Colbert Takes on Glenn Beck

Updated

That, and other news, in today's Roundup and Recap.

In the wake of a New York Times page one profile of Glenn Beck --- zeroing in on his ability to tap into populist resentments --- Stephen Colbert took the Fox News host to task on "The Colbert Report," with a blistering segment that charged him with trying to build his career off of 9/11. At times straying from the outrageous humor into that of serious media critic, Colbert played a recording of Beck from 2005 in which he talks of being tired of listening to some of the families of 9/11 victims. Beck has initiated the "9/12 Project," designed to recapture the spirit and values that brought the nation together on the day after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. But Colbert's underlying criticism was of Beck's rhetoric and the idea that the American way of life is under siege by "them," without defining exactly who "them" are.

More parody here. Whoops, it's the real thing.

Bono's Day: Anne Schroeder Mullins ferrets out the details of who Bono met with on a daylong swing through Capitol Hill. She writes at Politico, "ONE isn’t saying whom he met with — but we hear White House officials, Speaker Pelosi, the Congressional Black Caucus, the Progressive Caucus, Sen. John Kerry, all the typical Democrats and then, of course, token Republicans, Minority Leader John Boehner--and Kevin Mccarthy, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Chris Smith, Ilena Ros Lehtinen, John Boozman, Mike Conaway and even Sen. Bob Corker. (Bono told Boehner that they have a friend in common in John Kasich and impressed those there with his “Southern-fried American drawl” while imitating Rep. Sonny Callahan.) "

He also had drinks with a group of D.C.'s top journalists, according to a tipster.

Touting the Biz: At ShoWest, MPAA chairman Dan Glickman touted the entertainment biz as a powerful growth engine with its rising box office one of the few bright spots in the U.S. economy.

Pam McClintock reports from Las Vegas, "Also during his address, Glickman had a message for President Obama as the commander-in-chief flew to Europe for the G-20 Economic Summit: Fight to keep international markets open. He said Hollywood provides more than 50% of the films that play at the international box office.

"Glickman also said there's a perception problem in Washington that the film biz is all about fattening studios. He said it's not, and that the movie industry generates jobs for thousands of middle-class workers, supports the exhibition industry and stimulates local economies."

Republicans successfully led an effort to remove a provision from the stimulus bill that would have provided tax breaks for film production, arguing that the improved box office made them unecessary. Glickman has defended his lobbying efforts since then, in the face of reports that he is being given an 18-month contract extension even though he sought a longer period of time. Glickman has declined to comment on the details of his contract.

"Crude" Awakening: Trudie Styler debuted the documentary "Crude" at the MPAA in Washington on Tuesday, to a crowd that included filmmaker Joe Berlinger and Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.) The pic is about the world's largest environmental lawsuit against Chevron, charging the company was complicit in polluting the waters of the Amazon. Styler, an environmental activist, and her husband, Sting, have been championing the doc, which made its debut at Sundance.

Also: Penn Jillette wonders if Obama is "skidding or crashing"...MusicFIRST issues an April Fools' Joke, claiming an agreement with broadcasters in their effort to obtain payment for artists when their music is played on radio. "Wouldn't it be great if this were true?" MusicFIRST says in its faux release.