Fox Talking Heads Want Unity, Network Can't Be Bothered to Unite for 'Celebrating America'

by Julian Spivey
I was flipping through the programming guide on my television on Sunday afternoon to see if there were any upcoming shows I needed to record on my DVR and noticed something that wasn’t remotely surprising, but still a bit infuriating. 
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Three of the four major networks are broadcasting the Joe Biden inauguration special Celebrating America, which will be hosted by Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks and featuring performances from Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake, Jon Bon Jovi and more. Those networks are ABC, CBS and NBC. This means, you guessed it, Rupert Murdoch’s Fox will not be airing the special. Neither will Murdoch’s Fox News channel, despite the fact that other cable news channels like CNN, CNBC and MSNBC will be airing. Along with PBS affiliates and numerous streaming places like Amazon Prime Video and YouTube there will be plenty of opportunities for Americans to watch the special that seeks to “highlight the strength of our democracy, the perseverance of our people and our ability to come together during trying times and emerge stronger than ever before,” according to bideninaugural.org.

The reason why it’s infuriating to me that Fox would opt to continue with its regular Wednesday night programming of “The Masked Dancer” and “Name That Tune,” instead of sticking with the other major networks and airing the inauguration special is that it’s news department has been going on and on the last few weeks, but especially since the insurrection of the Capitol Building two weeks prior to the date of the Biden inauguration, about how the country desperately needs unity and many of the talking heads on Fox News like Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham are blaming liberals about trying to do what they can to keep the country from uniting - like the outgoing administration ever gave a damn about unity in this country. 

It’s just more hypocritical bullshit from the folks at Fox, which goes all the way to the top with Murdoch. I truly don’t expect Fox News to air the “Celebrating America” special, but the fact that those in power won’t even bother putting it on the main network is curious. So many at the network are clamoring for unity, but the place they work for can’t even bother to unite with its fellow networks to celebrate America for the night. 

Hey, maybe it’s just a shrewd business move? With ABC, CBS and NBC all showing the same thing on Wednesday night there’s a decent chance the Nielsen ratings for ‘Masked Dancer’ and “Name That Tune” could be higher than ever. Greed is good. Isn’t that the Fox slogan … or was that just Michael Douglas in “Wall Street”?
 
What’s even more damning is Fox doesn’t even seem to plan to show the actual swearing in ceremony earlier in the day, because apparently “The Rachel Ray Show,” “The Wendy Williams Show” and other regular programming. Why watch history when you can watch Steve Wilkos host an episode of his show titled, “Molestation: I Can’t Live With This Accusation,” about a mother who suspects her husband has been sexually assaulting her three-year-old. Stay classy, Fox! 

Of course, Fox News will be covering the actual swearing in, because it’s the least it can do as a network with ‘News’ in the title, but don’t fear I’m sure the broadcasters will have plenty of talk during it about how the country will go down the drain soon, as if it hasn’t been circling the toilet bowl over the last four years or so. 

Is this a huge deal? Not really. I’ve probably given too much thought and words to it, but I’ll never forget something comedian Jon Stewart said on his final episode of “The Daily Show” in 2015: “The best defense against bullshit is vigilance. So, if you smell something, say something.” As far as bullshit goes, this might be calfshit, but I’m calling it out, nevertheless. 

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