I’m Crazy For Loving You
December 23rd, 2005 . by Jilly
I just read this on Boing Boing…
A New Mexico judge granted a temporary restraining order against David Letterman based on a statement by a woman named Colleen Nestler who claims that the talk show host has caused her “mental cruelty” and “sleep deprivation” over the last eleven years. According to Nestler, Letterman seems to have employed a form of remote influence via television. From the Associated Press:
Nestler’s application for a restraining order was accompanied by a six-page typed letter in which she said Letterman used code words, gestures and “eye expressions” to convey his desires for her.
She wrote that she began sending Letterman “thoughts of love” after his “Late Show” began in 1993, and that he responded in code words and gestures, asking her to come East.
She said he asked her to be his wife during a televised “teaser” for his show by saying, “Marry me, Oprah.” Her letter said Oprah was the first of many code names for her and that the coded vocabulary increased and changed with time.
You can read the full article here. I think its pretty ridiculous that any judge would take this woman seriously. Poor David Letterman has had more than his fair share of crazy fans. Earlier this year, the person painting his house had plotted to kidnap his 10 month old son. There was another woman named Margaret Ray who broke into his house, stole his car, and introduced herself as Mrs. David Letterman.
Jason and I just watched the movie Enduring Love. Its about a guy that starts being stalked by a guy he met in a freak tragedy. The stalker believes that fate brought them together and that he is being communicated with through the opening and closing of the drapes. Its like a modern day version of Fatal Attraction and its got the cute mom from the adorable movie In America.
Enduring Love also stars Daniel Craig, who I think is set to be the next James Bond.
So what’s the downside for Dave in all this? He can’t go to New Mexico. Big deal. I’m sure it’s embarrassing, but it sounds like he’s used to crazy people interfering with his life. Poor David Letterman indeed.
Certainly the woman is crazy, but is there any truth to her claim?
What the general public does not realize, is that all broadcast stations and many specific television shows are playing the Mooks and shearing the Sheeple.
Every broadcast network tries to collect as much information as possible from the public, about its programs. There are many ways that this is done. Numerous television shows will also separately collect, analyze and use feedback from the public. Every word of every letter or email sent to a television station or program is scrutinized. Details as to likes and dislikes are gleaned, and the information is used to provide direction, as well as develop new material. Personal anecdotes from the viewers are captured and the core messages of these mini stories are likely to be incorporated into the show.
This is referred to as reflecting. Reflecting back to the fans, that which they divulge in their communiqués. It is a strategy very similar to the ‘cold reading’ technique performed by tarot card readers. The Mark is not aware of how much they are revealing, or to what purpose their entanglement might be used.
There are practical reasons for generating and perpetuating communications with viewers. It is difficult to know public sentiment while preoccupied with a daily show. Anything the public has to say may be used in creating content. It is difficult to continually come up with new ideas and things to say without regular input from the audience, as well as other sources. It is easy to become stale in a relatively brief period of time and the ratings will immediately reflect it.
However the application of such practices can and does lead to collateral damage. The Mark or Mook is being lead-on. There are ample teasers in the form of buzzwords, gestures and visuals which are intended to excite the interested person or persons. Instigation, antagonism and other forms of provocation are often used to whip up the target. Taking their cue from ubiquitous good cop bad cop scenes, the program creators push whatever buttons they can detect.
Creating conflict between a show and individuals or certain groups or other shows is all part of hightening the drama. It contributes to creating a sense of edginess which translates into ratings and dollars. The dance they dance can be dangerous for mentally unstable individuals, from within the viewing public.
The cast members and writers of sophisticated daily television programs share ideas and information. They collaborate. Writers who work for multiple programs bring with them the knowledge and ideas generated by their other gigs. The friendships that develop among members of different shows, mostly on the same network, are used to assist each other in various ways, such as promoting each other’s projects and programs and playing the Mooks.
It is all part of creating buzz, and it is easy for the dramatis personae and crew to transgress. The heady buzz created in the pursuit of ratings and dollars makes it easy to break ethical standards. Unfortunately for an unsuspecting few, the fantasy of television can become their reality and the result is devastating. The only real question that remains is whether the network programs are culpable, or not.