And still more Hilton/King write-ups…
The Chicago Tribune’s Phil Rosenthal…
For all the hype — which included coverage of Hilton’s arrival and a countdown clock to the interview on CNN and Anderson Cooper’s grudging post-interview attempt to bring depth to King’s shallow exchange with analysis — Fox News Channel edged CNN over the three hours of prime time, averaging 1.858 million viewers to CNN’s 1.851 million in live viewing.
Imagine what the interview might have drawn had King defied expectations and asked even one question that wasn’t as empty and vacuous as the jailbird heiress across from him.
Ultimately, having exhausted the damage-control answers Hilton’s handlers had crafted for her, King was left to flail about for something — anything — to fill the hour. Hard to believe broadcast networks once were bidding for this.
The good news is King didn’t botch Hilton’s name. It was at least an even-money bet King might call her Zsa Zsa after he managed to bungle his interview the night before with surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr and the widows of John Lennon and George Harrison by referring to Ringo as George.
Larry King, blessed his heart, is way past his prime. Those softball questions he hurled were about as inane as they could be. It’s a good thing I did not take my Lunesta that night, having fallen asleep after 15 minutes of that interview. Thanks, Larry.
Comment by RGL — June 29, 2007 @ 7:07 pm
RGL: Just another example from the “”network that prides itself on “hard news and hard facts”" as California Dreamin’ posted in the Laura Ingle thread below.
Comment by Ira — June 29, 2007 @ 7:40 pm