Media
Impeachment Coverage Dragged for Demanding 'Pizzazz'
Impeachment, extortion accusations and a drag queen, sure. But NBC News says opening hearings lack "pizzazz."
November 14 2019 4:48 AM EST
October 31 2024 5:51 AM EST
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Impeachment, extortion accusations and a drag queen, sure. But NBC News says opening hearings lack "pizzazz."
As the nation waits to see if a president gets impeached for only the third time ever, there have been accusations of extortion of world leaders by the first commander in chief to give hush money mid-campaign to a porn star.
But NBC News says what the impeachment hearings lack is "pizzazz."
\u201cAnalysis: The first two witnesses called Wednesday testified to President Trump's scheme, but lacked the pizzazz necessary to capture public attention. https://t.co/1UfkaeZ3I4\u201d— NBC News (@NBC News) 1573704784
The media observation, made on Twitter and in an extended piece online, lamented the first public inquiry hearing in more than 20 years wasn't "dramatic."
"At a time when Democrats are simultaneously eager to influence public opinion in favor of ousting the president and quietly apprehensive that their hearings could stall or backfire, the first round felt more like the dress rehearsal for a serious one-act play than opening night for a hit Broadway musical," wrote Jonathan Allen.
The view wasn't shared by all media, including others working at NBC News. Ben Rhodes, a regular commentator on MSNBC, said Allen took the wrong approach.
"Maybe it's more important for the American people to learn the facts than to have an analysis of pizazz," he responded. "That's the purpose of public hearings and we'd be a lot better off if it was the basis for our politics."
\u201cMaybe it\u2019s more important for the American people to learn the facts than to have an analysis of pizazz. That\u2019s the purpose of public hearings and we\u2019d be a lot better off if it was the basis for our politics.\u201d— Ben Rhodes (@Ben Rhodes) 1573707710
Regardless, quite a few lamented on Twitter a focus on pizzazz over substance, even at a time when drag queens are showing up to hearings to provide coverage for smartphone-only news outlets.
A sampling on the post-pizzazz commentary:
\u201cMedia: This is a dark and somber time for our country. Impeachment is nothing to celebrate.\n\nAlso the media: \u2018The hearings lacked the pizazz and drama we were hoping for!\u2019\u201d— Dana Goldberg (@Dana Goldberg) 1573714250
\u201cAll day I thought to myself, will there be pizazz in the impeachment hearings? WILL THERE? Our kids will ask us, on the morning of the hearings, do you remember where you were when you realized there was no pizazz?\u201d— Esther C, MD MPH (@Esther C, MD MPH) 1573706817
\u201cNuremberg trials should have had more pizazz.\u201d— Dana Houle (@Dana Houle) 1573707898
\u201c@NBCNews \u201cLACKED THE PIZAZZ?? \n\nIs NBC kidding with that line? This isn\u2019t Miss Universe or a teenage beauty pageant, this is about upholding the nation\u2019s constitution and keeping together a democracy. \n\nWe\u2019re not looking for pizzazz, we\u2019re looking for TRUTH.\n\nMy God NBC. Act responsibly.\u201d— NBC News (@NBC News) 1573704784
\u201cHi, @NBCNews \n\nYou know what story had plenty of \u201cpizazz\u201d?\n\nThe one you spiked about Matt Lauer.\u201d— The Hoarse Whisperer (@The Hoarse Whisperer) 1573741124