CMA Skewers Obamacare By Morning

In the entertainment industry, awards shows try to create buzz for the craft segment while honoring its echelon.  Often, the buzz from these awards shows are stunts which create resonating word of mouth. These publicity stunts reflect where the industry movers and shakers believe that their audience is (or should be).

On the one hand, Miley Cyrus created buzz this summer at the Video Music Awards by twerking onstage with Robin Thicke  While it may have positioned Cyrus away from her Hannah Montana child star roots. which should make her blue, but the controversy caused many to lament the degradation of popular culture. 

Brad Paisely and Carrie Underwood at CMA Awards

On the other hand, the opening segment of the 47th annual Country Music Association Awards Show managed to create buzz without bawdiness or calumny.   Brad Paisley joked with co-host Carrie Underwood that his back hurt and that he needed to see a doctor.  Underwood enthused "Have you signed up for Obamacare?"

George Strait

As the pair briefly feigned trying to use the inadequate Heathcare.gov website, the duo launched into a song: "Obamacare by Morning" which parodied Country Music Entertainer of the Year George Strait's "Amarillo in the Morning".  The capacity crowd at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville enthusiastically applauded. 

Although the content of the CMA opening sketch is more appealing to the political sensibilities of the District of Calamity, the manner which the humor was used was sublime yet biting on a real public policy pivot.   Moreover, the CMA sketch acknowledged the audience's druthers rather than defining degeneracy downward ala the VMAs and prompting an impressionable audience to join them in the moral mud.