Oh I am so happy that the impending war in Iraq is going to make lots of people very rich in the near future. Local affiliate television stations, and the people who own them, stand to make the most off of the war in Iraq in the imediate future. So much so in fact, their big brothers up the food chain are doing everything they can to help them out. Remember folks, February is sweeps month.

"Sweeps months are usually strange to begin with, chock-full of stunt programming, blockbuster specials and anything the networks can program to grab viewers' attention. It's when ratings are used to set local advertising rates, so it's important to the networks -- and even more important to their affiliates -- to do well."

Isn't that nice. So what type of zany programming can we expect this year's sweeps month? No, not another Friends marriage (or pregnancy). No, not the big kiss between those two characters you've been following all season, who just haven't realized yet that they’re so perfect for each other. No this year we get a war.

CNN notes:
"First it was Michael Jackson vs. "Must-See TV." Then it was Michael Jackson vs. "Joe Millionaire." And then, of course, it was Michael Jackson vs. Michael Jackson.

But tonight's network battle takes a more sober turn: It's Robert Blake vs. Saddam Hussein. "

Not good enough? Wait, there's more! If you tune in, you get to see them both!

"The Saddam interview airs Wednesday night at 9 p.m. ET on CBS' "60 Minutes II," and the Blake interview follows at 10 p.m. ET on ABC's "20/20." "

Hmm, still not tempted, eh? Well how about if I throw in...

"The Saddam interview was conducted over the weekend by news anchor Dan Rather. In it, the Iraqi leader declares that his country will not bow to U.S. military pressure, nor will he go into exile. "

I see I've got your attention now. Good. Watch it, but don't forget that right afterwards...

"Across the dial at ABC, Barbara Walters will be talking with Blake about the charge that he killed his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, in 2001. Blake says he's innocent and maintains that a jury will agree. "I'm not going to be found guilty," he told Walters, according to the "20/20" Web site. "Why? It's real simple: 'Cause God has never, ever deserted me. Can't say I haven't deserted him from time to time." "

Now if that's not good TV, I don't know what is.

Oh yeah, and stay tuned to these stations because you'll get the best coverage of a war...should one break out at any moment sometime in the next two weeks.

I think they called it "shock and awe." Didn't they?

Labels: iraq, media