Way ahead of its time

This film was made long before reality TV was ever created. No one had thought of the internet and smart phones, but look what it's saying. An ordinary person can generate a mass following via the media, in this case, television. The more followers Lonesome Rhodes gets, the more influence he gains. He even has politicians sucking up to him. He becomes famous by claiming to be authentic, when he is a complete creation of the media. Just look at Kim Kardashian today or any number of social media influencers.