DNC - Day 1 - What Was That All About?

August 26, 11:20 AMPop Culture ExaminerDominic Patten

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THERE WASN'T MUCH ACTION ON STAGE AT THE DNC 

The tribute to Teddy Kennedy was moving, though that Ken Burns' directed film that accompanied it looked like it had been shot and lite by a first year film student. And there is no doubt that Barack Obama, be he in Kansas City or St. Louis, has a loving family.

That's all nice, but what were the Democrats doing last night in Denver? Cause it didn't look like much.

With all those celeb supporters, including Spike Lee who I saw on CNN wandering the floor in an Obama cap, couldn't they have brought some drama, some narrative, some production value, something besides John Legend singing to make us want to watch?

A number of pundits said it and they were right, this seemed like a wasted opportunity.

And in an America that expects Idols and that expects cliffhangers, a wasted opportunity doesn't seem like a good reason to tune back in.

It's telling that while Obama rips off old Ronald Reagan routines and comes on the big screen after his wife has spoken, just like the Great Communicator did in 1984 after Nancy Reagan spoke at the GOP convention, John McCain spent the evening with Jay Leno.

While Obama blew the opportunity to tell his story and to begin introducing himself to the American people, McCain went on late night, where the American people tend to be at that time, and slide into his well worn celebrity routine, telling jokes about his age, how many homes he really has, and what a chatterbox Joe Biden can be. Jay poked and prodded McCain and the Senator, like the old ham he is, laughed and played along and got a few serious points in there.

The Democrats seemed nice but irrelevant last night. John McCain, who technically likely got a big rating share last night, seemed effortless.

Hilary really has her work cut out for her tonight.