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Porn: Pleasure of the Financial TV News Business
Most "new media" reviewers (OK, "old media" reviewers too) have written off CNBC's penetrating new expose, "Porn: Business of Pleasure" as a tawdry ploy to boost declining viewership. But, as usual, CNBC's critics are all wet dead wrong.
Leave aside their undercurrent of sanctimony (I mean, c'mon, who hasn't occasionally watched Trish Regan with the sound off?). It's been a slow financial news year, making porn a big story. True to CNBC's high journalistic standards, Melissa Lee (who opens the show in the middle of Times Square wearing what seems like nothing but a trench coat) gives it appropriately in-depth coverage. (Ms. Lee took some time off from "preparing for the biggest business story of the century: the rise of China" to cover what CNBC apparently considers the second biggest business story of the century.)
The special documentary (which, in the interest of public enlightenment, CNBC has replayed several times since its recent premiere) is more than just a "soft-core movie trailer" which titillates viewers with racy adult film titles like "Golden Guzzlers 7," "Fists of Fury 4" and "Kudlow Does Cramer 2." It tackles the important issue of gender equality in business by reporting on, in CNBC's words, "women on top" in the porn industry, and lets viewers get "up close and personal" with adult film stars like Jesse Jane, the proud recipient of the adult film academy's Best New Performer Without a Gag Reflex award.
It also presents important business statistics, like the surprising fact that pornography has an estimated 28,000 viewers per second, and the even more surprising fact that second-men actually exist. And it provides thoughtful insight, like one producer's declaration that, "Porn has been around since the caveman. It's not going anywhere." Ever subtle, CNBC left it to viewers to notice porn's similarity to GM's business model.
Viewers may be shocked, shocked, that internet porn -- which is mostly free -- is thriving. But, with adult DVD sales down 30-50% in the last year (only slightly less than CNBC's audience), the business of porn apparently has earnings dysfunction. (Which, for some reason, left many viewers wondering when Vikram Pandit took over the porn industry.) The one bright spot is that sales of "mobile porn" (for the busy pervert on the go) are expected to double by 2013. (And no, that doesn't explain what BofA's board was doing last year during those boring meetings on the Merrill merger proposal.)
The show also addresses all the pertinent penal issues, such as the legal definition of obscenity. Obscene material (1) "appeals to prurient interests", (2) is "patently offensive" and (3) "lacks serious literary, scientific, political or artistic value." Curiously, many smut peddlers have asked why CNBC hasn't been prosecuted yet.
Hopefully, CNBC's brave documentary will be a clarion call to all wanna-be financial reporters of the "new media" (yes, that means you ZH) to end their pessimistic reporting on irrelevancies like the Fed's balance sheet, and delve deeply into the economic topics that really matter, like porn. Inspired by CNBC's example, I myself intend to do a follow-up expose by going undercover in the porn industry. I'm told I won't even need a pseudonym.
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Watched Fast Money tonight for laughs as always. Jon Najarian and his sidekick Adami were pictured in Vegas likely promoting their wares and their ripoff expensive options crap. Seymour got in a line, "enjoy the Rhino" or some shit. It didn't go over Erin Burnett's head. That little slut tried to act embarrassed about it. Saying, oh my god, some of our viewers might know what that is. She probably can work that pole pretty good, and visits the Rhino herself, lol.
Nothing like a special on real porn from the financial porn channel. Only fitting that cnbs would 'investigate" the humping business.
Also they should just send Jimmy Jones and Lawrence of Amnesia to Gitmo. One hour alone in a room with those two and the war would be over.
I think Merisa Rhee always brings and interesting "slant" to things.....I would especially like to sample her "won ton"......mee rikey!
White people can't go a fucking minute without being racist!
Submitted by "BenD over, uh, er, Ben Dover?" Seriously?
Tyler -- The Evony ads appearing recently on ZH (and many other blogs), courtesy of Google AdSense, certainly appear to be a form of softcore porn. Some readers, myself included, prefer not to be subjected to them. Please consider asking AdSense to remove them from ZH. And please don't take no for an answer. Help clean up cyberspace! Thanks very much.
Ads? What ads? Don't you use FireFox with the Adblock Plus add-in?
Apparently we are now mixing business with pleasure.
This expose on a new growth industry is just a tie in for commercial sponsors that need to move more product, their primary advertisers are extenze, cialis, and viagra.
CNBC is desperate for ratings, appealing to the most base instincts. They are practically begging for viewers, let them continue to kneale. Stay tuned for the NC-17 business channel.
"I'm told I won't even need a pseudonym."
lmao
Man this is becoming sad. Who gives a shit, TD? You're starting to give the perception that you're obsessed with CNBC. I wish you'd just forget about them, like everyone else seems to be in the process of doing. You're supposed to be above it all, and yet here you are wasting precious space with a review of one of their specials? They're a joke; we get it. Move on.
Actually, the documentaries that CNBC does are probably the only things worth watching on that channel. I'd rather see more documentaries and less Cramer and Kudlow.
Porn based economy
the next 'Big Thing' ... as it were...
sorry
pr0n r00lz
Brilliantly funny!
Best thing I've read today. Are you "The" Benjamin Dover of the SEC letters fame?
He is the same. We are thrilled he has joined us.
You say Ms. Lee, not bukkake actress.
You right, in the video I have, she's not acting at all, very real, very enjoy.
Ah so.
P=President
O=Observed
R=Running
N=Naked
Or, this adminstration has no clothes.
CNBC? never heard of'em.
a long, hard and uncut view at the porn industry?
Is this a bear market rally or the start of a new bull run? Watch, "Erin and Melissa on the bottom", special report tomorrow on CNBC!
...like "Golden Guzzlers 7," "Fists of Fury 4" and "Kudlow Does Cramer 2."
also "Dennis got fingered." and Cabrera's "Fuck me I'm Famous."