Detroit Telethon

I know it sounds too much like "Americathon" (and maybe just Firesign Theatre), but Detroit is royally screwed! Recently, Jay Leno set up two "free shows" to entertain people from Detroit. One huge problem, if you've ever seen Eminem's "8 Mile", there are two Detroits. There is one that lives inside the City limits and have been perennially poverty-stricken and the others that have fled the City to live, only entering the City for work and entertainment. Basically, it is white-flight that has brought Detroit down. Now, due to the Economy from the banks' and businesses' shenanigans, Detroit, the City, is in the gutter and the metropolitan area, including the suburbs is on its knees.

I won't explain more here, but you can read the articles in the papers that describe the controversy. I responded to one of the writers who resents people in Detroit (the City) standing up for themselves.

In my email responses, I've suggested what Leno and his Entertainment Industry buddies should do instead of this not-well-thought-out show at the Auburn Hills Palace:

Hey Detroit, Leno doesn't owe you a free concert

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090316/OPINION03/903160304

I'd be offended if the City offered free buses to the Palace. Of course, Leno's "charity" is not for the real Detroiters. It is a society affair like an arts group's wine & brie reception. The City, region and State can't run buses to Livonia, Lathrup Village, Novi, Ann Arbor or even to all the metropolitan Social Services offices! What a slap in the face it would be to the poor to underwrite a promotion like this.

Everybody and their brother is co-opting "Detroit's" misfortune these days. It wouldn't be so bad if there was real charity behind it all. However, this charity appears to be on the order of people rushing to donate their old crap to Sally Ann or the Library at year's end to collect a receipt good for a tax deduction.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090312/POLITICS/903120405
Isn't it bad enough that the "bailout" for Michigan will amount to less than $20 per person in the State? Save the energy that would be spent on this promotional event for Leno, Pepsi and the Palace and give us the loot instead of letting it flow to the usual not-so-needy. I bet the lighting bill alone is a good chunk of change. Edison must be thrilled. I'm sure Auburn Hills and Michigan State Police will be lapping up the overtime. That won't flow back to the unemployed.

Isn't Leno the symbol of what is at the root of America's problems? OVER CONSUMPTION? In the list of deadly sins, I think that falls under Greed. I thought that was a big part of the moral issue justifying jettisoning Kwame? I know it is what is behind the bonuses to the bankstas.

I wonder if they're giving away Palace box seats free - first come, first served?

I enjoy Leno, but really... let him stay home and phone it in. Or do a telethon out in LA for "Detroit" and just pass out the cash here or sponsor a good mass transit system that really serves the region.



Leno Thwarts Stimulus

http://www.freep.com/article/20090316/ENT03/90316105/Leno++Take+tickets+for+free+show+off+eBay

Assuming that all these tickets (including the box seats) are going to the down and out, why is Leno thwarting real aid to "Detroiters"? Whoever is selling the tickets needs the money more than they need to see Leno. Whoever buys them obviously has too much money.

Leno put an end to this charity move.

This part knocks me out:

"Talking about the Michigan show during his Monday program, Leno said, 'You don't even have to be unemployed; you just have to be having a hard time.'"

If you are unemployed or having a hard time, you probably shouldn't be enticed into spinning your wheels traveling out to Auburn Hills and caught in traffic jams, burning up fuel.

People just get fed this crap by Media about what they should do. Eating, having heat, electricity and health are the necessities. Going to the Palace is a luxury.

Media should be reminding folks about the difference between necessities and luxuries; charity and promotion. Leno's working for NBC/GE/Universal and booked in all these venues run by the entertainment cartel. He's off the air for awhile soon. I know he needs to keep his profile out there in the public so people know that he's moving to an earlier time slot. Selfless and charitable are not words that come to mind when someone is promoting something that stands to make them and their corporations a lot of money.

A telethon funneling Entertainment loot from wealthy Hollywood to depressed Detroit would be time and energy better spent. Better yet, do it from here in Michigan and employ all these people in Michigan's new HUGE (tax abated) movie industry to run it. Ovonics could power it and show off their products as future promising industries. Jeez, even GM and Chrysler could show off the cars they make and sell on other continents that are inexpensive and fuel-efficient. Even the News and Freep could get in on this and make it as prolific as SXSW has been in the last week.

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go viral with @worldmikel in asking for support for a week-long Detroit Telethon.