Orac is the nom de blog of a (not so) humble pseudonymous surgeon/scientist with an ego just big enough to delude himself that someone, somewhere might actually give a rodent's posterior about his miscellaneous verbal meanderings, but just barely small enough to admit to himself that few will. (Continued 
As much as I'd love to take credit, the postponement of the appearance of Jenny McCarthy and J.B. Handley on Larry King Live! originally scheduled for last night had nothing to do with me. Really. The cancellation was apparently announced shortly after my post appeared, leaving no time for it to have had an effect. Heck, for all I know the cancellation had occurred before I posted and I just hadn't noticed.
Despite all the insinuations of dire conspiracies in the comments of the Age of Autism post on the cancellation, it's far more likely that Larry King probably just didn't want to work on the Saturday before Christmas than that big pharma stretched out its dark arm and crushed this "threat" to its dominance. Of course, that Larry King substituted a rerun with that queen of breast cancer, "bioidentical hormone," and now stem cell woo, Suzanne Somers, strongly implies that no lesson has been learned. On the other hand, perhaps Somers' substitution for Jenny McCarthy is an unintentional admission that both are boosting equally bogus medical information and even outright quackery.
In any case, since the antivaccine side is no doubt deluging Larry King's guests e-mail with complaints and requests that McCarthy and Handley be rescheduled, I thought I should do my little part and request my readers to join in on the reality-based side and either (1) request that no guests pushing antivaccination nonsense and autism quackery be given a forum to promote their views; (2) that reality-based celebrities like Amanda Peet be invited instead; or (3) both. Send your e-mails to Larry King Guests.
Medicine & Health
Comments
Larry King and the Fox News crew are why I believe that "your IQ must be this high to have a TV show" policies should be mandated by networks.
Posted by: I am so wise | December 21, 2008 11:03 AM
". . . on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. . ."
Surely you mean "on the Saturday before Christmas."
If there was any doubt, CNN's recent dismal dismissing of reporters or hosts with any abilities with scientific subjects shows that they have truly moved away from their centrist roots.
Posted by: sirhcton | December 21, 2008 12:23 PM
Done. Obviously, the option most palatable to the show runners will be #3 and so that's the one I hawked.
Posted by: Strider | December 21, 2008 3:39 PM
Done. I focused on the risk of outbreaks as vaccination rates drop.
Posted by: Kathryn | December 21, 2008 5:43 PM
Right. polite email suggesting a panel including Amanda Peet and Paul Offit in place of JB and Jenny.
Posted by: DLC | December 21, 2008 7:32 PM
I find the quote marks around "threat" to be strange. After all, the quacks do, indeed, pose a dire threat in general.
Posted by: Michael Suttkus, II | December 21, 2008 7:40 PM
Like DLC, I suggested a panel of people who know what they are talking about and use science. With Obama appointing science based people, it appears that we may just be entering a "golden age" (yes, I am wishing) of science. I suggested that Larry King either get on board, or, he will be left in the station.
Posted by: FreeSpeaker | December 22, 2008 9:37 AM
yay reality
Posted by: john ilya | December 22, 2008 8:54 PM
Good, we won't have to listen to pro-mercury Paul Offit or Amanda Peet speak.
Posted by: pharmabuster | December 22, 2008 9:15 PM
2005 called. It wants its meme back.
Seriously, didn't you get the memo? You're supposed to be hammering on "too much, too soon" now because the mercury thing is a non-starter.
Posted by: Joseph C. | December 23, 2008 1:07 AM