Unlike the sensitive folks over at Media Matters, we NewsBusters are a relatively thick-skinned lot. And no one's ever confused me with Gloria Steinem. So we're not going to overreact to Willie Geist's comment this morning and demand a Matthewsesque mea culpa.
However . . . Willie did manage to diss the intelligence of his compatriots on today's Morning Joe. A Friday show tradition is for Geist and MSNBC celebrity correspondent Courtney Hazlett [a personal fave in the genre for her intelligent perspective] to predict which movie will score best at the box office during the coming weekend. When Hazlett tapped Cloverfield, an action-horror flick in which things go horribly wrong for Manhattan, Geist reacted with, well, horror.
View video here.
COURTNEY HAZLETT: Finally, we have Cloverfield, this action-horror flick. It's set in Manhattan, and it's going to appeal to a very young audience. And this is actually my pick.
WILLIE GEIST: Really?!
HAZLETT: Even though 27 Dresses could be considered a horror film in its own right, depending on your bridal-party experiences, I'm going with Cloverfield.
GEIST: Really! That's a bold choice.
HAZLETT: It's a bold choice, but I'm feeling bold in 2008, Willie Geist.GEIST: Never underestimate the stupidity of the American public. I think the one about the dresses will be #1.
HAZLETT: Alright; we'll duke it out on Monday.
Geist's jibe would have been more offensive had it come, say, in reaction to America's choice of a conservative at the polls. But even as a comment on the public's taste in movies, it reflects a disdain for his fellow Americans that is presumably so prevalent in MSM circles that Willie felt comfortable expressing it on the air.
H/t NB reader DH.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Comments Policy
Stupid
January 18, 2008 - 11:24 ET by AgnosticWhile it is a very stupid comment to say on television I have to admit that I say it at least once a week either will in my car in traffic or waiting in line at a store. The things some people do just truly amaze me but I know in my more mellow moments they probably think the same thing of me.
Well, regarding television
January 18, 2008 - 11:41 ET by BDWell, regarding television _ gotta echo his comments.
How else could shows like "Flavor of Love" "Rock of Love", "The Batchelor" et al make a profit?
I completely agree
January 18, 2008 - 13:10 ET by mvfreemanAnd the majority of movie goers are 25 and under and that's who most movies are marketed to anyway. They certainly arent going to the movies to be intellectually stimulated.
I am constantly amazed at the mind numbling stupid shows that pass for entertainment. Didn't the new episode of American Idol have over 23 million viewers? That's a lot of brain dead or bored people.
The truth is there is no shortage of stupid people walking around.
The guy has a point.
I too agree
January 18, 2008 - 13:52 ET by dpc1212I too agree. Look how many people are voting for Hillary.
Don't you know if you have
January 18, 2008 - 11:25 ET by taterDon't you know if you have the occupation "journalist" you know more about everything than everybody else (/sarcasm).
I find it funny (or frightening) that even in puff pieces like choosing movies you can see the hatred coming through these guys.
Do you realize how much it costs to run for office? More than any honest man could afford. -Montgomery Burns
I'm going to see
January 18, 2008 - 11:30 ET by BruzillaI'm going to see Cloverfield. I wasn't interested in it until I heard it was made by the folks who made Lost, so I figure it'll be good.
The biggest criticism I
January 18, 2008 - 12:46 ET by Hero SquadThe biggest criticism I heard of Cloverfield was that some of the destruction of New York scenes smack of a disregard of 9/11 sensitivity.
Ultimately, I don't think it's intended to be a political statement, although it may be intended to evoke the emotions felt when the buildings came down. For some, it may be too soon for such a direct allusion to a real tragedy.
"Cloverfield" is scoring well at Rotten Tomatoes. So, I guess Geist might want to add, "don't underestimate the stupidity of 77% of movie critics." Meanwhile, "27 Dresses" is scoring an underwhelming 38 on the tomatometer. That's week.
I think it'll come down to, who on the date gets to choose the flick, the guy or the girl?
*****
"There are no stupid questions. Only stupid people who ask questions." - Chris Berman
Monster eats MSNBC
January 18, 2008 - 11:34 ET by Jack BauerAnd never underestimate the stupidity of an American pundit.
Even releasing a movie about a dress on the 10th anniversary of Clinton lying point-blank to the American people and being exposed by a dress...
Guy/Chick monster flick beats sappy Chick flick everytime.
JJ Abrams is a pop-culture writer/director genius. My Geistimate is Cloverfield w/e opens with minimum $40 million, probably $50 mil.
The bad rom-com $14 mil.
JB
January 18, 2008 - 12:48 ET by drillanwrI saw the trailer for this one (in the 20+++ minutes) before "I Am Legend" last month. Looks slickly done, and makes you use more IMAGINATION, than visually laying out the boogieman for you. Not sure I heard right, but weren't these the same folks who did that "Blair Witch" flick? (I didn't see that one, but know it was a hit) ... and the pre-release flack on this movie is that "it's too insensitive to those still feeling the pain of 9-11 to see Manhattan in flames".
Actually, I'm looking forward to the new Rambo movie when it comes out. Being billed as THE most violent movie to date ... and I'm hearing Hollywood hates it. So, must be a good one! I think Stallone was wrapping up filming a few months back when the crap was hitting the fan in Burma (which the MSM didn't cover ... but I dug and read about on the internet ... and Stallone addressed this morning on Glenn Beck's radio show). For a MSM that prides itself on defining and presenting stories of injustice and torture ... they sure as hell missed a good one (BIG one) in Burma.
drill -- JJ Abrams had
January 18, 2008 - 12:59 ET by Jack Bauerdrill -- JJ Abrams had nothing to do with Blair Witch Project. Those two guys have disappeared without trace -- and about $100 mil.
JJ's the guy behind Alias (TV show), Lost, Mission Impossible 3, and the new Star Trek.
He's said up-front that he was inspired by the greatest sci-fi/monster movie ever made. And that would be Ridley Scott's ALIEN (IMHO) .
Which of course, didn't show the "monster" until the final few scenes. Just it's effects on people.
I am biased about Abrams as I do think he's a bonafide talent. But the trailer looks great. I'm going based on that. And Rambo as well.
JJ Abrams had nothing to do
January 18, 2008 - 13:07 ET by drillanwrJJ Abrams had nothing to do with Blair Witch Project.
Then I heard it compared to that type of filming style.
Let me know what you think, and I'll consider forking over the $$$.
Alien, huh? My ALL TIME favorite movie in ANY genre ... It was perfection, right down to the casually conversational delivery of dialog, and the clutter and filth of the ship. Seeing how this movie "Cloverfield" is supposed to be from some guy's video camera who was taping a party, and ends up taping the horror event, I can see where the film maker WAS influenced. Alien had the feel of peeping-in on the crew of the Nostromo ... I liked that a lot.
drill - okay, getchya!
January 18, 2008 - 13:11 ET by Jack Bauerdrill - okay, getchya!
Yes, you are correct. It's the cinema vertite, hand-held camera, reality TV vibe!
G-d, I'm denser that a Clinton explanation today!
I'll let you know what I think.
Can't argue this point!
January 18, 2008 - 11:36 ET by WildBillI saw a Hillary and two Obama bumber stickers yesterday. Hard to argue against American's stupidity after seeing those!
"Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled, or hanged." -Abraham Lincoln
GEIST: Never underestimate
January 18, 2008 - 11:40 ET by MidAmericaGEIST: Never underestimate the stupidity of the American public.
The 'American Public' has nothing to do with it. People who go see movies are just a small slice of the population that hasn't been completely turned off by what Hollywood thinks we should be entertained by.
I could work up a much
January 18, 2008 - 12:05 ET by Ruths husband BenI could work up a much greater level of outrage if I disagreed with his sentiment.
Those who beat their swords into plowshares usually end up plowing for those who didn't. - Ben Franklin
I don't want add to the
January 18, 2008 - 12:10 ET by Chris NormanI don't want add to the cynicism, but when you consider that half the American people consider themselves Democrat...
Plus, have you ever seen the simpleton trivia questions flashed on the screens in the movie theater? Obviously, the theater management doesn't have a high regard of the knowledge of the movie-going public.
The masses
January 18, 2008 - 12:23 ET by iveseenitallNothing---the MSM, t.v., the movies, politics, gov't, public "education",etc. could continue as it does without the apathy and ignorance of most people. All these and much more depend upon the historical truth that "the masses are asses". It's just the human condition. Sad, but true.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
It's true.
January 18, 2008 - 12:14 ET by clintm19It's true.
if you go, you prove his point
January 18, 2008 - 13:05 ET by SouthJersey1953Most movies made over the past few years aren't worth seeing for free, let alone $8/ticket (or more).
If you even go to the movies you prove his point that the American public is stupid.
It's not Right vs. Left; it is Right vs. Wrong
Thank you Mr. Finkelstein
January 18, 2008 - 14:28 ET by Lame CherryA spoonful of sugar in the legs of Ms. Hazlett makes anything the Pole Joe show has going on go down easier.
I hope in future postings you might and Newsbusters just make her the pin up girl of choice on the site..........a sort of caveat exclaimer of, "Bubbles B belongs here but to make the story more NB friendly we place Courtney here".
I do though agree with Geist and have blogged here that Americans are stupid........they are also lazy. In stating that I will explain it by also stating that lazy Edison and lazy Henry Ford came up with easy ways of producing things.......Americans natural laziness in trying to find a better way has always been a blessing from God.
As for the stupidity.........look at North and South Dakota in electing communists like Dorgan and Tim Johnson.....they will believe anything like the thousand yard staring Hillary Clinton supporting zombies.
Look at Marco Kos, that baboon grin he has just is the poster boy of stupid.
But American stupid is more about trusting people too much and not about being stupid. Our welfare scam artists are the best in the world...........and right now millions of Americans are finding ways to fudge on the IRS taxes and will never get caught........Americans are stupid, but one has to define the stupdity as Americans are quite brilliant in figuring ways to beat a system stacked against them.
PS: Cut Geist out of the picture and make Courtney larger lol.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
Just to pick a nit:
January 18, 2008 - 14:42 ET by ChaitealoverI won't bother seeing "27 Dresses," but it's obvious from the ads that it's not about the dresses, but about a woman who was a bridesmaid 27 times. Does Willie ever pay attention?
Chai
“The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you’ve got it made.” —Groucho Marx
Willie Geist
January 18, 2008 - 16:41 ET by R D HelmGiven the substantial number of Americans who are going to enter voting booths all over this country next November and pull the lever for one of the many advocates of the nanny-state who will most likely be on the ballot, from both parties, I cannot honestly say that I disagree with Mr. Geist.
I firmly believe that we have reached the point where over half of the people in this country do not possess the intlellectual wherewithal to survive without some form of government assistence.
None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free. -J.W. von Goethe
Much as I'd love to argue
January 19, 2008 - 02:39 ET by CortillaenMuch as I'd love to argue with you, I really can't. It would appear that living off the success of our predecessors is uniquely toxic to portions of the brain needed for more than basic reasoning.
www.rhjunior.com Great comics with a hefty dose of Christian and anti-nutjob goodness.
"With your mind as high as Mt. Fuji you can see all things clearly. And you can see all the forces that shape events; not just the things near to you." -Miyamoto Musashi
Well, I can't say I
January 19, 2008 - 02:26 ET by ZapWell, I can't say I disagree with him all that much. Though I'd change it to the stupidity of people in general, not just Americans. There's a lot of stupid people out there who only think when and what they are told to think.
I think people are getting the wrong meaning out of Geist though. He seems to be insulting the people who go see 27 dresses, not Cloversfield.