THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 24, 1995 TAG: 9501240025
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
HERE'S THE last thing they want to hear at the White House: Dennis Miller, he of the poison tongue, will do a live, running commentary of President Clinton's State of the Union address tonight at 9 on Comedy Central.
Don't expect him to be fair. Or unbiased.
All that let's-bend-over-backward-to-be-objective stuff is for the commentators on CBS, ABC, NBC and CNN. Miller, who won an Emmy for shooting from the lip on his HBO series, says he will ``rip Clinton's speech to shreds faster than you can say `lame duck.' ''
Nothing new here. Miller handed out the same kind of pummeling last January. And before that, Comedy Central had writer-comedian Al Franken providing irreverent running commentary on other speeches by presidents and during the recent national elections.
Comedy Central thrives on impertinence, which at times borders on the tasteless. A network that finds humor in the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease isn't likely to have a conscience about ripping Clinton even before the president strolls into the House chamber tonight to deliver his speech.
``Let's face it,'' Miller said. ``Watching Billy Boy Clinton put his spin control on pre-apocalyptic America is not going to satisfy your entertainment jones. (That's hip talk for needs and wants).
``That is why Comedy Central is giving me control of the night to rip his speech to shreds faster than he sucked up to Newt Gingrich.''
Miller has elevated ranting to an art form.
Comedy Central is billing tonight's appearance by Miller not as analysis but as entertainment: ``The greatest comedy team ever to hit live TV! Clinton and Miller starring in the State of the Union Undressed.''
Miller says he'll expose Clinton for what he really is, ``The governor of Arkansas. . . .''
The Bill bashing isn't likely to end there. Comedy Central has scheduled a live episode of Bill Maher's ``Politically Incorrect'' immediately after the address. We know that Bob Costas of NBC and feminist Gloria Steinem will be on the panel with Maher, who recently won two CableAce awards.''
Maher's jabs at Clinton in the past weren't meant to draw as much blood as Miller's, but he hasn't been shy about taking on the Clinton administration - or any other administration - while delivering the best opening monologue on TV. ``Politically Incorrect'' will originate in Washington for the rest of the week. Its regular time slot is 10 p.m.
The other night, Maher even took a swing at a dead president, hinting that earthquakes are caused by the devil giving it to Richard M. Nixon with a pitchfork. He's done hours on O.J. Simpson. by CNB