Angry in the Great White North

Reilly can't understand why comedies aren't doing better on NBC:

At the same time, he professed frustration at having so much difficulty launching a successful new sitcom. "What is going on with comedy?" he asked. "I cannot believe that the country does not want to laugh at this time, with the news only going from bad to worse every day."

Do Americans tune in to comedies when the news is bad? Seems like a shallow interpretation -- I'd expect them to tune in to the news, or go online.

But let's say he's right -- comedies should be pulling in viewers as things go from bad to worse. What news? Here I'm going to assume he's talking about the War on Terror. You can disagree, but I think I'm reading him right. He thinks things are going from bad to worse, ensconced as he is in the New York entertainment scene.

What do Americans think? Here's a CNN/Gallup poll fom July 7:

"As you may know, terrorists exploded several bombs on subways and buses in London today. First -- Which comes closest to your view of today's terrorist attacks in London? They are a major setback that indicates that the terrorists are winning the war on terrorism. They are a major setback, but do not indicate that the terrorists are winning the war on terrorism. OR, They are a minor setback that does not have any long-term significance in the war on terrorism."

Indicates Terrorists Winning 16%
Doesn't Indicate Terrorists Winning 48%
No Long-Term Significance 30%
Unsure 6%

"Do you think today's attacks do or do not represent the beginning of a sustained terrorist campaign against the United States and its allies that will continue for the next several weeks?"

Do 41%
Do Not 50%
Unsure 9%

Sounds like Americans are concerned but not alarmed. Another CNN/Gallup poll evaluates the President's handling of things, gauging opinion over time:

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling terrorism?"
Date / Approve / Disapprove / Unsure
6/24-26/05 / 55 / 41 / 4
5/20-22/05 / 55 / 40 / 5
4/1-2/05 / 57 / 40 / 3
2/25-27/05 / 60 / 37 / 3
2/7-10/05 / 55 / 42 / 3
1/7-9/05 / 58 / 39 / 3

Looks like Americans are solidly and consistently behind the President, and have been all year. And what about the news that's going from bad to worse? OK, so Americans don't blame the President, but surely they must be getting nervous:

"How worried are you that there will soon be another terrorist attack in the United States: very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not at all worried?"

Date / Very Worried / Somewhat Worried / Not Too Worried / Not At All Worried / Unsure
7/7-10/05 / 25 / 44 / 19 / 11 / 1
8/5-10/04 / 20 / 44 / 25 / 10 / 1
7/8-18/04 / 17 / 41 / 26 / 15 / 1
6/3-13/04 / 25 / 42 / 20 / 12 / 1
3/17-21/04 / 20 / 42 / 25 / 12 / 1
2/11-16/04 / 13 / 42 / 28 / 16 / 1
1/6-11/04 / 20 / 45 / 24 / 10 / 1

Not the trend Reilly is expecting.

Let's say Reilly is right in saying that people watch comedies in times of stress. And let's also say the news on the American TV networks in particular, and in the media in general, are painting a gloomy picture of unrelenting bombings, eroding international support, and an endless quagmire for US forces.

But comedy ratings aren't budging? What gives?

One possibility is that the comedies stink. They might -- I usually watch dramas. But then a populace desperate for a laugh should be willing to watch anything funny, and that's not happening.

Looking at the poll results, I'd say that this is confirmation that people are not believing the news presented by the main stream media, such as the news delivered by Reilly's colleagues at NBC News. Or at least people are getting news from more sources, and that they see the situation as being very different from the one presented by the main stream American press.

They trust the President, they think the War on Terror is important and is going relatively well, and they suspect that the news from Iraq and other hot spots is slanted.

You can almost hear the frustration in Reilly's voice. Why don't they believe what we are telling them? Why aren't they coming to us for comfort?

Perhaps the American people are getting comfort from the "harsh honesty" Reilly was promoting, but theirs is the more honest picture.