Well that was one quick international trip. I've heard various theories why the hasty return and I'm leaning toward the one that says with no access to the ground war or Gaza there was no reason to remain in Israel. I did read somewhere today that the networks were pulling their major personalities as a show of unified dissatisfaction with Israel's censorship. Also plausible to me.
As to Wednesday's AC360 I'm not sure if it was flat or if it was me being too tired to get much out of it, but either way I found little new or interesting. I'm fighting a chest cold and a non-stop cough so it was probably me more than the program. Sorry but my post will be abbreviated in hopes of getting to bed early tonight.
○ Nic Robertson, on the Israeli Gaza border was first up with a report on conditions for the citizens of Gaza. He also included a look at the aid being allowed in and the brief cease fire.
○ Candy Crowley filled us in on the Presidential luncheon and the newest Obama nominee of a Chief Performance Officer to oversee government red ink. She also talked with AC about the stimulus package.
○ Drew Griffin took on the Burris issue and the possibility that pay to play was a factor in his appointment. I had a feeling when the report began it would be the subject of the panel and AC360 did not disappoint me. Tonight's panel was Candy, Errol Lewis and Jeff Toobin....again.
○ The 'hairless profit of doom' as Jon Stewart calls him was again the night's biggest downer.
○ Nic Robertson was back to report on renewed activity on the ground in Gaza and Christiane Amanpour joined him with talk of how a long lasting peace accord isn't really possible.
○Randi Kaye caught us up on the latest details in the death of Jett Travolta. I just hate this story and much prefer the focus be on Scientology (as Kaye's report was) rather than on the family. 
○Probably the most interesting story of the evening was Erica's report about the porn industry heading to DC to ask lawmakers for a bailout. I watched this story on TMZ earlier in the evening (remember I'm sick and my judgement is impaired by drugs) and TMZ totally treated it as legit. I'm with AC and Erica...it is just Larry Flynn and Joe Francis having a little fun and getting some publicity. I guess I haven't watched enough porn because, unlike Anderson Cooper, I didn't recognize the 'porn music' in the background he was joking about.
○If you missed 'The Shot' take a look back at The Daily Show video I posted last night....
I don't have any Anderson video for you tonight, I didn't really find anything clipworthy. But I do have John King's Monday night appearance on The Colbert Report. Enjoy!
It was announced late today that John King's new program will be titled ' State of the Union with John King' and will air every Sunday from 9 a.m. through 1 p.m.
The show will launch January 18, the weekend before President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration. The first show will preview the January 20 inauguration, and examine the upcoming Obama administration.
I've got a major case of the munchies tonight...do you feed a cold and starve a fever or vice versa? Guess I better do a Google search before hitting the kitchen. Hope to see you back here tomorrow. ~Phebe
All Things Anderson is a blog dedicated to CNN's AC360 and its host Anderson Cooper.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Back in NYC
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23 comments:
I guess I haven't watched enough porn because, unlike Anderson Cooper, I didn't recognize the 'porn music' in the background he was joking about.
That's exactly what I was thinking when he mentioned it. It was interesting that the 360 crew had some porn music readily available:)
Phebe: I do hope your cold is better. For the record I did not recognize the "porn music" either.
Must be a guy thing.
The Colbert Report was very funny, at least Steven was funny, but I don't usually listen to him.
I don't get the protest by the media against Israel. If foreign press is a distraction, than it's their right to keep all press out, even the US. If one journalist is killed everyone would blame Israel, so they're better off not allowing any foreign press in the area of conflict. They were all aware of that BEFORE they sent their top talent out to cover the conflict. Israel doesn't need any more headaches. Sorry, I'm with them.
I actually like tonight's show a lot. For someone who was still in Israel last night, he sure looked charged and full of energy, I don't know how he handled that. I do think, at this point, people are more interested in the news in the U.S. rather than the never-ending war in Middle East, it's not a bad idea that they took him back. Of course he does not like it, but if there is no access, there really is no point to stay.
Kathy went to some talk show and talked about the whole NYE incident, maybe someone can download the clip. I don't know if I like this woman, but she did try to protect Andy.
The porn music should stay.
I want to hear more about the porn industry bailout just to see Anderson try and keep a professional face and tone while discussing it.
If porn/sex industry get a bailout, they would have to be accountable for spending(as the banks are??) and therefore they would have to declare income, pay tax and full financial records will need to be kept, from illegal sources, as not all porn is legal in all places. So legislation would need to be changed and updated to accomodate. These changes could include area of digital, technological and cross boarder exploitation where most governments fall over. The bonus would be more tax income and security for sexworkers; legal jobs means more safer workplace, and potentially reduce, through recognition, sextrade exploitation, abuse and people trafficing. It should be taken seriously.
Speaking of "State of Union"
John King on Colbert stole Anderson's Heroes night outfit (which I call date night outfit) while he was in Gaza, and I think Anders wants it back. Anchorfight.
Why was George Bush Jr blushing so much in the presidential luncheon?
I'd rather not listen to Scientology. It always leads to TC
and I can not stomach that.
It seems like the Israel Gaza crisis is never going to end.
I am sick of hearing about Roland Burris. I really am. He's the senator alot of people don't like it...too bad move on. They are so hung up on it. These people need to accept he's senator and move on to something else.
The piece on the porn industry wanting a bailout was funny. AC seemed amused by it. He was smiling and giggling.
I don't like the title of John King's new program. It sounds weird.
I hope you feel better soon, Phebe!
360's had better porn music on in the past - I remember a few years ago Anderson did a report on a very virile stud horse that was put down and they had some porno music going on in the background and AC said he "loved" the music - I can't even begin to know why I still remember that. I do give Erica credit for getting through that porno report relatively seriously and unscathed, but I'm guessing it wasn't her choice to do it and heaven knows the days of Anderson having to do those kinds of reports are over. Moley Willows makes some excellent points about accountability and the porn industry.
I've got to say that Anderson looked wonderful Wednesday night - it had to be disappointing not being able to cover the conflict in Israel the way 360 was able to in 2006, but Nic Robertson and Christianne Amanpour will keep us well informed.
Erica: "Close your computer Anderson, they're going to take your shot". Hahaha, Anderson *pretending* to look at porno on the job. Loved it.
It was an okay show Monday night, we got a lot of information about a variety of topics - the Israel/Gaza conflict, politics, the economy, Ali Velshi on the national debt (which should get more attention), Jett Travolta, and the porn business.
I'm a little disappointed Anderson didn't make a snarky comment after the report about Joe the Plumber becoming a war correspondent.
Anderson was so happy to talk about the porn business but I was annoyed by their teaser throughout the show about the porn report - the woman sitting on the couch constantly waving. Is constantly waving the new thing in porn? No wonder they're losing money.
Take some Nyquil, Phebe, a half-dose is usually enough for sleep. How about chocolate-covered granola bars for the munchies?
Jaanza
Now does Anderson seems a little TOO familiar with that cheesy music??
It was so much fun seeing him try to keep serious during that whole story, ESPECIALLY when Erica mentioned about how many people view it at work,THEN told him to close the computer-it was hilarious!LOL
Anderson seemed to be in a pretty good mood last night especially with Erica. You can tell he likes her and prefers her above the other correspondents and other guest and others he works with.
I too join those who did not recognize the porn music but seeing Anderson laughing and squirming over this story was priceless - also loved the snark about Joe The Plumber becoming a war correspondent who wants to interview the average Israeli Joe - he has met his match as most Israeli's will give him an earful and hope his 15 minutes will disappear
I think all the networks have made the decision to pull back their coverage of the current conflict because it is impossible to stand on a hill and report - Israel is correct in not allowing journalists into the conflict -
Phebe, nice to have you back and hope you are feeling better soon. Don't you just hate it when you come home from a vacation sick? Aren't they supposed to recharge you? Go figure.
I cannot believe Anderson the "uptight WASP" recognized the porn music so quickly. Kudos to Erica for keeping a straight face while reporting on the likes of Larry Flynt and Charles Barkley. Why does she keep getting this crap? Kind of reminds me of Anderson talking about reporting on the Strip Club ordinances for ABC. Hope that doesn't mean Erica is looking for a reality show to host!
Moley made some good points. Porno is here, it's been here forever, and it's not going anywhere anytime soon. Maybe we should regulate the industry and rake in some $$$. However, men like Flynt and Francis would probably still find ways to exploit people while evading taxes. I do not understand the fascination young women seem to have with the Hefners, Flynts, and Francis's. I imagine it’s a combination of the need for attention and attraction to the megabucks lifestyle these men lead. This is a tough issue for me. Not all people who consume porn are perverts but a high percentage of perverts report consuming porn. Many, many, of the perps I worked with on child abuse and rape cases claimed a link to pornography. Frankly, it was probably just another lame excuse for their behavior. I have spent significant amounts of time reading and studying the causes for abberant behavior and I'm still on the fence about the impact legalizing porn would have on these behaviors. Now the internet has taken it to a completely new level. I recently read an article by a prominent therapist who explained it like this, "On the internet you can get anything you want, so that people who were once constrained by societal moralities and values, now find there's a doorway. I don't want to sound like a dinosaur, but it definitely opens up people's possibilities for actively pursuing some of these compulsions. And if you find that a lot of other people are interested in the same things you are, you will tend to believe, Well, what's the problem?"... Isn't that a frightening thought and all the more reason that I agree with Moley...we may make light of Flynt and Francis and their request for a bailout but looking the ramifications of an unregulated sex trade should be taken seriously.
Loved the puppy debate and King on Colbert and I'm looking forward to John's new program.
I would be interested in hearing Kathy's interview about NYE if anyone has more info.
For all you Jack Gray fans, there is a cute little clip of him with Erica talking about the Golden Globes on the AC360 website. He is a cutie!
ZZ-zz-zzz-zzzzzzz!(That's me, virtually sleeping through last night's show.) Not even our silver haired golden boy can be utterly scintillating every day of the week, especially not after the amount of time he's spent on planes, in airports, or standing in the damp grass of a windy hill in the middle of the night - for no apparent reason. Sigh.
Glad he's back in NYC (for our sake), but wish he had an adventure coming up . . . . someplace. Oh, well. Andy on fire is worth waiting for, and I'm sure he'll be back.
Sleep & liquids, Phebe; sleep & liquids.
If you didn't watch the first webcam update by Erica you missed her talking about doing the porn segment and Anderson trying not to laugh when she said - economic stimulus package. Had both cams on at the same time and it was funny to watch his reaction to her cast.
Hope your cold is gone soon Phebe. I dig 360
so are this year. I am glad that Anderson is
getting away from the pundits and having an
intelligent conversation about matters. I hope
when Campbell Brown goes on maternity leave
that the suits are smart enough to give the hour
to Erica Hill and have Jack Gray be on for the full
hour it wold be great.
anon 1:51 PM: No disrespect to Erica, but there is NO WAY that Erica will get her own program on CNN much less the 8:00.
Yes, Erica is talented but she will no way get the ratings to do better than Campbell or Connie Chung or Paula Zahn or any of those before her at that time slot and to make any sort of dent in the competition - Bill O'Reilly - sorry but there is no way that will ever happen.
Erica's strengths and personality lie in the morning show format - I personally would like to see her move to that - I NEVER turned on a Saturday morning program but now check out The Early Show on Saturday to catch Erica.
The porn industry hurts women, plain and simple. It teaches men that it is socially acceptable to objectify them as a warm piece of flesh. Some types of porn portray violence against women as being acceptable.
All the men (and women) I have ever known that indulge in pornography have had lousy romantic relationships because they have an unreal expectation of the sexual act. Some of these losers expected their girlfriends to reenact porn scenes.
Porn encourages human beings to treat their partners like prostitutes. It's not a laughing matter.
@ Moley Willows & Others: How can you legitimize a business that's not legitimate, such as porn and the dear "ladies of the night?" I really thought it was a ruse and it will never happen.
Jack Cafferty asked what Obama could do as far as entitlements are concerned as part of his economic proposal to Congress. I thought this was a smart question because he will have to tackle entitlements and one has to be "Social Insecurity," as I like to refer to it. I have always thought that once you reach a certain level of income, you should no longer receive SS. Why should someone like "The Donald" receive social security? I know he paid into it, but certain income brackets don't need this income. Social Security should be for those people in a far lower income bracket, which would have to be determined by our congressional legislature. I am aware that no one wants to tackle this because it is "political suicide," but it is an entitlement that has gotten out of hand.
I have a major concern about one of the commercials CNN is running in reference to Sanjay Gupta. They are supposed to be impartial to his upcoming nomination for the position of Surgeon General in the Obama Administration, yet they chose to cross the line in a commercial that shows Dr. Gupta on an ipod in what appears to be an Afro-American barber shop dicussing health and nutrition. This add ran BEFORE it was known that Dr.Gupta was approached for this position by the upcoming administration. Yet, there were those at CNN who had been informed of such an impending appointment and I believe this commercial is a conflict of interest and should be pulled immediately.
anon 3:53 you missed the point of the post you answered that anon suggested that Erica replace Campbell while she's on maternity leave, not permanently. No disrespect to you, but why don't people read the posts before they respond? Guess everyone has an agenda.
And I am a big fan of Erica's.
@anonymous 6:08pm, I don't think the porn industry hurts women. No one makes them do porn. They the ones chosing that career. If that's what they want to do that's their choice. As for the women who are being treadt like a "pice of meat". That's their own fault. They need to stand up for themselves.
anon 8:42: I posted anon 3:53:yes, I read the post that Erica fill in for Campbell while she is on maternity.
There is still no way that Erica would be able to do that. Campbell herself has very very low ratings, as have others before her who are more seasoned and qualified than Erica.
And, as I said, I have no disrespect for Erica and like her and she think she is competent, but the evening news is not for her.
I have written in to CNN many many times with positive feedback telling them how good she is there.
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