THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 23, 1996 TAG: 9601230045
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
DATELINE: PASADENA, CALIF. LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
TURNER BROADCASTING executives want no part of an O.J. Simpson interview that violates what the president of CNN calls ``good journalistic principles.''
That won't stop the Black Entertainment Network.
Word here at the semi-annual gathering of the Television Critics Association is that it's full speed ahead for BET's Ed Gordon to go one-on-one with Simpson Wednesday night at 10.
Nobody from BET is denying that, in the course of the hourlong interview, Simpson will be permitted to pitch a video while challenging the accusations that led to his arrest for murder and ``the trial of the century.'' Look for BET to show Simpson's 1-800 number.
Tom Johnson, the CNN president, said there was no way he'd compromise the network's integrity to get Simpson on camera. Johnson confirmed that a Simpson interview had been planned for CNN's ``Burden of Proof'' program, but it stalled when Simpson asked for more than CNN was willing to give - the right to plug his video.
``No deal,'' Johnson said. ``We accept no pre-set conditions.''
BET is an entertainment service not burdened with TV journalism's principles. It is not in the news-dispensing business. If BET chooses to treat the Simpson interview as an infomercial, so be it.
Simpson is not being paid for the interview, said a BET spokesman.
Now that would be a bit much.
Comedy Central, another cable channel that doesn't fret about balance and fairness in news gathering, covers President Clinton's State of the Union message tonight with one thing in mind:
Make fun of it and all involved.
That's what Comedy Central is all about, said the channel's president, Doug Herzog, calling it ``news with a bent perspective.''
Dennis Miller, Mr. Bent Perspective himself, again hosts ``State of the Union: Undressed'' tonight at 9. His stated objective: to increase cynicism in the United States by 5 percent or better.
If Miller doesn't get the job done, it will be left to Bill Maher, who signs on with ``Politically Incorrect'' after the State of the Union telecast. A year from now, this ``Capitol Gang'' for the hip moves to ABC, where it will air after ``Nightline'' at 12:05 a.m.
It remains to be seen how much of Maher's irreverent and outrageous humor transfers with him to ABC. The four-letter words will be history, for sure.
Of moving his show from New York City to Los Angeles, Maher told TV writers, ``I'm losing the aggravation of snow storms but I'm gaining the aggravation of earthquakes and drive-by shootings.''
Will he be less of the free spirit on ABC? ``If they tell me to clean up my act, I'll forget the whole thing and run back to Comedy Central, if they'll have me,'' he said.
They'd take him a back in a nanosecond.
Herzog said the cable channel will continue its association with Maher even after he packs off to ABC. ``His departure will leave a gaping hole in our schedule, but at least we'll have Bill throughout the political year ahead of us,'' Herzog said.
Comedy Central starts its ``Indecision 96'' coverage tonight and plans to continue through the November elections. That includes the primaries, caucuses and debates, should the presidential candidates go head to head.
As Comedy Central looks for laughs in the run for the White House, and MTV covers the campaign between music videos, and E! Entertainment Television dabbles in politics when not covering Hollywood parties, CNN has responded by loosening up a little.
It hired young Jonathan David Karl from the New York Post to report on how the 20- and 30-year-olds will respond to the candidates and the issues.
That's about as hip as CNN gets. by CNB