Fox has always demonstrated its understanding of the power of controversy to drive ratings. Hence the Fox Network, which has often been associated with trashy television. And hence Fox News, which thrives on debate. The cynical brilliance of the O.J. Simpson to-do is that Fox is once again manufacturing a controversy that it can then attack on Fox News. Bill O’Reilly gets to hold court on how the Simpson interview is the worst television ever, and he gets excellent ratings. Meantime, he’s giving tons of PR to the very show he rails against. This is not a first for the Fox Machine. They put T&A on display on the network, and then on Fox News cry out “Is there too much sex on TV?” Cynical brilliance.
Advertisement