Emily Jashinsky writes for the Federalist about one way in which the president continues to influence popular network television.
Sean Spicer is cruising through “Dancing with the Stars” on two left feet. He’s certainly not surviving on the merits of his dancing, and I’m not sure it’s his natural charm, either. So what’s the deal with Spicey’s surge?
It’s Trump, of course. For one thing, the president of the United States has been using his leader-of-the-free-world sized platform to get out the vote. That helps. But it’s also the affiliation. For many, a vote for Spicer is a vote for Trump, and sometimes a vote for Trump is a vote against the haters.
Who, exactly, are the haters? The show’s host. The judges. ABC News staffers. The New York Times’ chief television critic. Chelsea Handler. In other words, all the usual suspects.
Speaking of the Gray Lady, dance critic Gia Kourlas is positively scandalized by Spicer’s success. It’s very funny.
Arguing that Spicer “has revealed much about his soul’s weather through his dancing,” Kourlas, noted emotional meteorologist, decried the “cold brutality” of his Paso Doble, and admitted it “hurts” to watch him dance. (That may actually be true.) The critique would make for excellent satire, but sadly appears to be an earnest piece of self-expression. …
… What we do know is that Spicer’s controversial run on the program has at least given people a harmless outlet to stick it to everyone who believes voting for Trump makes them a bad person, unworthy of friendship or association, everyone who wants to shut them out of polite society, run them out of restaurants and public places. Sure, it’s trolling, but it’s victimless trolling (unless you’re Gia Kourlas). …
