June 28, 2010

Wisconsin's Sean Duffy — "a lumberjack athlete who has been both a county district attorney and a star of MTV's 'Real World'... trying hard to become the next Scott Brown."

WaPo has a big article.
Duffy is expected to win a primary in September against Dan Mielke, a farmer and self-declared "tea party" candidate who had previously challenged Obey and lost. Mielke is trying to make hay of the wilder Duffy moments caught on tape by MTV, saying they reflect "Hollywood" values....

Duffy would rather not get into the details of the reality show, saying it doesn't reflect who he is now. But he admits that "The Real World" played an important role in his life. Through MTV he met his wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, a conservative Latina from Arizona who appeared on the third season of the series, in San Francisco, in 1994. Their courtship and canoodling -- during their time on MTV's "Road Rules: All Stars" -- was captured on camera.

They continued their minor celebrity status after the show, appearing in "The Wedding Video," a movie-length spoof of reality television produced by another "Real World" alum. Joining in the low-budget mockumentary about two men getting married was a spur-of-the-moment decision that Duffy tells Wisconsin voters that he wouldn't make today.
Can Wisconsin folk comprehend the complexities of modern media — including the half-truths of edited "reality" shows and the fiction that is mockumentary?

16 comments:

Opus One Media said...

1. as if someone wants to be the next Scott Brown and 2. if ripling muscles are a prerequisite to office representing Wisconsin...

AllenS said...

Before I read the article, I'd like to know if the author, Krissah Thompson, a Washington Post Staff Writer belongs to Journolist. When I find that out, I'll know how to interpret the article.

Scott said...

"...self-declared 'tea party' candidate..." has the same ring as "avowed homosexual."

Opus One Media said...

@allenS...why don't you read the article and do the research instead of having others hand it up to you all the time

@scott...hey the guy did an MTV stint - that's gotta be a bona fides about brains at least...

AllenS said...

"do the research"

How can I do the research to find out if Thompson is part of Journolist, when they won't publish the list of names?

WV: exist

Scott said...

@AllenS: "How can I do the research to find out if Thompson is part of Journolist, when they won't publish the list of names?"

True. So let's buy the archives for Ann.

wv: phovu -- new cable channel about Vietnamese soup.

AllenS said...

Scott,

I've hit the PayPal button before, and I'd gladly do it again. I want to know who's on this list.

Scott said...

Me too. And I think Ann's proposal for an academic study is excellent.

As the Althouse Journolist Research Fund grows into the hundreds of thousands -- perhaps a million or more -- we will certainly see much wailing and gnashing of teeth in the journalistic community, and lawsuits and injunctions. Some useful precedent could be established about implied warranties in the privacy of listservs.

And ultimately, someone will sell the artchive when the fund gets big enough. Then, we will be able to see the exact dollar value of journalistic integrity.

Anonymous said...

Can Wisconsin folk comprehend the complexities of modern media — including the half-truths of edited "reality" shows and the fiction that is mockumentary?

If those smart, sophisticated, ironic city folk can understand it, I expect those of us here in the sticks might be able to, as well.

Original Mike said...

"Can Wisconsin folk comprehend the complexities of modern media"

WTF? How hard is it to comprehend stupid?

On second thought ...

Opus One Media said...

Original Mike said...
"WTF? How hard is it to comprehend stupid?"

I know what you mean Mike. Some of the folks who post here..OMG.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, those folks up nort in Ashland County are too dumb. That's why they elected him DA.

Calypso Facto said...

Ashland County voted for President Obama too, so their ability to "comprehend the complexities of modern media — including the half-truths of edited "reality" shows and the fiction that is mockumentary" (like campaign propaganda) is certainly suspect.

Unknown said...

HDHouse said...

1. as if someone wants to be the next Scott Brown

Apparently, Mr. Duffy does.

2. if ripling muscles are a prerequisite to office representing Wisconsin...

Lesse, who was showing off his six-pack abs about this time two years ago? Oh, yes, the one with the chicken legs who thinks the Viennese speak Austrian...

PS Two p's in rippling.

Original Mike said...

"Ashland County voted for President Obama too"

You must have your facts wrong. Ashland County is 87% racist.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

He's a lumberjack and he's ok. Sleeps all night and works all day.

Sorry..couldn't help myself.