I've been filmed under TV lights before, and I've been on the edge of passing out before, but I've been blessed enough to never experience the convergence of the two.
Sadly for Columbia University organizational leadership professor David Buckner, they did yesterday. Live. While speaking with Fox News' Glenn Beck
(DISH Network , 5 PM EST), Buckner became increasingly pale and agitated as he stood with his host, discussing the state of the economy. "I'm passing out," he murmured to Beck a couple times before his knees gave way.
Beck went to a break and, on the other side of it, explained that Buckner had been ill. The show moved on. In and of itself, it was a moment of live drama and not much more. What's interesting is what happened afterwards: The Drudge Report picked up the story, then added a video. A few blogs linked in, and the moment became News.
Why? Is it because we're so used to our entertainment so processed and pre-packaged that any evidence of humanity or surprise reminds us that we're not alone? The phenomenon was also a fascinating barometer reading of the political edginess of the nation; no sooner did the clips appear than screeching comments did, too, blasting Beck. Obama, Bush, and anyone else within the political sphere. Even as the still image of Bucker pulsed forth from the screen, he lay ignored as the political firestorm raged.
That was live, too.
