Op/Ed: The Superbowlization Of The Election, page 1

Ah Yes, It has come the time again where we defrost Brokaw, Jennings and Rather and exhume Cronkite for another glorious night of election coverage... sorry Reality TV. It seems now that the most popular all singing all dancing show is going to be on Nov 2nd. This years coverage promises to be the biggest yet, featuring more dancers than all of broadway combined and a makeup pile that would make Christina Aguilera faint. The Media whores are positively frothing at the mouth over the nights coverage with massive plans being unveiled to help each network usurp the other. Candles are being lit and prayers are being said that Tim Russert doesn't suffer a "wardrobe malfunction"

NBC began to plot like villains after CNN unveiled their grandoise schemes.

CNN will be tarting up their Atlanta Headquarters to house the political analysts but will be doing the majority of their coverage live from custom designed facilities in New York. Perhaps the most amusing plan is the one that involves using Times Square to their fullest advantage.

The CNN production and design teams have already descended upon The NASDAQ building. Yes, THAT Nasdaq building with the 8 stories tall screen overlooking Times Square. It will house a special CNN team of Anchors who will present part of the coverage from it. The dominating outdoor screen will be used to display voter results as they capture the reactions of New Yorkers outside as they come in. The Inside of the tower is also made up of a total video wall reaching 5 stories into the air. This will be used along with 3d technology to produce maps that will overwhelm their viewers coordinated by an anchor standing on a 10ft tall podium in the centre to give a "news theater" effect. The videowalls can be split down into sections and all 40 state results can be displayed at once. It also gives oppurtunity for huge "conference calls" to be held with upwards of 10 people.

Okay, Now CNN has pulled all the stops out with all that jazz. They've commissioned new graphics and music and James Earl Jones (voice of darth vader) will be on hand to do voice overs.

My God, it's like a three ring circus. Goodbye Dignity, HELLO SHOWBIZ.

Oy, but it gets funnier. NBC. Oy Oy Oy.

NEW YORK -- NBC is turning Rockefeller Center into a giant television studio on Election Night, covering the landmark skating rink with a jigsaw puzzle map of the United States and turning the side of the General Electric building into an electronic bar graph.

They're turning the skating rink into a big map of America with large foam rubber states that can be slotted in once the results come down. Theres going to be a custom built glass studio that overlooks it all. It's already being dubbed "democracy on ice" and many media experts are in hysterics.

Red and blue lights will be superimposed on the GE building, for a graphic signifying how many electoral votes Bush or Kerry have earned.

NBC has also built a "Democracy Plaza" display at Rockefeller Center that has a replica of the Oval Office and will show a copy of the Declaration of Independence. Bank of America helped pay for that display, but wasn't involved in building the Election Night studio, an NBC spokeswoman said.

I think it's both bad and good at the same time. It's all about inclusion in the coverage with the networks trying to make it softer and give it a more homely atmosphere. Tim Russert clutching a marker and whiteboard is nothing compared to Dan Rathers "erratic" aphorisms and Jennings calm and structured talking points.

One thing will make it all great. Watching FOX concede the election to Kerry with headlines such as "Bush almost won". Fox, ABC and CBS haven't detailed their plans but this circus of news will continue.

P.S. NBC, please add an extra $1000 to get a suit that doesn't make Russert look like a film wrapped piggy.

sources:Newsday