Will’s Unpopular Opinion – “Salty Towers” – 1-24-17
It finally happened. After 8 years of incredible ratings, multiple awards, and guest appearances by celebrity personalities like: Common, Bradley Cooper, Oprah, and even George Lucas; ‘The Obamas’, NBC’s #1 Nielsen rated show, was cancelled on January 19th, 2017. Many watchers predicted such an announcement, and over the past 2 years the show lacked the impact it initially had in it’s debut season. The Obama-care factor was down. It was getting a bit long in the tooth, and the decision to pull the plug on a high(ish) note seemed to be the most prudent of business decisions by top network execs. However, the counter programming that soon followed has already been met with awful reviews. Fox’s season premiere of “The Trumps” had the worst ratings for an inaugural episode in recent history. Unfortunately actual figures can’t be obtained due to the halt of public gauging in 1995, when the Million Man March had less than half the attendees it’s title would suggest. I guess the 400,000 Man March didn’t look as good on a flyer.
“The Trumps” is already off to a rocky start, with many viewers asking: “who really wants to watch this crap?” Public outcry has resorted to rioting across the country. Millions and millions of people have already begun huge protest marches. The public outcry bemoaning the “choice” they were given, adding new meaning to the phrase: “give me liberty or give me premium cable options.”
With such an onslaught of instant and critically panned reviews, the possibility of cancellation for Fox’s new wonder mop series, is already imminent. The program has enraged many of it’s viewers with it’s out of touch storylines and plot devices. It also seems to be thumbing it’s nose at the many who loved “The Obamas”, as “The Trumps” have already begun retconning the entire previous series and disavowing much of the canon that the show was famous for. It’s being replaced with antiquated narratives that don’t work well with today’s culture or ideals. It’s even nullifying many of the important watershed episodes altogether.
The other issue receiving mass criticism, is it’s cast. In an interview by top critics, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders (Where’s their show!?), many of “The Trumps” cast were quizzed on the basics of the program they were selected for, to which none of the new class could answer even remotely or intelligently to their inquisitors satisfaction. It would appear as if gluttonous nepotism had cast Trump’s closest friends into an inner circle of crony capitalism. It’s like watching the beginnings of every Adam Sandler movie ever made. And if that wasn’t enough, it would also appear as if the majority of these new players have had zero acting experience whatsoever. Some of them had performed in their hometown regional dinner theaters, but nothing in their skill set has suggested they’d be fit for the high end standards we expect in primetime television.
Which brings up another question; was it a poor decision to move ahead with reality star, Donald Trump for such a massive undertaking? Is he suited for a leading role? Sometimes it works. Will Farrell famously went on from playing G.W. Bush on SNL, to starring in multimillion dollar movies for close to decade after his stint as the Commanded in Thief. Others however, aren’t as lucky and are usually struck down after attempting to fly outside of their birdhouse penthouse. In an open Q&A forum, Kevin Smith was famously quoted as saying “You fail upwards in Hollywood.” And this phrase may be the truest bona fide description of Trump’s rise. It’s the ‘Peter Principle’ in full effect. It suggests that a manager can only rise to their own level of incompetence. Even though Trump was barely fit for his job on ‘The Apprentice’, it still brought in high enough ratings; so naturally he was elevated to a starring role in the White House. But it doesn’t mean he’s cut out for it. It just means he peaked at his current job, so the inept powers that be, promoted him to a higher position.
This of course leads to the distinct possibility of Trump being replaced. He may not actually have what it takes to be a leading man in today’s Twitter ranting, Starbucks smashing, secular society. He’s an actor from a different era. He thinks blackface in vaudeville is still relevant. Trump may have faired better if paired with screen legend, Ronald Reagan. Reagan knew how to deliver the lines that were fed to him, and wasn’t too reliant on improvisation or clever retort. He was the spokesperson for the corporate commercials in between the show; not the message the writers tried to convey during it. At the very least, Reagan could have schooled Trump on dismantling walls, and not the other way around. But as it is, if Trump is replaced it may leave us with Mike Pence spearheading she show until it’s optioned for renewal. At which point it will almost definitely be cancelled in lieu of a much needed reboot, and we can hopefully forget this whole over-the-top production ever happened. Meaning, in what could be the most propitious and ironic turn of events in Trump’s life, he may for the first time be the one being told: “You’re Fired.”
-Will Valle
