The corrupt nature of mainstream media

TPOL tends to be very hard on so-called “legacy” or mainstream media (MSM). That is, the television and radio networks and their local affiliated TV and radio stations, together with the newspapers (chains or independents and especially the “national” press) and national magazines (Time, Life, Newsweek, and the like, including People and its ilk), and the entertainment industry, including Holywood, New York, and Nashville.

Although the power and influence of many of these have waned significantly in recent years, the sad legacy still is with us. Morality, civic integrity, and the love of liberty have all been hugely and negatively impacted by what the MSM has done over more than a century. Not just in the States but in the world.

It isn’t just the kind of nonsense illustrated by this cartoon (courtesy ChatGPT):

And the negative impact is certainly not a recent action on the part of the MSM. We at TPOL were reminded of this by a recent posting online: Red Skelton and the End of an Era on CBS (anonymous author).

In 1970, after years of success, Red Skelton’s long-running television show was unexpectedly canceled. According to Skelton, CBS encouraged both him and comedian Jackie Gleason to shift their family-friendly comedy toward a bolder, more provocative direction. However, both Skelton and Gleason refused.

Skelton firmly believed in clean entertainment—his comedy was built on physical humor, heartfelt performances, and timeless characters that resonated with audiences of all ages. He was unwilling to compromise his principles or alter his comedic style just to follow trends.

Although his show on CBS ended in 1971, Red Skelton’s legacy continued to thrive. His dedication to wholesome humor kept him beloved by fans for decades. He went on to perform live across the country, proving that true comedy doesn’t need to chase the times—it only needs to come from the heart. (Many of us, both those old enough to remember the shows and younger people introduced to Red by DVDs and on-line video, had enjoyed his humor and his obvious love for people and his nation.

“….Skelton’s and Gleason’s shared commitment to integrity in their craft, choosing to maintain their unique comedic voices rather than conform to pressures that went against their principles.”

Skelton explained that he refused to compromise his values because, as a clown, he was committed to providing wholesome and pure comedy. For him, comedy was about bringing genuine, innocent laughter to his audience, without relying on sensitive or inappropriate jokes. He didn’t want to create humor at the expense of decency, and his refusal to make those changes ultimately led to the end of his time on CBS. Similarly, Jackie Gleason, known for his own brand of family comedy, stood firm in his decision to reject the racier scripts as well.

This moment highlighted both Skelton’s and Gleason’s shared commitment to integrity in their craft, choosing to maintain their unique comedic voices rather than conform to pressures that went against their principles.

Sadly, the vast majority of those in MSM did not react like Skelton and Gleason. Not just in the entertainment sector on TV and radio. We can see that lack of moral courage in the traditional press: newspapers, magazines, and today the various news and opinion websites and online publications. In some cases, it was retirement that gave those in power the opportunity to corrupt their institutions. In other cases, it was well-known and even beloved celebrities who changed their views and abandoned decent moral positions to go extreme. So today we have Disney and Fox and Gannett and so many other “private” organizations in the MSM that push Wokeness and seem to be dedicated to the destruction of liberty. We live with the results today.

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