According to the Drudge Report, "a Rupert Murdoch TV game show that may choose the outcome of the next White House race" is in the works for the FX network. Once again, unimaginative, smarmy television executives are trying to take a formula that worked and apply it to something else in the hopes of cashing in. However, this is a new low, and that is really saying something! I almost didn't post this for fear that it was a prank, but I couldn't pass up this opportunity to rail against such a travesty even if this turns out to be a bad joke. First of all, trying to reduce a presidential election to a popularity contest is just plain wrong. I'm not trying to be naive; I know that for all intensive purposes it often ends up that way. However, using the formula of American Idol and Survivor to choose a candidate for Leader Of The Free World just strikes me as particularly offensive, totally undemocratic, and probably unconstitutional to boot. Second of all, if you think that the Florida voting scandal was bad in the previous presidential election, imagine how bad it will be if there is a repeat of the recent phone-in voting controversy for American Idol.

I really hope that this is just a joke, but then again I really wouldn't be surprised to see executives put something this asinine on the air. I just hope the viewing audience refuses to watch and demonstrates itself to be smarter than it is assumed to be, although I suppose I shouldn't hold my breath on that count either. Pity.