Back When Michael Moore was Funny (and Sane)

With all the hoopla and controversy over "Farenheit 9/11" and Michael Moore's much publicized outburst at the Oscars when receiving his award for "Bowling for Columbine,"
it's hard to remember a time when the man made his point through a combination of sharp wit and laughter. Believe me, you win a lot more people over to your side by tickling their funny bone than shoving them face first into shock-value violent footage.

"Adventures in a TV Nation" chronicles the television show named in the title, which was a hilarious program with conscience and a serious beef with corporate American. While I didn't agree with all of its points, it amused me endlessly to see how Moore made them.

Back then, he still had a talent for making a point in a way that stood out without alienating half of the country. Some of the things he did were shocking, but they never smacked of exploitation like his shameful trotting out of the Columbine victims to get K-Mart to stop selling bullets.

Instead, he arranged great publicity stunts like parading a black man and his white "slaves" around a state where slavery was still technically legal or sending "Communism" (in a loudly marked truck) around American for a final farewell tour. He showed his audience how ludicrous it is that a cab will stop for a white ex-con before it will pick up a black professional actor.

I always found it amazing that this show was actually carried on network television, even though it was only for a variety short time, and on the maverick Fox Network (of course). Sadly, Fox has canned intelligent programs like this one for brain rotting tripe like "The Swan" (let's teach kids that it's good to feel bad about yourself and that plastic surgery can save the day! I'll bet the "old" Moore could have done a great segment on that).

Crackers the Corporate Crime Fighting Chicken was always good for a few laughs, too. And one memorable stunt stands out in my mind: Moore visiting several large corporations to see if their CEOs could actually do something practical with their products. Only one met (and passed) the challenge. The CEO of Ford changed the oil in one of his company's cars as the cameras rolled.

But even though it was on television, there was still censorship. I never realized it, but it was quite an eye opener to read the book. I remembered the segment on which health care system was best, Cuba, Canada, or the U.S., but I never realized that Moore was forced to declare a false "winner" because Cuba couldn't be shown beating the U.S.

Alas, TV Nation's stint was short lived. I think it went on for a awhile in another incarnation on the BBC. I remember a great Christmastime publicity stunt: a choir made up of cancer victims who had their voice boxes removed serenading cigarette company hardquarters in an eerie monotone with their electronic "voices."

But even though the television show is gone, it lives on in the book. Sort of like how Moore's brilliance is gone, but it lives on in his early work, like TV Nation and "Roger & Me." Even if you don't like him, this book is a worthy read. It's got laughter and shock value all rolled up in one.