Politics: A Pop Culture History

Gauging the success of The Daily Show and the O'Reilly Factor, VH1 is ready to join the fray with its own laugh-happy political commentary. But the network misses the mark by trying to explore the influence pop culture has had on modern American politics by applying its We Love the (insert 1970 through last week here) formula to the political process. Instead of a history lesson, Politics offers only a self-indulgent slideshow of political images interspersed with useless C-list commentary that focuses on the current political zeitgeist and ignores the impact television, movies, and music had on the civil rights movement and Vietnam War. More importantly, the irony of celebrities discussing the insignificant impact celebrity opinions have on an election is not lost on us. Sure, clips of Will Ferrell as George W. are good for a few laughs, but Mo Rocca desperately clinging to notoriety is not.