How OJ Simpson’s ‘Trial Of The Century’ Opened The Door To Trump’s Presidency

O.J. Simpson captured the nation’s attention for the final time Thursday.

Breaking news banners and push alerts flooded screens throughout the country, shocking millions with the news of the former public Football League star’s death, and the moment provided one final Simpson-centric collective experience for the public consciousness.

How OJ Simpson’s ‘Trial Of The Century’ Opened The Door To Trump’s Presidency

However, the impact the former Heisman Trophy-winning running back, who captivated the nation as he was prosecuted and eventually acquitted for the heinous murder of his ex-wife, had on America’s media environment will last long beyond his death.

It is reasonable to doubt if Donald Trump would have risen to political power and become president without Simpson.

On the surface, that may appear far-fetched. However, Simpson’s all-consuming trial profoundly impacted the present media environment. The media landscape was forever altered when Simpson led police on a low-speed chase along a Los Angeles freeway after being accused of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.

Simpson’s subsequent trial in 1995 generated tremendous public interest, with 150 million people tuning in on October 3 to witness the startling decision given live on television. The case’s exceptional attention helped launch the careers of a generation of household media stars, including Jeffrey Toobin, Nancy Grace, Greta Van Susteren, Dan Abrams, Harvey Levin, Gregg Jarrett, and countless others.

The trial was also a watershed moment in using live TV cameras in the courtroom, changing a traditionally closed-to-the-public legal process into a cultural and entertainment spectacle dubbed the Trial of the Century. Judge Lance Ito’s judgment is still relevant today, with judges frequently condemning the “circus” atmosphere produced by the trial as they consider whether to allow the public to observe similar procedures.

However, the trial’s most significant impact on American life was broader. The Simpson trial ushered in a media landscape where gory reality television and talking-head cable news predominated.

Not only did Simpson’s trial vault Robert Kardashian (and hence the entire Kardashian family) to stardom, but it was also the first major reality television show to captivate the nation, paving the way for several succeeding programs that capitalized on unscripted high drama.

How OJ Simpson’s ‘Trial Of The Century’ Opened The Door To Trump’s Presidency

Meanwhile, the wall-to-wall coverage of Simpson’s court battle, which captivated the nation, significantly increased viewing of channels such as CNN and Court TV, helping to establish cable’s reputation as a destination for live news. Before the courtroom drama, Americans relied heavily on nightly newscasts for their daily dose of news. However, the O.J. trial provided infinite courtroom drama, compelling millions to tune in before personalities such as Peter Jennings and Tom Brokaw appeared on television.

In fact, according to a 1995 New York Times article, the increase in cable television viewership was so great that it lowered the audience for the three broadcast nightly news shows. Andy Lack, then-president of NBC News, claimed the impact was so strong that he was concerned about the Peacock network taking a “significant economic hit.”

The O.J. trial’s impact on television news didn’t end there. According to Michael Socolow, a media historian and University of Maine Communications and Journalism professor, the trial influenced Rupert Murdoch’s decision to create Fox News. Socolow stated that the Australian media magnate “grew enraged” after witnessing CNN founder Ted Turner “rake in” an estimated $200 million from the live broadcast of Simpson’s trial. To that end, Socolow claimed Murdoch was motivated to launch his right-wing alternative in 1996 to secure his piece of the rich pie.

It’s tough to envision Trump winning the presidency without the three-legged stool that Simpson’s trial helped erect. Is there a Trump presidency without reality TV, cable news, or, specifically, Fox News?

How OJ Simpson’s ‘Trial Of The Century’ Opened The Door To Trump’s Presidency

Trump used each of these branches of the post-Simpson media world to acquire popularity and eventually gain—and maintain—political power.

“Simpson shown that high ratings can generate big revenues from content that does not require actors, writers, or sets. Reality TV had begun earlier, but after Simpson, there was an explosion of ‘Reality TV,'” Socolow wrote in an email. “That’s how ‘The Apprentice’ gave Donald Trump a comeback in American culture, and he rode his reality TV stardom to the White House.”

SOURCE – (AP)