THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 25, 1995 TAG: 9501250451
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KERRY DOUGHERTY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
Dwight Powell can't help himself. Every time the Circuit City salesman turns around, he's eye to eye with the O.J. Simpson trial.
``I think people are getting sick of it already,'' the former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver said as he gazed at prosecutor Marcia Clark delivering her opening statement on scores of television sets lining the walls of the Virginia Beach store. ``Some people say it's going to last until Christmas. We'll all be real tired of the trial by then.''
The Simpson trial was not on every set at Circuit City on Tuesday afternoon. The Flintstones were yabba-dabba-doing on a few. There was football on others. But in every direction in the cavernous salesroom, there were flickering courtroom scenes. And the Rolls-Royce of television sets, a 60-inch Pro Scan (selling for just under $4,000), was tuned to Court TV.
``This is not good for business,'' confided Billy Moore, another salesman. ``It's like the Super Bowl. Everybody's watching, nobody's buying.''
Besides, every TV salesperson knows that brilliant colors and bright whites help sell color television sets, and there are few of those in the subdued hues of a courtroom.
Powell and Moore are part of Court TV's captive audience. All over Hampton Roads, televisions are tuned to the trial of the decade. People in bars, appliance shops and gyms are being subjected to hours of coverage.
Others are watching for fun.
Like Allan and Doris Rothenberg, who have eagerly followed the Simpson case on their color console television.
``What we haven't seen, we've videoed,'' boasted Allan Rothenberg, a retired Navy pilot. ``I don't think we've really missed anything yet.''
Rothenberg's wife, who was celebrating her 70th birthday Tuesday by watching opening statements, dismissed polls showing the viewing public is bored with the case.
``I read something that said 85 percent of the people were tired of O.J.,'' she said, shaking her head. ``I can't believe that. I think it's the most interesting thing on television.''
Her husband, rummaging through a 5-pound box of saltwater taffy, agreed.
``This is better than Perry Mason, better than Matlock,'' Rothenberg said, jerking a thumb at O.J.'s image as the defendant sat motionless at the defense table. ``It's real life.''
Les Crain, manager of Bryant Appliance in Norfolk, confessed that he is addicted to the trial. He catches bits of the Simpson case on the 15 TV sets in the showroom.
``What I miss during the day, I see at night,'' he said. He's convinced Simpson is guilty. ``But he's got a very clever, top-notch defense. Everything the prosecutors have against him is strictly circumstantial.''
Crain said that in six months of following the case, he's annoyed that Ronald Goldman is the forgotten man.
``Everything they talk about is Nicole and O.J.,'' he said. ``The sad part is that a young man died, too.''
Some local businesses with television sets have decided to tune it all out.
``I keep the sound off,'' said Bob Monroe, owner of M.A.R.C. Electronics in Virginia Beach. ``I'm fed up with it. If O.J. did it, I wish he'd blown his brains out when he had the chance. If he didn't they ought to hang everyone who framed him . . . but I can't watch it anymore.''
In Wareing's Gym at the Oceanfront, the three TV sets positioned over the stair-climbing machines are set to an all-news channel.
``We asked people if they wanted to watch the trial, and they said absolutely not,'' declared co-owner Jack Wareing.
Circuit City's Powell can't turn the Simpson case off. Instead, he tries to look on the bright side.
With a weak smile, he said, ``Hey, it's better than the `Edge of Night.' '' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT/
``This is better than Perry Mason, better than Matlock. It's real
life,'' says Allan Rothenberg of Virginia Beach. He and his wife,
Doris, have either watched or videotaped most of the O.J. Simpson
trial. Doris celebrated her 70th birthday Tuesday by watching
opening statements.
by CNB