One of the pitfalls of conservative media is “me too!”-ism, the idea that taking a successful mainstream concept and blatantly injecting conservative proselytizing into it is a winning strategy. Thankfully, the new cable channel RightNetwork strives to create original content that doesn’t fall into a predictable formula, easily apparent from their new series “Whaddya Know, Joe?” starring Joe Wurzelbacher, the man who single-handedly derailed Obama’s centrist, middle-class-tax-cut image in the 2008 Presidential campaign (note to leftist hair-splitters: yes, his first name is “Samuel”). Joe’s aim is simple: find people, hear their stories and opinions, get a better idea about the state of our nation.
—–
“Whaddya Know” describes itself as “part 60 Minutes, part Oprah, and 100% like nothing you’ve ever seen before,” but there is a crucial difference between Joe and the hosts of those other shows. Whereas Oprah and others fought tooth-and-nail to get where they want to be and thus try to make their shows all about themselves, Joe is an accidental celebrity. He’s quietly taken on the role of a household name without adorning any of the ego that normally comes along with it, and that completely flavors the tone of the show.
Instead of taking place in a bright TV studio with a trained-seal audience, the set for the talk show-esque portion of the show looks like it was built inside a barn; the tone is folksy, intimate, humble. Instead of hogging the spotlight in every conversation and interview, Joe is completely content to give guests his full attention and let them speak at length. It’s a refreshing respite from the all-but-scripted, pandering-for-applause fake style of conventional talk shows.
However, those worried about Joe not having the chops or charisma to carry an entire show, rest your troubled hearts; he’s got plenty of backup. Like Ed to his Johnny, like Andy to his Conan, like Garth to his Wayne, co-host Rodney Lee Conover is a quirky, energetic counter to Joe’s laid-back, dry humor. Their interplay with each other and guests such as Nick Searcy from the show Justified finds all parties comfortable and casual yet lively.
But an important thing about Joe is that its cameras aren’t stuck in one little room. As a multi-genre show, it features news packages that are truly educational while still featuring the show’s informality and wry humor. It’s a much-needed departure from the cookie-cutter templates of MSM news segments with their maddening poseur objectivity and condescending 5th-grade narration.
Now, when I say that the news segments are “educational,” I will admit that I was genuinely surprised by many of the revelations in these portions of the show– how California beaches experience more pollution in the absence of oil drilling due to seepage, or how Mexican military troops have escorted drug cartels across the border into Texas.
Other regular segments provide perspectives from an even wider range of voices. “Street Smarts” with Lewis Brown, a man who either is homeless or just looks it, shares his thoughts, promising, “My mouth don’t write checks my ass can’t cash.” The segment “Ladies Out Loud” is fly-on-the-wall view of girl talk with a group of women, mostly mothers, discussing how local and national issues affect them and their families. It’s like The View, just with thoughts. In “Joe’s Bar,” our plumber host interviews people who aren’t celebrities or conservative activists, just boots-on-the-ground individuals like teachers who share their personal experience and opinions on issues such as public unions in education. For political junkies, YouTube star “Thomas Paine” hams up some common-sense punditry in response to viewers’ mail.
And this inclusion of diverse voices has continued into further episodes; during the recent demonstrations in Wisconsin, he’s been visiting residents of the state, filming and talking, asking open-ended questions, getting insider information. It’s engrossing, because unlike the vain celebrity flattering meant only for self-promotion of other talk shows, there’s a genuine interest in people and what they have to say. You can tell that Joe’s fundamental philosophy is that everyone has something to contribute in understanding our nation, and that sort of respect for all people, abandoned for decades by a cynical television establishment focusing only on the grotesque voyeurism and empty glamor, is more than refreshing.
I don’t make any excuses for conservative media; either it’s well-crafted and entertaining, or it isn’t. “Whaddya Know, Joe?” has been a very pleasant surprise, and I’ve found myself constantly checking the RightNetwork website for updates and new videos. If your cable provider doesn’t carry RightNetwork, you can contact them and demand they do, but in the meantime, don’t wait to view “Joe” from their site. It’s an engaging, delightful program that just might be bound for greatness.