Al Gore's quality control

Former Vice President Al Gore was in London on Monday to promote his Current TV channel. It's designed "to democratize the medium of television and open it up to voices," he explained, "so people can join the global conversation."

Gore criticized what he called mainstream television as "a conversation that shuts out individuals."

With characteristic modesty, Gore compared Current TV to the invention of the printing press. He said it could help save democracy.

Current TV, which reaches forty million homes in the U.S. but isn't necessarily watched in any of them, is a compilation of three-to-eight minute "pods" on current events. Two-thirds of the content is produced by media professionals and includes such sure-fire ratings winners as a documentary about the slums of Nairobi.

I know what you're thinking, but no, neither Angelina Jolie nor Madonna are adopting any children there. The former vice president would just like you to see a documentary about the slums of Nairobi.

Look, do you want to save democracy or not?

Current TV's gimmick is that one-third of the programming is user-generated. But it's not wild and free like YouTube. It works like this: viewers send in their videos, professionals at Current TV throw most of them out, the survivors are edited and packaged, and the final product is broadcast on the channel.

The former vice president says Current TV's mission is to help to reclaim television from the hands of a few powerful media moguls, but it appears the real mission is to substitute his preferences for theirs. He doesn't seem very interested in open forums.

Gore describes Internet video sites like YouTube as "a million different videos, some of which are the family dog--and a family you don't even know, and the dog's not very interesting." He describes Current TV as "the highest quality, best produced, most fascinating, most compelling material that still reflects that raw creativity and fresh perspective of individuals."

Al Gore sounds a lot like one of those PBS pledge week hosts, pleading with viewers for donations to support the fine programs no one could sell to Arts & Entertainment or the Discovery Channel, pleading during a break in the salute to Broadway musicals scheduled by PBS in order to draw an audience for the sales pitch.

Maybe Tommy Tune and Angela Lansbury can save democracy. Current TV should call them.


Copyright 2007

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