Actor Robert Blake was used and abused on CNN's Piers Morgan show - (Haritol photo)

Once again Piers Morgan uses his sleazy journalism tactics to boost his sagging ratings in abusing actor Robert Blake - (Pete Riches photo)

Robert Blake as Little Beaver - (ABC Television photo)

Video Beat - CNN's PIERS MORGAN STRADDLED THE ETHICS LINE with his ROBERT BLAKE INTERVIEW

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

Ethically this bordered on the mental rape of a weakened and angry 78-year-old actor who has been a film star since he was a child and was as an adult set up by the police for a crime he didn't commit - Morgan uses his sleazy journalism tactics to boost his sagging ratings - Recommended TV Listings

Friday July 13, 2012

PIERS MORGAN'S EXPLOITATION OF ACTOR ROBERT BLAKE

Controversial CNN talk host Piers Morgan loves the limelight and strategically maneuvers himself into it by interviewing guests that will put him in that position. Trust is the key in obtaining an interview which actor Robert Blake gave Morgan when he agreed to be on his show to talk about his book. The result was it was an ambush setup on Morgan's and his producer's part to get Blake to talk and react to the charges that he murdered his wife.

Ethically this bordered on the mental rape of a weakened and angry 78-year-old actor who has been a film star since he was a child and was as an adult set up by the police for a crime he didn't commit. At the beginning of the program Morgan touched on Blake's career in the Our Gang comedy series in which he was a star with other youthful actors. That was the setup but from there Morgan's vampire fangs came out and he went straight for Blake's juggler vein resulting in a volatile confrontation between the two. It was a character assassination.

Blake said he gave Morgan his trust in granting him the interview to talk about his book. Morgan claimed he was doing that and Blake retorted that the murder of his wife WAS NOT in the book. He also noted that prior to the wrongful charges that he was worth US $25 million. Since the trial he now claims that he is broke.

The almost one hour interview minus station breaks and edited excerpts was both insulting and disrespectful to Blake while being one of the most hot-tempered and interesting interviews in television history.

Blake was furious after the murder issue was brought up and justifiably so as roughly 90% of the program was devoted to that subject which Blake was found NOT GUILTY after he spent 11 months in the LA county jail and 3 years under house arrest. Morgan's contrived perspective was not about how unjust Blake's experience was in being set up by the LA police but to mentally persecute him again for something he didn't do. Blake's experience has justifiably embittered him as Morgan preferred to expose that side of the actor for the sake of controversy to stimulate ratings. His apparent mission was accomplished.

Blake appeared annoyed and upset under Morgan's scrutiny but despite it all he revealed his vulnerable side. "There's no question that I'm very thin skinned and I'm frightened. I'm very hurt," he revealed to Morgan regarding his horrific experience.

The following day Morgan followed up the experience by having Blake's lawyer during his trail Thomas Mesereau as a guest. Mesereau said that Blake's angry reaction to Morgan was justified given that he was not guilty, had a rough life and Blake was not credited with all of the great acting contributions that he has made during his career. The lawyer pointed out that Blake's wife was married numerous times and took advantage of her husbands. Blake claimed that her past resulted in her having enemies.

On April 22, 2002, Blake was charged with one count of murder with special circumstances, an offense eligible for the death penalty. He was also charged with two counts of solicitation of murder and one count of murder conspiracy. Blake pleaded not guilty to all charges. Three days later, the Los Angeles District Attorney's office announced they would not seek the death penalty against Blake should he be convicted, but prosecutors would seek a sentence of life in prison without parole.

Blake comes from a tough background and Morgan from a privileged one. Morgan has been getting away with murder in his journalism career with his arrogant braggadocios style. He bragged that to get a story for the now Rupert Murdoch defunct News of the World newspaper that he had a reporter obtain a job working for the Royal family to obtain dirt on them to be published. Morgan's boasts of that scenario is an indication of his low moral standing. News of the World was found guilty of tapping telephone calls to obtain dirt on celebrities and royally.

In truth the interview was as it is described in the entertainment business as good television as sensationalized and set up as it was at the cost of Blake's reputation achieved its goal. In honesty it shows how low the media can go to obtain a story.

Blake has had a troubled life which he said his parents gave a dog more attention than him. His mother tried to abort him and failed. These memories and experiences didn't weaken him but gave him strength to succeed. He told Morgan that he walked on to a movie lot on his own and got his first job as an actor. The Our Gang role followed. It was at this point that Morgan departed from Blake's acting career to his tragic personal life.

What Morgan failed to talk about was in 1944; Blake began playing an Indian boy, "Little Beaver," in the Red Ryder Western series at Republic Pictures, appearing in twenty-three of the movies until 1947. For me this was what first brought Blake's talents to my attention as I wanted to be Little Beaver. I must have seen every Red Rider film that he was in.

He also had roles in one of Laurel and Hardy's later films The Big Noise (1944), and the Warner Bros. movies Humoresque (1946), playing John Garfield's character as a child, and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), playing the Mexican boy who sells Humphrey Bogart a winning lottery ticket and getting a glass of water thrown in his face in the process.

Blake may be best known for his Emmy Award-winning role of Tony Baretta in the popular television series Baretta (1975 to 1978), playing an undercover police detective who specialized in disguises.

According to Blake, he had an unhappy childhood with a miserable home life and was abused by his alcoholic father. When he entered public school at age ten, he could not understand why the other children were hostile to him. He had fights, which led to his expulsion. When he was fourteen, he ran away from home. The next few years were a reportedly difficult period in his life but he survived.

Blake has street mentality not the highly educated one that Morgan has. In his interview with lawyer Mesereau Morgan admitted that he was afraid of Blake at time in his confrontation with the actor. Hopefully Morgan embellished his education that he should be more respectful and those that come from impoverished and difficult backgrounds. As Blake pointed out he should do his research more efficiently.

Though this interview leaves mixed feelings Morgan was on the verge of being eliminated because of his arrogance and disrespect of another individual. He places himself above all others but in this case he came closer to the real world.

NOTE: Morgan said that a replay of the program is scheduled to be televised today in the USA.

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