Blog cafe : Obama and showbiz

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: A big part of [Obama’s success] was tapping into popular culture beyond the news media, as he connected with audiences on latenight talkshows, “Entertainment Tonight” and “Access Hollywood” and, before his campaign even began, “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

It’s debatable whether Obama will cozy up to showbiz in the way that JFK and Bill Clinton did. Hollywood and its businesses don’t seem a top priority to him. But that’s OK with Hollywood. Like many other Americans, showbiz people liked his message and embraced Obamamania which—though mocked by the candidate’s rivals—spoke to a desire to turn the page on the Bush years. Those in the industry felt like many other Americans that the country is on the wrong track.

Hollywood made its bet on his candidacy, and played a big part in elevating his status to more than a mere candidate but into a pop culture icon, from a widely distributed Shepard Fairey portrait to a virally spread Internet musicvideo from Will capitalizing on Obama’s catchphrase, “Yes We Can.”

The entertainment industry infused TV shows and Web videos with “get out the vote” efforts, many aimed at increasing youth turnout that would benefit the candidate. In the final weeks of the race, the Web was showered with Obama-endorsement videos, including one in which Ron Howard reunited with Mayberry castmate Andy Griffith and Henry Winkler.

When Obama took the stage at Grant Park, the crowd of 100,000-plus included many supporters from showbiz, including Brad Pitt and Winfrey. (Her endorsement long before the primaries began translated into huge crowds at subsequent rallies) She walked through the crowd to the stage, and Spike Lee got a front-row vantage point to film Obama’s victory speech.