Blogtrek

Tom Brokaw hypes it up

Today's media hype of the day: Tonight on the 6:30 NBC news, Tom Brokaw's voice came with an urgent, strident tone, emphasizing emergencies and dire things everywhere, such as the possible attack on Iraq, the terrorist threat level, and the nightclub disasters, to the tune of booming loud martial-like music. Then he mentioned that Fred Rogers (Mr. Rogers Neighborhood TV show for children) died at the age of 74, to the same bombastic music and tone of voice. What hype. And you really goofed it up this time, Tom. That was not Mr. Rogers' style! He was laid back, friendly, and optimistic. I think Tom should have cut the boom-music off and told us about Mr. Rogers in the same way that Mr. Rogers would have - softly and matter-of-factly.