Deep Down, It’s Shallow

Since virtually everything from freeway chases to emergency rooms to nonstop weather forecasts has become entertainment, it shouldn’t be surprising that Rep. Gary A. Condit’s first interview made public on the Chandra Levy business is on a program called “Primetime Thursday,” on ABC tonight. True to form for such alleged exclusives, the 10 p.m. show--and a show is what it will be--is unlikely to add to the real story, the sudden, presumably nefarious disappearance of a young woman. But true to form in these ersatz TV confessionals, it will fill an entertainment hour. Count on seeing excerpts for days. And a few more interviews.

Sadly, what American information consumers are less likely to hear about are the calculated strategies that shape these carefully staged appearances in what too often passes for public communications in this democracy.

Television and the person under scrutiny have a perverse, little-recognized synergy in this political Kabuki theater. Whether it’s vice presidential candidate Richard Nixon’s Checkers speech, presidential candidate Bill Clinton’s denial of a Gennifer Flowers affair, President Clinton’s apology for a Monica Lewinsky affair, or Monica Lewinsky, Linda Tripp, O.J. Simpson and legions of others explaining their contemporary tribulations, television is the preferred medium.

Condit (D-Ceres) ensured a large audience--and negotiating leverage--by talking to no one in the panting pack of wannabe TV interviewers. Connie Chung was anointed for the usual reason, a personal connection to someone in the subject’s camp. Because ABC desperately wants the audience, it accepted Condit’s condition: air it all, no editing. This gives Condit control of the 30-minute Q&A.; Chung asks anything from her question list. Condit answers with anything from his list of memorized speaking points until the clock stops.

Advisors will have studied Chung questions from past years and designed seemingly forthcoming heartfelt, humble answers, hand motions and head nods for Condit. Watch for warm colors in Condit’s clothing and the background, maybe a family photo. Watch for warm colors in Chung’s clothing, a furrowed brow and tilted head.

ABC will get its ratings kick. Condit will get his audience and purported evidence of openness to cite in coming months. Soon, Americans’ challenged attention span will seek other entertainments--as it did after Diane Sawyer’s exclusive interview with Elian Gonzalez and Chung’s exclusive interview with Tonya Harding. You remember the important information they produced, don’t you?