When talking heads stop making sense
N MARCH 22, MIDWAY THROUGH A SERIES OF GUEST-hosted shows, fans revolted. Their target was Dr. Mehmet Oz, the latest celebrity to fill Alex Trebek’s venerable shoes. As viewers fumed on social media, called his appearance a “black eye” on the show and some 600 former contestants signed a letter protesting that he “stands in opposition to everything that stands for.” Indeed, Oz had been blasted for pushing weight-loss scams, spreading COVID misinformation, and hosting anti-vaxxers and “ex-gays.” That didn’t necessarily disqualify him from a two-week gig reading trivia questions and making small talk. But at a time when the idea of objective facts has been so catastrophically eroded, if you can’t trust the host whom you trust?
