American people Quote by Ben East
““LOST is often lauded as one of the best fantasy dramas in television history, as well as one of the most cryptic and - occasionally – maddening. But confirmation of just how important it is came with an almost unbelievable communiqué from the White House last week. President Obama’s office reassured Lost fans that the commander in chief wouldn’t move his yearly state of the union address from late January to a date that would coincide with the premiere episode of the show’s sixth and final season. That’s right. Obama might have had vital information to impart upon the American people about health care, the war in Afghanistan, the financial crisis – things that, you know, might affect real lives. But the most important thing was that his address didn’t clash with a series in which a polar bear appears on a tropical island. After extensive lobbying by the ABC network, the White House surrendered. Obama’s press secretary promised: “I don’t foresee a scenario in which millions of people who hope to finally get some conclusion with Lost are pre-empted by the president.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: White House press briefing, 2010
The quote humorously highlights how pop culture can influence political scheduling, showing the power of television fandom over official events.
In simple terms: TV shows can affect even presidential decisions.
Recognize cultural impact on politics.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- political scheduling
- TV premieres
- public relations
- media strategy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do entertainment trends shape political communication?
- What does this say about the balance of seriousness and leisure in public life?
The anecdote may exaggerate the real influence of a TV show on national priorities.