Channel 4 in the UK recently bought The West Wing, the American political drama which is just like ER but with less blood and more paper. This has highlighted a very odd thing to do with some American shows - the Phantom Drummer. Every time the President speaks, the snare drummer in the background starts up with patriotic drum rolls and crashes. You could imagine that this will become very embarrassing in later life. For example:

Aide: Would you like some coffee, Mr President?
President: Oh, yes please.
Drummer: Rrrum tiddly tum tum rum tum drrrrr

The drummer poses many questions. Is he behind the settee, waiting for the President to speak? Is he actually a computer listening for the President's voice tone? If it is a human, it could tell us much more about History, for example if we find Nixon's drummer we could find out quite a lot about Watergate. I'm not entirely sure why the President needs accompanying drums, but it could be to reassure the American people that the President is in charge and everything is fine. Any thoughts?

Phil-"This might have been posted before but I think it got lost inside Rinkworks; if it's been posted before then sorry"-bee