It's been months since we've had the kind of vile, repulsive and IQ-dropping alternative programming for which Fox has been not-so-kindly-known. You know, specials like "The Swan," "My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance," "My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss" and "Who Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire." The list goes on.
This season, the network that loved to push the envelope in tastelessness and perfunctory reality fodder went straight-laced on us. It's new lineup looked like Fox had dipped into the CBS Well of Boredom and drunk all the dull stuff.
The evidence: "Standoff," "Vanished," "Justice" and bland sitcoms like "Happy Hour" and "'Til Death."
Now, Fox is back, baby! They've ushered in a new era in sleaze TV called "O.J. Simpson: If I Did It, Here's How It Happened."
You may have heard about this two-part interview special with Simpson, who was acquitted on double murder charges in the "Trial of the Century," in which he talks about how he would have murdered ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman had he been so inclined. It would be like creating a special about Hitler demonstrating with Barbie dolls and an Easy Bake Oven how he would have massacred 6 million Jews.
This dirty little piece of television weirdness about Simpson airs in two parts Nov. 27 and 29 at 8 p.m. on KSTU Channel 13.
It's not my style to belittle something that hasn't aired yet, but c'mon, there's a special stench about this special, which some are calling a kind of confession from Simpson.
While the automatic reaction is to blame the former Buffalo Bills superstar for wallowing in this kind of exploitation of the murder of two people (he was the one who came to executives with the idea), much of the responsibility also goes to the network and the book publisher, Regan Books, who are marketing a book with the same title. Publisher Judith Regan will conduct the interview.
The whole thing stinks of money deals and no compassion. It's celebrity over sensitivity.
Simpson knows he can say just about anything and not be tried for it due to the rule of double jeopardy. So this is nothing more than another enticing piece to the "Saga That Never Ends," a circus performance which will yield another $3 million-plus for the former football star.
But shame on you, Fox, for - with Simpson and Regan Books - being part of this triumvirate of tastelessness.
If this is some sort of tactless way of seeking redemption without the threat of prosecution or litigation, Mr. Simpson, you missed that opportunity long ago.
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* VINCE HORIUCHI'S column appears Mondays and Fridays. He can be reached at vince@sltrib.com or 801-257-8607. For more television insights, visit Horiuchi's blog, "The Village Vidiot," at http://blogs.sltrib.com/tv/ and catch his PopCast podcast every Tuesday at http://sltrib.com/entertainment. Send comments about this column to livingeditor@sltrib.com.
