ABC backing off DC Madame story on 20/20 - will "likely disappoint"

[Oreo]

To no great surprise tomorrow's 20/20 story on the DC Madame has been relegated to a mere 7 minute story at the end of the show. Only two new names will come out.

http://www.examiner.com/a-708208~Yeas___Nays__Thursday__May_3.html

Washingtonians eagerly — and, some nervously — await Friday night’s “20/20” special on ABC, when reporter Brian Ross and his investigative team present what they’ve unearthed about Deborah Jeane Palfrey (aka the “D.C. Madam”) and her clients.

But the show is likely to disappoint viewers eager to see a roster of VIPs who patronized Palfrey’s escort service. Yeas & Nays hears that, as of this writing, the segment will reveal only two new names and is currently slotted for a mere seven minutes at the end of the hour long broadcast (you’ll recall that Palfrey turned over nearly 15,000 phone numbers to ABC News back in March).

Interviews with both Palfrey and former Deputy Secretary of state Randall Tobias (who left the State Department last week after being interviewed by ABC News for the “20/20” piece) are currently scheduled, leaving precious little time remaining for much else (or for all of those salacious details you’ve been waiting for).

Sources tell Yeas & Nays that Ross, who had anticipated a far juicier piece, is none too happy with the final results, especially after he and the network promoted this story for weeks. It’s worth remembering that Ross and his team have a big-story reputation: They are the ones who helped bring down former Rep. Mark Foley because of his sexually explicit contacts with congressional pages.

“This isn’t going to blow the lid off Washington,” says one ABC employee who asked not to be named. “If they had any big fish, we’d know it by now. There’s no way this lives up to the hype.”

[Beelzebud]

1. The government and media are one in the same. They'll protect each other on this.

[blogslut]

2. I believe the ratings "sweeps" period runs all May

Gotta milk this story for as long as possible. Two names this week. Another week playing Cease and Desist tag with lawyers. Two more names the week after that...

We'll see. :)

[Chimichurri]

3. What a disgrace. ABC should be ashamed of themselves.

[deutsey]

I figured if the story in '89 about gay call-boys taking after hour WH tours

could be buried, this would have no trouble disappearing down the memory hole.

http://www.hereinreality.com/callboy.html

[Atman]

4. IOW, some ABC reporters and executives are on the list.

Nothin' to see here...move along.

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