A Reuters article on Yahoo today reminds us that
"there is no such thing as bad publicity".
Danny Devito, Michael Richards and
Mel Gibson are heralded as examples of the rule. While
O.J. Simpson and
Michael Jackson are held up as exceptions to the rule. (hmmm, is columnist Belinda Goldsmith a closet racist?)
Duly noted: the masses tend to look down on murder and molestation. They do however have a soft spot for drunkenness (
Devito), anger (
Richards) and drunken anger (
Gibson).
The evidence?
"Actor Danny DeVito's drunken jokes about President George W. Bush on a morning television show was the most viewed clip on online video site YouTube on Friday with more than 1.6 million clicks -- but the show's host shrugged off his behavior."
And...
"DVD sales of the television sitcom Seinfeld were robust, 12th on Amazon.com's best-seller list on Friday, after actor Michael Richard's racist rant in a comedy club and his contrite public apologies alongside various black leaders."
Not sure how much money Danny Devito gets from all those views of his rampage on
The View. He's probably more concerned about the
reviews of "Deck the Halls" than the view count on YouTube. Or if
Seinfeld's 7th season DVD set might be doing better than 12th (no,....wait, now 13th) a week after it's release, had it not been for Mr. Richard's unraveling. I'm a Seinfeld fan, but the last couple of times I've caught the sitcom Kramer was just that much less funny. Too much "sit" and not enough "com", I guess. And no, not so much because of his tempest at The Laugh Factory, but mostly because of his phony contrition. I can see him acting now, where I couldn't before.
Youtube.com is a fascinating phenomenon and an amazing instrument. It allows the
unkown to become known through massive exposure. And the unwashed to become appear washed by massive desensitizing.
One added note. In a transparent attempt to land bespeckled, acned, twenty-something Google "search parties" to her article, Ms. Goldsmith floats the "B"-word.
"Even the appearance of Britney Spears without underwear has got people talking about whether or not people should wear underwear," said Min.
If you were wondering. Yes, you should.
Um, wear it.