Klosterman Gets McLaughlin
I think I judged Chuck Klosterman too soon. His column this month in Esquire is an ode to the television genius of the McLaughlin Group, and it's clueless/brilliant host John McLaughlin. The show has recently become my favorite Sunday morning ritual. McLaughlin is loud and domineering, and often seems obsessed with overly-simplistic summary judgments. But the man is brilliant. (And not just because he has a Ph.D. in philosophy from Columbia.) He has a strange ability to manipulate egos and interests of his odd little roundtable (who sit around a very funny looking table). He finds a way to make Eleanor Clift not sound whiny as she tries to interrupt and say something reasonable, as Pat Buchanan delivers his touchy-feely conservatism and the annoying new blonde radio lady prattles on with her inept platitudes. Also, McLaughlin's wardrobe is something special.
The story isn't online yet, but FishbowlDC has a handy summary.
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3:03 pm
"Has anyone ever generated so much entertainment value from the process of loudly asking questions?"
Didn't Dana Carvey figure that out, like, years ago?
5:37 pm
http://www.danacarvey.net/media/snl_mclachlan_magicbag.wav
"Wrong!!!! You had special K and banana!"
5:45 pm
oops wrong link
5:47 pm
third time is a charm, sorry
http://www.tubearoo.com/articles/60600/SNL_Dana_Carvey_The_McLaughlin_Group.html