Why ABC Should Cancel The Charlie Sheen '20/20'
Many people are celebrating all of the admittedly-hysterical quotes Charlie Sheen is pumping out as he speaks to just about every media outlet there is these days, each interview more manic and eye-popping than the last.
But as we do so, we are also celebrating the very sad reality that a very ill human is unraveling before our eyes.
And that is why ABC News and new chief Ben Sherwood have a wonderful chance to make a statement right now about the DNA of the division going forward. Cancel the planned 20/20 featuring the taped Sheen interview, which is set to run Tuesday night.
If it runs as planned, it may get ratings. Though with Sheen jumping on the Today show, TMZ and who knows where else between now and then, I’m not sure how much meat will be left on the bone.
But what if ABC released a statement that said, “After further review and internal discussion, ABC News has decided not to run the Charlie Sheen interview as planned. As it has become apparent that Mr. Sheen is in need of help, this news organization will not exploit his condition for ratings and we feel at this point airing this interview is not a legitimate news story. We wish him the best of luck going forward.”
In one action, the new regime at ABC News would be putting themselves on a bit of a pedestal, and showing what they could stand for going forward as a news organization. They would be sacrificing ratings in the short-term for respect in the long-term. And frankly, since Sheen has been everywhere already, it wouldn’t be costing them much as the interview is nowhere near an “exclusive” (though that word has been abused more than Sheen’s body as of late).
I don’t expect ABC News to go forward with my idea, but I can always hope that news organizations once in a while will take the high road and let a few ratings points go in exchange for showing some dignity and class.
The entire media industry that is laughing with Sheen is also celebrating the sad effects of an illness. And that is not a healthy way to do business.
Bill commented:
ABC/Sherwood blew it! They should have turned the interview around to air Saturday night.
JB21 commented:
I'm tired of everyone making "arm chair diagnosis" of Charlie Sheen and trying to victimize every one and every thing around is probably the saddest statement about this nation, esp it's entertainment media. Every body with a book to sell on their own addiction - probably to pay their own past legal bills - is out in full force playing nanny and trying to make a buck selling their brand of psychological snake oil. They smell blood in the water and have their knives out to carve themselves a delusional piece of the moral high ground.Sheen works hard, plays hard and parties hard. He pays his debts and is the driving force behind a wildly successful show. Whether it's art imitating life or life imitating art, who knows? Sheen is his own man, can make his own decisions and live his own life and the millions of viewers who watch the program are adult enough to know it. Live and let live people and find something important to do with your time that helps people in your life - and let him live his.
Gregory Wilde..Toronto commented:
ABC just has to cancel the Charlie Sheen taped interviews that aired prior to the Piers Morgan Monday night live show. Why? Simple..they will be airing a more erratic Charlie..instead of the calmer Charlie we all saw. So theirs is simply old news that will add fuel to the fire raging between Charlie and his producers (former?). Get smart ABC...Take the high road!
brew commented:
I'm tired of hearing about Charlie Sheen. I think he is either mentally crashing, or involved in a huge self promotion stunt. But it would be wrong for ABC to cancel the show *just* because he appears to be mentally unstable - after all, Muammar Gaddafi also appears to be mentally unstable and you wouldn't expect coverage of him to be canceled.
Terrence commented:
I disagree. The media goes after Britany Spears, so it makes sense that Craig Ferguson took is stance.
However, Charlie Sheen is going to the press on his own. He is doing this to himself. Ill or no ill, the best sobering reality check for him is to ultimately see how he's been carrying on.
Abigail commented:
Mr. Grossman - yours is the one sane, clear voice in the darkness. I, too, hope that ABC News does not air the interview - I also hope that Mr. Sheen gets the help he so desperately needs. This puts me in mind of the time when Colin Ferguson refused to jump on the 'bashing Brittany Spears bandwagon'...and devoted his monologue to discussing his own road to ruin. Mr. Ferguson is a class act, you too seem to be quite decent, and ABC now has the opportunity to be as well. Thanks for posting this.