In the most despicable sweeps-month stunt in history, Fox announced Tuesday that it will offer a two-part special spotlighting O.J. Simpson (pictured). The former football great will explain how he would have murdered ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman -- if he had committed the 1994 slayings. But the former football great has maintained that he didn't commit the murders. He was acquitted of those crimes in a 1995 trial but held liable in a civil action in 1997.
So how did it come to this sleazy pass? Simpson has a book, "If I Did It," that goes on sale Nov. 30.
Fox has major ratings problems and needs a boost in sweeps month. The special carries this working title -- which reflects the project's tastelessness -- "O.J. Simpson: If I Did It, Here's How It Happened."
The special will air at 9 p.m. Nov 27 and 9 p.m. Nov. 29. Sweeps month ends Nov. 29.
Yes, go right ahead. Shake your head. What parallel universe did this nonsense come from? I called Fox to make sure this wasn't a joke. It isn't.
Judith Regan, who published the book, will interview Simpson. Fox described the chat as "a wide-ranging, no-holds-barred interview." In a press release, Fox added that "no topics are off limits -- Simpson has agreed to an unrestricted interview with Regan."
Well, of course, they have to sell those books. And there's the corporate tie-in: the Regan imprint is part of Harper Collins, which is owned by News Corp. Oh, and News Corp. owns Fox Broadcasting Co. This is one of the sadder and sicker examples of corporate synergy. Where was the News Corp. employee to say: Stop! This is in ridiculously bad taste!
That person wasn't at Fox, which has a history of tasteless programs and stunts.
"This is an interview that no one thought would ever happen," Fox executive Mike Darnell said in a statement. "It's the definitive last chapter in the Trial of the Century."
Actually, it's a tawdry epilogue to a horrendous story. Fox has finally found a way to go lower than the 2000 special "Who Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire?" That special brought us the sad spectacle of Rick Rockwell and Darva Conger trapped in a hastily arranged marriage between strangers.
What's a screwy marriage, though, when you let Simpson share murderous fantasies and fob off that trash as entertainment? This is the nadir, folks.
