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I'm Drew Breunig and I obsess about technology, media, language, and culture. I live in New York, studied anthropology, and work in advertising technology.

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When Newt Gingrich tore into CNN’s John King for kicking off Thursday night’s presidential debate with a question about his embittered second ex-wife, it was reality TV at its finest. The long series of debates among the Republican candidates has been one of the most unexpectedly influential factors in the current campaign. If not for the debates, Gingrich — who is so good at them – would be back to spouting his big thoughts on Fox. Rick Perry — who is embarrassingly bad at them — would be one of the final four candidates instead of the latest to drop out. The appeal of the debates to a surprisingly large audience has to do with far more than civic engagement. They have all the elements of a successful television show: colorful characters, high stakes and comforting familiarity. For characters, no TV writer could do better than Michele Bachmann or Herman Cain for zaniness. Gingrich himself is a wonderfully pompous know-it-all (haven’t we seen his type on “Downton Abbey”?). And Mitt Romney could walk on to the set of “Mad Men” as a stunt double for Jon Hamm.

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  6. nedhepburn said: Jon Hamm would throw himself off a bridge if he read that.
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