Opinion: Brown to CNN: Consistency?
TVNewser has an emailer making a ridiculous declaration…
8pm has always been CNN’s hour for former network stars. Connie Chung, Paula Zahn and now Campbell Brown. The reason Fox News and MSNBC have found success here is that they don’t keep changing that hour around. Consistency wins.
This is patently absurd on two levels. First of all, Paula Zahn has had that timeslot for nearly as long as Countdown with Keith Olbermann has been on the air and yet MSNBC is getting praise for not changing that hour around but CNN isn’t being consistent?
Second of all, the reason Connie Chung’s program and Zahn’s program haven’t drawn well has little to do with the fact that they are “former network stars”, it has more to do with the way they’ve been marketed and the formats of their respective programs. Simply having a name isn’t enough. You have to have a hook. Chung never did on CNN. Zahn’s show has started looking at race, but this is after over two years of being rather rudderless in having a theme or hook.
Plus 8pm may be the wrong time for the type of show like Zahn’s, especially considering the programming her show faces on the other channels (which strikes a blow at the concept of “counter-programming”). If Roger Ailes can realize that Bill O’Reilly doesn’t work in certain timeslots but will work right at 8pm, it’s possible that Zahn has been on in the wrong time all these years.
But to blow this all off on being a “former network star” is just illogical…
I just think putting brown at 8pm is just like putting PZ there. I dont see her doing anything more than PZ at all. They should move Dobbs there, that would make the most sense in my mind.
Comment by Randy — June 18, 2007 @ 6:11 pm
This (8pm) will be a career killer for Brown.
The fact is (and don’t take this the wrong way), the Katie experiment has failed. The slot needs a man. Don’t know how Grace pulls off barely above scratch, maybe it’s she’s just not that much of a woman.
Posted by Hmmm - June 18, 2007 @ 6:21 pm
Comment by Hmmm — June 18, 2007 @ 6:21 pm
I thought that CNN eventually would put the Lou Dobbs show on later than in 6 p.m. hour, perhaps at 7 or 8 p.m. I don’t see the benefit of putting Campbell on at 8 p.m. either.
Comment by Goldfish — June 18, 2007 @ 6:28 pm
Apparently the emailer missed PZ’s “special” on dirty feet. See, PZ has tried every hook in the book.
Comment by Terance — June 18, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
Putting Alma Brown= Campbell Brown in night time will be suicide for Cnn.
Comment by linda m — June 18, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
Nancy Grace has survived because she has a lot of personality.
Comment by Randy — June 18, 2007 @ 6:35 pm
If Cnn is serious about boosting the night time rating Brown is not the way to go. I can see her doing well in the morning
Comment by Peter — June 18, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
“This is patently absurd on two levels. First of all, Paula Zahn has had that timeslot for nearly as long as Countdown with Keith Olbermann has been on the air and yet MSNBC is getting praise for not changing that hour around but CNN isn’t being consistent?”
I disagree Spud. While it’s true that Zahn has been at 8 for a while, it’s been anything but consistent. The shows format has seen 4 or 5 substantial format and tone changes over the years.
Comment by Steve — June 18, 2007 @ 6:39 pm
“The fact is (and don’t take this the wrong way), the Katie experiment has failed. “
What does Katie Couric have to do with anything?
Comment by Steve — June 18, 2007 @ 6:41 pm
Randy, that’s true. Nancy does have a lot of moxie. I think that celebrity crime and missing blondes has helped her ratings a great deal as well.
Comment by Goldfish — June 18, 2007 @ 6:42 pm
have helped, that is. Duh.
Comment by Goldfish — June 18, 2007 @ 6:42 pm
They’re both female anchors?
I think that 8pm is obviously the hour for strong personalities. How many unmemorable shows did MSNBC have in that 8pm time slot before Olbermann? What’s on in that 8pm slot against Zahn now? An egotistical butthole (O’Reilly), another egotistical butthole (Olbermann), and a crazy woman (Grace). Bland, pleasant personalities just don’t cut in that time slot. I like campbell but she’s kinda blah. I don’t see her being a success in that time slot. If Klein has any common sense at all, he’ll move Dobbs to 8pm.
Comment by Alison — June 18, 2007 @ 6:45 pm
“MSNBC [has] found success” at 8 p.m.? ROTFLMAO! I guess if you consider routinely finishing FIFTH, FOURTH and sometimes THIRD out of FIVE “success” and getting 25% of the audience that Fox News gets at 8 p.m. then MSNBC is a runaway blockbuster.
Comment by Tom — June 18, 2007 @ 6:52 pm
Tom, considering Imus used to be MSNBC’s top rated program with 300K in P2+.. I’d say KO has done better than anyone else on MSNBC. Btw, I’m not a fan of his so save the drama.
Comment by Terance — June 18, 2007 @ 6:58 pm
“Nancy Grace has survived because she…….” is tabloid
“What does Katie Couric have to do with anything????” if you got Couric then you can read between the lines.
Posted Hmmm - JUNE 18, 2007 @ 7:06 pm
Comment by Hmmm — June 18, 2007 @ 7:05 pm
I disagree Spud. While it’s true that Zahn has been at 8 for a while, it’s been anything but consistent. The shows format has seen 4 or 5 substantial format and tone changes over the years.
This is true but that’s not how I read the email comment. I read it as changing show hosts in that slot not the format of PZN.
Comment by Spud — June 18, 2007 @ 7:08 pm
“If Klein has any common sense at all,” LOL, thanks for the laugh Alison, you crack me up. With the stunning programming and talent moves that have been made at CNN in the past 2 1/2 years prove this idiot has no common sense but thanks for keeping hope alive.
Comment by Mary Snow — June 18, 2007 @ 7:10 pm
Still pining for Aaron, Mary?
I think Paula would play much better in the afternoons, with a more ‘talkie’ format. I agree that they need a stronger personality at 8, but disagree that this necessarily means bringing Lou’s one-note carping into primetime. And I sure hope they don’t try to out-fox the competition by bringing in another rightwing nutbag like Beck just when the country’s finally waking up from its stupor of fear. Now is not the time to decide to emulate talk-radio.
Comment by Arthur — June 18, 2007 @ 7:25 pm
I’m probably in the minority, but I’d LOVE to see Paula have her own afternoon call-in show. Pick a few “hot topics”, spend a few minutes discussing it with CNN and outside analysts/reporters and then have the public call in with their thoughts, questions, comments etc. Put it at 4pm, push TSR from 5-7pm and try Dobbs at 8pm.
Comment by Anonymous — June 18, 2007 @ 7:28 pm
Loe Dobb’s at 8 is CNN’s only hope against BOR..Campbell Brown giving a straignt newscast might work against Brit Hume..CNN has a great anchor/journalist in John Roberts, but
doesn’t seem to know what to do with him..Perhaps they could put him on against Hume?…and then what about P.Z. and Alma?…Sleep tight Mr. Klein..
Comment by A.M. — June 18, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
Anon and Arthur, I agree. I think Paula would be great on a show in the late morning or afternoon. I like Paula, I just think she would do better at another time slot.
Comment by Goldfish — June 18, 2007 @ 7:46 pm
In my opinion cnn and msnbc will not catch up with foxnews at the 8pm slot whoever they put up against O’reilly.
Lou Dobbs may help bring ratings but the illegal immigration debate will die down and will soon bring already much fatigue.
Comment by aw — June 18, 2007 @ 7:52 pm
ROFLMAO! Paula got a new hair-do today…it’s just so funny to see considering her show is pretty much done. Maybe she’ll show some leg today too?
Comment by Anonymous — June 18, 2007 @ 7:53 pm
Lou Dobbs vs Keith Vs Bo
now that would be good tv watching, i wonder if bo would have less viewers?
Comment by Zak — June 18, 2007 @ 7:56 pm
” i wonder if bo would have less viewers?”
Don’t bet your house on it.
Comment by PF — June 18, 2007 @ 8:23 pm
I think that Lou would probably pull viewers from both BOR and KO.
Comment by Alison — June 18, 2007 @ 8:53 pm
Campbell at 8 pm makes absolutely no sense. I suspect that we’ll see her sometime during the day. I doubt if CNN would mess with any of Wolf’s many hours, but they could shuffle things around and find a slot sometime between 9am and 2pm.
Comment by Objective Analyst — June 18, 2007 @ 9:09 pm
If CNN wants to really mix it up, they would give Jack Cafferty the timeslot. I left CNN when they took Jack and Hemmer off the morning show…and I will go back if they put Jack in the PM slot. Just let Jack be Jack and I’ll bet ratings would take off.
Comment by newsfan — June 18, 2007 @ 9:59 pm
If CNN wants to really mix it up, they would give Jack Cafferty the timeslot. I left CNN when they took Jack and Hemmer off the morning show…and I will go back if they put Jack in the PM slot. Just let Jack be Jack and I’ll bet ratings would take off.
Comment by newsfan — June 18, 2007 @ 10:00 pm
Look at Connie Chungs’ ratings. They were pretty good. Chung got the boot because her program was tabloid. The war then started and BAM a good time to give her the boot. Of course CNN offered her to take on another duty but she said no.
As for Zahn she should have stayed on during the mornings. Along with Hemmer and Cafferty. What will get the numbers for the 8pm hour on CNN. I don’t think anything other than Lou Dobbs. You’ve gotta have a hook and Lou can get it done. So go ahead and give Wolf Blitzer the 7pm hour.
Comment by Me — June 18, 2007 @ 10:26 pm
I don’t care about PZ or whether CNN wins, loses or folds at 8:00pm. I dislike Ms. Brown bigtime and if moving her to cable clears some space on weekend mornings, its good enough for me. the chemistry between Campbell and Lester Holt is POISON and it’s been clear to me for a while that she had to go. good riddance to Campbell, her wardrobe (enough ruffles!!!!!!) screechy voice (get her a coach, PLEEEEAZE) and most of all the snippy ‘tude is so first Bush term. and good luck, CNN, no matter which sorry soul is her EP.
Comment by just another ohioan — June 19, 2007 @ 12:10 am
Amen, Spud. TVNewser has been on a crusade to belittle CNN at 8 p.m. for a while now in an effort to prop up Keith Olbermann. Yet CNN is still in 2nd and Stelter continues his ridiculous campaign against Zahn (and Grace and O’Reilly).
It was not an “e-mailer,” it was Brian Stelter himself who wrote that. There have never been any checks and balances on this kid and I don’t trust him for a second, especially since he only usually publishes “e-mails” he agrees with.
Thank God Stelter will be forbidden from writing about cable news for 6 months once he starts his new job. Maybe it will give him some time to actually learn something about it.
Comment by Hank — June 19, 2007 @ 12:30 am
I’ve learned to like Campbell on the weekends but I won’t watch her at night. It’ll be another Zahn type show, boring. They need to move Dobbs there and I’ll consider watching but my habit is to switch between Bill and Nancy, depending on what they’re talking about
Comment by jules — June 19, 2007 @ 9:42 am
Hank- how did you come by your conclusion that CNN was second in the 8:00pm time slot.
Comment by Sam — June 19, 2007 @ 9:49 pm