At first people didn't perceive the anomaly, and said, for example, that the black four of hearts was a black four of spades or a red four of hearts. As they were shown more anomalous cards, they began to hesitate and to perceive the anomaly. Once one sees the truth about Shakespeare, everything becomes clear, as clear as a black four of hearts. But it's difficult to make that leap, difficult to make that initial adjustment, difficult to take that first step from the familiar into the unknown, difficult to look at the issue from an entirely different perspective, difficult to realize that Shakespeare's works could have been attributed to the wrong person, difficult to realize that there could be a black four of hearts. First, one must make them familiar with the Oxford theory, expose them to its broad outlines.
Television is well suited to exposing people to new ideas.
Television reaches uncommitted laymen, not just specialists. It reaches people who don't even think they're interested in The Shakespeare Mystery , people who wouldn't spend five minutes reading Looney's book or Ogburn's book. The Frontline documentary has converted many people to the Oxford theory. Just as the Oxford theory can benefit from television exposure, so too can it benefit from the reputation of its supporters. The Oxford theory wasn't set forth by a writer with a high reputation.