Either Relevant or True » Editorial: When "Worst" Isn’t That Bad

It was amusing to me to see news fans of my acquaintance begin to gnash their teeth and rend their garments over Anderson Cooper’s inclusion as Friday night’s silver medalist. “How could he do that?” they cried, “Anderson is one of the good guys!” I was a little confused since I found it pretty damn funny.

Let’s consider that by December, there were no evening anchor jobs open. AC could have been referring to a morning gig in that interview, but the specificity of “22 minutes” doesn’t fit the morning format. Might that statement have been a little bit of BS? Possibly so.

Let us also consider that since the man spent seemingly endless weeks wearing waders in the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Katrina, CNN has been relentless with the marketing of the Cooper brand. Of course the network would do that just as any network wants to promote their demo draw. But it’s no secret that there have been times when that marketing has been over the top.

That leaves the charge of little content. For that I give you a statement right off of AC fan blog (and original inspiration for ERT) État de Coop, “So, we don’t mind when he says it should be a national holiday when 360 has 22 minutes of news a night. Because, we sort of know it’s true, although exaggerated.” Two hours is a lot of time to fill, and quite frankly I haven’t been able to sit all the way through an installment of the show since it went to the expanded format. That is all about the format and not about Mr. Cooper’s journalistic integrity or liability.

What I heard on Friday night was a little snarky, a bit tongue-in-cheek, and lacking the same type of disgusted delivery reserved for the likes of Foxers or comedian Rush Limbaugh. I did not hear the beginnings of some anti-Anderson jihad; I heard KO calling bullshit on a slow night.

Anyone who has been following KO for any length of time knows he’s not always a nice guy and that he is prone, on occasion, to stick his foot in his mouth. It’s possible that he did that on Friday night. It’s possible that I’m wrong and he really does have something against AC, but I wouldn’t count on it.

Now, let’s all untwist those knickers, okay?

As to what Anderson Cooper said, I think with the anchor thing he was talking either theoretically, or the possibility that CNN was willing to use him in a more traditional role like the old Newsnight, but he did not want it.

As for KO, it was sort of babyish IMO. If he wants people to care about what he says, he can’t always be flippant on the concent bit - espeically when he uses it to try to shed light on the unprofessionalism of some other media types. Sometimes WPITW is tongue and cheek, so maybe that was what he was trying for. I think he missed though because it came off jealous sounding.

Hawaii, I agree with you concerning KO’s occasional foray into petulance.

Anyone see this blog entry?

http://www.mprize.org/index.php?ctype=news&pagename=blogdetaildisplay&BID=2007024-12091700&detaildisplay=Y

I, for one, don’t have my knickers twisted. I’m not particularly a fan of Anderson Cooper. I always have suspected he’s an overhyped sensation, and unlike some KO fans, I don’t get off on fantasies of KO and the Coop having sex. So really, no skin off my nose.

My only concern is the inevitable reaction from those who adore the Coop and will think that KO saying anything, ANYTHING negative about how he’s been promoted is somehow some expression of petty envy on his part, rather than what it most likely is: his very honest belief that Cooper is an overhyped sensation and that he, Keith, could do a better job as a network anchor.

And, as the old saying goes, “It ain’t braggin’ if it’s true.”

Is it true? We don’t know yet. But can I blame Keith for thinking so? Not really.

Oh, and diana…I can say only one thing…there’s about a half-bag of peanut M&M’s in my kitchen cabinet that may be destined for the toilet.

I thought it was funny, if not exactly one of his Murrow moments.(I’ve never really seen the show in question, though, just Anderson talking to Oprah or somebody on occasion.)
Somehow, can’t quite imagine KO talking to Oprah.
Not sure what that says, exactly, but I can’t.

I think just including it with “Worst Person” is what got so many people upset. It was a little like hitting a puppy with a sledge hammer. If Keith had dropped this item into “Newsmakers” or “Keeping Tabs” there would be a lot fewer twisted knickers.

Speaking of puppies and other cute things, would Anderson be nearly so successful if he wasn’t one of the prettiest human beings on the planet?

I don’t know. Personally I don’t find him pretty.

I think he looks like a bunny.
Bunnies are cute, but not sexy.

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