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10 minutes of must-see, awkward television

By: Justin Lopinot | 10/11/2007

I've been involved in some awkward media interviews over the years. There was the time I interviewed a pet psychic and had to suspend my disbelief and withhold my laughter as I learned about the inner feelings of dogs, cats, hamsters and other pets. And there was the time I had to track down a city administrator, at his home, shortly after he was relieved of his job duties amid a scandal. I can admit that I wasn't on my game during those interviews. Reporters are just people – they have bad days, their own views, etc. But through it all, they have to keep chasing the news, asking tough questions when necessary.

Well, the other night while watching television I stumbled upon one of the most awkward interviews I've ever witnessed. It was beautiful in its tense moments, often hilarious and occasionally shocking. The interview was being conducted by Jon Stewart, host of “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central. He was talking with Lynne Cheney, wife of Vice President Dick Cheney (see Part I and Part II). Anyone who's watched the program with much regularity knows that Stewart hasn't been too kind over the years to our country's VP.

In one exchange, Stewart asked Lynne if her husband is as secretive at home as he is in his public office. She said he's normal at home, except “every once in a while, he'll bite the head off a live chicken.” That got a good laugh. She really deserves some credit for being such a good sport, and Stewart deserves kudos as well for having Lynne Cheney as a guest, using his nervous energy to great effect and ending the interview by inviting and then quickly uninviting Dick Cheney to be a guest on the show. And me? Well, I should get something for sitting through those tense 10 minutes of must-see television.

Posted in Strategic Public Relations, Public Relations