The Power of Good TV

I must admit, Oil Storm, an FX Network fictitious docudrama airing last night and again tonight, almost pushed me off the couch in search of a used Toyota Prius. But the anxiety of driving a Prius over to my favorite watering hole, frequented by fellow Blue-Collar Kids from Janesville, most of whom work the line at General Motors, told me I should stick with my Janesville-made GMC Yukon; maybe even trade-up for the H2 Hummer.

Oil Storm is a pretty compelling piece of what-ifs. First, a hurricane slams into the Port of New Orleans, smashing oil refineries. Then, Saudi Arabia boils with contempt as the Royal family’s friendship with the U.S. leads to their increased supply to fill our demand for oil, albeit at hugely inflated profits. Terrorists then target American workers wherever they reside on foreign soil and finally, American troops are sent in to protect the Saudi oil fields.

Military casualties, terrorism, natural disasters, global demand, competition, and American civil unrest reach a crescendo when crude oil reaches $175 a barrel on the commodities exchange. Gas at the pumps pushes $9.00 a gallon.

Our historic cheap source of oil has vanished. An Oil Czar is appointed. Speed limits on all highways are lowered to 50 mph. World demand has finally exceeded supply.

Costs of all petroleum based products exceed affordability. Heating oil in the North; pesticides for the Ag industry, airlines, trucking and shipping, retail goods and lost manufacturing efficiency has crashed the U.S. economy. Inflation and unemployment combine to crash the market value of the U.S. dollar.

The two protagonists represent each end of the political spectrum, giving the what-ifs some ideological balance. But the kicker is who President Bush appoints as his new Oil Czar, after his first choice resigns over an explosion at the Houston oil refineries that wipes-out the U.S. ability to unload oil shipments.

The NFL-films, John Fascenda-esque narration spooks us like Orson Wells' War of the Worlds, or more like a modern version of the Grapes of Wrath.