Ray St. Louis
2/21/00
BETWEEN THE LINES
I have been switching the channels lately, looking for good television shows and wondering where they all went.
I'm not sure how this happened, the deteriorating state of television programming.
Somehow, all the good shows disappeared and were replaced by the likes of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Two
Guys and a Girl, and a glut of mindless game shows resurrected from the fifties. Fortunately, our state capital
has been picking up the slack, thanks to Gov. Jeb Bush.
When black legislators, upset with the governor's "One Florida" plan to kill affirmative action, staged a sit-in
(accompanied by a slew of reporters) in the office of Lt. Gov. Frank Brogan last month, Bush was caught on
camera angrily telling a staffer to "Kick their (expletive)s out."
Of course, the video clip made it onto all the nightly news programs, thereby spicing up what otherwise would
have been a pretty dull night on TV. This is good stuff.
Threats, chest thumping bravado, bullying. Heck, this might be up there on a level with the World Wrestling
Federation. I can almost see the Guv in a pair of tights bouncing around the ring with Jesse "the original
(expletive)-kicking governor" Ventura.
Like any serious entertainer, the governor has now taken the show on the road appearing at the Guzman Center
of the Performing Arts in Miami on Feb. 3, where he was met by 5,000 booing protesters. Now were talking Jerry
Springer quality.
The show then shifted back to Tallahassee, where it was met by massive demonstrations. This can only be good
for the ratings.
Although all Gov. Bush's appearances have featured some good taunting, finger pointing and verbal abuse,
there have not yet been any incidents of chair throwing.
This, of course, must be viewed as something of a setback.
Chair throwing is a must if the show is to compete and survive alongside WWF and the Jerry Springer Show. And
Gov. Bush must realize that he needs more in his repertoire than the single "Kick their (expletive)s out" line if he
hopes to thrive in the role of the foul-mouthed, rabble-rousing tough guy.
Perhaps studying the trash talk techniques of other wrestlers would help the Guv come up with a little variety.
Something like "I'm gonna stomp your sorry (expletive)s." Or "I'm gonna put your sorry (expletive)s through a
meat grinder, you pencil necks."
Another huge brouhaha developed over former President George Bush's scheduled address before the
legislature just five days before the Florida primary, which George Jr. needs to win to propel himself toward the
Republican party nomination.
McCain backers were understandably upset about the appearance: fuming, in fact. And this one could have
turned into a real donnybrook. But, faced with mounting criticism, Jeb backed down and canceled his father's
speech, accusing McCain backers and Democrats of trying to embarrass the elder Bush.
But this battle isn't over yet. It could still, with a little nurturing and a bit of choreography, evolve into an all out
brawl.
Insults, epithets, fur and folding chairs could be flying. Keep those cameras rolling. It's time for X-treme TV from
Tallahassee. Is everybody ready to rumble?