This brings up the question of whether popular entertainment may be used deliberately to mold public opinion.

That is the funniest line in a long time.

Kabuki theater?
I should point out that I consider things like This Week With George, The McLaughlin Group, and most newspaper editorials to fall in the category of popular entertainment. ;-)

Forms of entertainment such as Survivor, Desperate Housewives, and the antics of Britney Spears are more of the mind-numbing variety.