"How do you fit this guy into the culture? Because we need him," Michael Hirschorn, former head of programming at VH1, who oversaw Flavor of Love, Rock of Love, and I Love the '80s, tells me with a laugh when I ask about Santos's prospects. "He's like Anthony Weiner times ten, in terms of the narcissistic aspect of it, but there's just so much pleasure in watching him-the fashion, the cockiness, the unearned swag."
As any Housewife or fallen televangelist will tell you, camp shamelessness can get you far. No wonder Santos is already a star on Cameo, charging $500 a pop. I've had a few in-person run-ins with him, the most recent of which occurred after he was expelled from Congress, but never a proper on-the-record interview. I came away thinking about Trump and how he has merged politics, infamy, and brazenness in a way that gave us Santos.
Back in 2016, it was said that Trump couldn't win because he was an unserious reality-TV showboat. But running for president is the greatest reality-TV show in the world-what are the debates if not rose ceremonies?-so, as we have found out, Trump had the relevant experience for the job. In his wake, the world belongs to the beefers, the livestreamers, and the stunt queens: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, Matt Gaetz, and, yes, AOC. And then came Santos.
He had no constituency, policy goals, or résumé. But he is, in his way, a star. "Of course Santos can do something in show business," says Bill Maher. "It's the only other business besides politics where there are no rules or qualifications, just whether you can get people to support you."
この記事は New York magazine の December 18, 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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この記事は New York magazine の December 18, 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
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