard buffering his outlandish comments on womankind around the world. I couldn't understand how a woman like her could be married to man who made a living being so cheap-mouthed.
So I interviewed her. She was the sweet woman she made herself out to be & readily admitted that her husband was, most often, the more basic soul he showed to his radio listeners. She did share, though, that he had a side he didn't show--& that was what kept their marriage together for 20 or so years. Sadly, Freda, his wife, died in a car crash a few years ago . . . & that was the 1st & only time Don's listeners ever saw what could've been a really nice-hearted man.
I guess the bottom line is that even if Imus has that softer inside it doesn't matter because he shows the world something different. As soon as he's willing to take a paycheck for work that demeans other people--intentionally & the "script" of which is often prepared ahead of time--his "good person" inside becomes irrelevant. He's willing to take a hefty salary & a lot of public acclaim based on his "bad boy" commentary & that's what he has made of himself. In other words, he has no one else to blame.
If anyone's interested, here are a few of my interviews w/Freda, "Don Geronimo's" wife:
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?id=18700
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?id=18824
Blessings -- Linda
www.lindajalexander.net ** www.authorsden.com/lindajalexander
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http://www.talk2bev.com/valentine/linda_alexander_maryland.htm
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