Despite its title, this work is not concerned with revisiting debates about the blurring of the boundaries between the public and private spheres or about the effects of media commercialization
on the public sphere. Rather, Riegert's (journalism, S繹dert繹rn U. College, Sweden) purpose in presenting these 11 chapters is to allow for exploration of the ways television entertainment can
actually serve as a source of political thought and action. Papers discuss The Daily Show as a source of political information (not news), representations of empowerment in American and British
experiments in reality television democracy, Brazilian telenova celebrities' involvement with social and political causes, the ideology of authenticity presented on The West Wing, and related
issues. Annotation 穢2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
