Chan Lowe: Casey Anthony cashes in?
I’m hoping this is the last cartoon about Casey Anthony that I draw for a while. The problem is that, besides being a quasi-local story here in South Florida, the case shocks, amazes and disgusts at so many levels, and appeals to prurient interests at so many others, that it amounts to one-stop shopping for every public emotional need.
The latest development is the growing disgust and revulsion at the amount of money Casey stands to make from her notoriety. Those no-account news organizations, book publishers, porn flick producers, TV moviemakers, and the rest of the bottom feeders are all beating a path to her cell. Of course, none of us would ever buy her book, see her movie, or listen to her interviews, never in a million years.
“What, never?”
“No, never!”
“What, never?”
“Well, hardly ever!”
Those words, from the operetta H.M.S. Pinafore, are by the lyricist W.S. Gilbert of Gilbert and Sullivan fame, and he knew something about human foibles. It’s germane in this instance that these two gentlemen wrote another number, Let The Punishment Fit The Crime, from The Mikado. In it, Gilbert promotes ingenious penalties perfectly suited to all manner of social transgressions, like sentencing pool sharks to spend their lives playing with twisted cues and elliptical billiard balls.
While Casey only has to spend another week or so in jail, it would be most delicious if, upon her release, America’s favorite narcissist would have to tramp from door to door, soliciting customers for her story, only to be turned down everywhere by companies afraid of being tarred by any association with her.
Finally, she would be reduced to selling reverse mortgages or labor saving kitchen devices on late-night TV.
To continue the musical analogy, this time with Lerner and Loewe: “Wouldn’t it be loverly?”
CHAN LOWE has been the Sun Sentinel’s first and only editorial cartoonist for the past twenty-six years. Before that, he worked as cartoonist and writer for the Oklahoma City Times and the Shawnee (OK) News-Star.
Comments
The only way I would ever watch a movie or read a book by Casey Anthony or any of the jurors would be if ALL proceeds were donated, in Caylee's name, to help an abused childrens organization. No justice for Caylee, no money for anybody else!!
Posted by: AHuntley | July 7, 2011 5:13 PM
Casey is a fail. 'Nuff said.
Posted by: Matthew | July 7, 2011 10:48 PM
I agree with A Huntley. All those "news" mongers should have to donate an equal amount to a worthy child abuse prevention organization. Give Casey a million? then donate a million. anyone that buys her book, her parents book, the jurors book, should have to do the same bloody thing! Defense attorneys with no class, prosecutors that can't get a conviction, pay the charity if you want them on your program. this includes all the "oh so right" fox "news" talking heads too. Barbara Walters? retire already.
we can't prevent people from making $$ on this, but it won't be from my dime! (yes i'm irritated as h##ll!)
and those verification words are a pita!
Posted by: mel | July 8, 2011 1:03 PM
As a long time fan of Gilbert and Sullivan, I have seen them quoted under many different circumstances by many different people. And regardless of my feelings about the case itself, I just wanted to thank you, on behalf of G&S fans everywhere, for thinking of them when looking for some appropriate words for this occasion.
Posted by: LRP | July 8, 2011 5:21 PM
Chan- Thank goodness..Chapter 3 and the final one...
I"m getting so tired of the media, re. this trial...Of all the scum-bums, Nancy "Dis-Grace" deserves the prize...I think I'm getting a fixation over her....Just can't get past that perpetual sneer on her face...And I've only seen short news clip's of her-not the TV show....
I'd really hate to throw a brick into our new, flat-screen TV...In keeping with your music theme, I'll end with a Beatle song..."LET IT BE".....
Posted by: Lorraine Wagner | July 10, 2011 2:05 PM