All it takes is one brilliant idea to achieve fame and fortune. Edison ran electricity through a filament in an evacuated bulb and next thing you know he is one of the wealthiest men in America. Bill Gates decided that typing in a few lines of MS-DOS code was no way to get on and surf the Internet, developed Windows, and earned enough money to eradicate malaria worldwide. But what great idea did Silvio Berlusconi come up with to earn billions and become Prime Minister of Italy?
According to an NPR segment yesterday, Silvio was a struggling TV game show producer in Italy when he decided to spice up the competition by having an attractive model remove a piece of clothing each time a contestant correctly answered a question. Ratings soared and Silvio took full advantage. Eventually, he bought out pretty much every TV network in Italy, entered politics, and the rest is history.
Would this work in America? Would Pat Sajak be our President today if Vanna White had to strip after every successful spin on the Wheel of Fortune? "I'd like to buy a vowel, Pat. Check that. I don't really care about the puzzle. I'd rather have Vanna remove her bra."
Would Alex Trebek be trading verbal ripostes with Mitt, Newt, Herman and the other candidates today if the correct answer to "Potent Potables" as a Daily Double offered the option of doubling one's winnings or removing the blouse of a rival contestant? The normally passive "Jeopardy" audience would become a frenzied "Jerry Springer Show"-like mob. Ratings would soar and Canadian Alex would become wealthy enough to obtain one of those fake US Birth Certificates enabling him to run for the presidency.
Based on Silvio Berlusconi's success, it could happen here. Republicans seeking a poised telegenic candidate need look no father than Pat Sajak or Alex Trebek. It's not too late to add gratuitous nudity to "Wheel" or "Jeopardy". The new and improved quiz shows would certainly draw higher ratings than the GOP Debates.
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