Drudge Report is one of my favorite sites because it so frequently scoops the major media outlets or puts up links to stories I might otherwise miss. Its actual reporting, however, tends to be rather, um, suspect. Take for example the current headliner:
SARANDON MOVIE ON CBS FINISHES LAST PLACE IN OVERNIGHTS
Outspoken anti-war activist Susan Sarandon hit severe ratings turbulence on CBS Sunday night with her original telefilm ICE BOUND — landing last in overnight ratings and losing nearly 40% of audience levels from the previous Sunday on CBS.
ICE pulled a frosty 5.5 rating/9 share in NIELSEN’s 55 overnight markets.
It is not clear if it was ICE’s subject matter — a woman suffering from breast cancer in the South Pole — or if it was viewership rejection of Sarandon that resulted in the startling ratings crash. * * *
Absent the slightest bit of evidence that her political views had anything to do with the ratings, why would we presume they did? Sarandon is hardly the most outspoken figure in the entertainment industry. Indeed, aside from a few examples in country music–notably the Dixie Chicks loss of fans after making anti-Bush comments and the success of a couple of artists who made pro-war songs–I am unaware of any evidence that suggests people choose entertainment based on the politics of the artists involved.
Update (1215): I just remembered: TBS was showing Bull Durham last night. Heh.
