Once upon a time, it was considered fresh and witty for well-known journalists to play themselves in TV and film. Granted, we can't remember when that was (anyone have an example, out there?), but such sorry grabs for attention from ego-starved news celebrities started to lose favor sometime in the late 1980s, maybe around the start of "Murphy Brown." Hey, that doesn't stop those hammy journalists from sacrificing any and all remaining dignity for the sake of some two-bit cameo, as a casual viewer of the "West Wing" -- or observer of Larry King's IMDB bio -- can tell you. Matt Lauer's star turn on a special live "Will & Grace" highlights just how sad and foolish these appearances have become. Lauer plays the role of "Matt Lauer," a man who doesn't care for Will's shrimp recipe, catches Grace in her game of "celebrity butt tag" and pees like a lady. Classy!
Once upon a time, it was considered fresh and witty for well-known journalists to play themselves in TV and film. Granted, we can't remember when that was (anyone have an example, out there?), but it stopped being clever, and started seeming like sorry grabs for attention from ego-starved news celebrities in the late 1980s, maybe around the third season of "Murphy Brown." But that doesn't stop them from doing it, as a casual viewer of the "West Wing" -- or observer of Larry King's IMDB bio -- can tell you. And it now falls on us to call them out on it. Like Matt Lauer, who appeared last night on a special live "Will & Grace," playing "Matt Lauer" as a man who he doesn't like Will's shrimp, is a cranky victim of Grace's game of "butt tag" and pees like a lady. Classy!
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