What’s hot/What’s not: 2/10/08
What’s hot:
David Shuster - Shuster is hot. Very hot. In fact, he’s suddenly radioactive. The question is what’s his half-life?
Divisions over the Shuster suspension at 30 Rock - Not everyone thinks the Shuster suspension was deserved. Some think Shuster was a scapegoat to appease the Clinton camp and save the NBC debate scheduled for next week. Others think Shuster got it in the neck because his last name was Shuster and not Matthews or Olbermann or Russert, or (insert big NBC/MSNBC talent name here).
Super Super Tuesday Ratings for CNN - Some will say it was the heavy Democratic turnout that contributed to CNN’s Super Tuesday ratings; the “Liberals watch CNN” argument if you will. I say as long as topical news drives it, big ratings is big ratings.
Karl Rove debuts on FNC - Speaking as a former Poli Sci Major in college, it was fascinating TV watching “Bush’s Brain” functioning in real time analyzing the numbers and what they meant.
MSNBC goes VR - MSNBC debuted slick new VR technology as part of its Super Tuesday coverage and, speaking as a CGI and Video artist (in the little spare time I have), made CNN and Anderson Cooper’s 3D pie charts from Iowa look like old news.
David Zurawik on Campbell Brown - Zurawik’s shoot from the hip commentary of CNN’s Campbell Brown on Super Tuesday prompted a blistering response…from Greta Van Susteren over at FNC. CNN remained quiet but you just know Zurawik is off their Christmas card list this year…
What’s not:
Nielsen stubs its toe - The ratings service blew one network’s program ratings for an hour on Super Tuesday by 400,000 viewers.
Eric Burns out at Fox News Watch - This news left a lot of FNC viewers scratching their heads.
“Zurawik’s shoot from the hip commentary of CNN’s Campbell Brown on Super Tuesday prompted a blistering response…from Greta Van Susteren over at FNC.”
I totally agree that Zurawik’s comments about Campbell were TOTALLY unfounded — in fact, she did a great job on Saturday night and looked fantastic as usual. Spud, do you have a transcript or anything about Greta’s response to the attack com Campbell? I’d be interested to read it.
Comment by THE Anonymous — February 10, 2008 @ 8:49 pm
Anon - it’s in Greta’s blog, here: http://gretawire.foxnews.com/2008/02/06/whats-with-david-zurawik-a-problem-with-women-campbell-brown-diane-sawyer/
I think it says alot, about both CNN and FNC, that it takes FNC’s anchors to defend CNN’s talent. First, Sean Hannity, Alan Colmes and Greta came to Larry King’s defense when CNN totally abandoned him, and now Greta defends Campbell Brown.
There’s something very wrong at CNN if it takes a rival network to stand up for their anchors……
Comment by Laurel — February 10, 2008 @ 9:30 pm
Shuster will be the MSNBC sacrificial lamb instead of Matthews (unless Chris swears on the air or makes sexist comments again). Too many drama queens at MSNBC.
Comment by Goldfish — February 10, 2008 @ 9:30 pm
I have been arguing this is unfair to Shuster on Michelle Malkin’s blog, they honestly are saying that Shuster called Chelsea a whore. I pasted the transcript and told them show me where. I feel like this is deja vu.
Comment by Ree — February 10, 2008 @ 10:15 pm
Yes, Shuster is a scapegoat of sorts. He’s not squeaky clean in my opinion and has done things in the past which I find questionable so it’s not like this is his first offense. But from some of the things I’d read you get the impression that Shuster just murdered Bambi or something…
Comment by Spud — February 10, 2008 @ 10:21 pm
Exactly Spud! As said earlier, Shuster has been attacked for a phrase he probably could have said better, not to mention the point the majority of us likely don’t know the context, and he’s being thrown under the bus by his own network. It’s sickening, I’m sorry, and purely Clinton bowing at this point.
For that matter, I think there’d be outrage no matter the individual, but still, there could be a fair argument to the phrase, though it could have been stated differently. Plus, if the same phrase had been said about Obama’s kids, aren’t they still children, not 20-somethings walking around promoting their parents.
Comment by Chris — February 10, 2008 @ 11:26 pm
Come to think of it, Greta also defended Paula Zahn when CNN gave her and her show absolutely no support and then fired her for underperforming.
There’s definitely a problem at CNN.
Comment by Laurel — February 10, 2008 @ 11:48 pm
I’m going to defend CNN in its non-response to Zurawik. Responding to a critic in an above board manner is a lose-lose scenario because it legitimizes the discussion to some extent. CNN could opt to slam Zurawik but that’s not CNN style. The best option in this case is no response.
Comment by Spud — February 11, 2008 @ 12:31 am
Everyone’s right Shuster is a scapegoat because MSNBC can’t suspend or fire KO and Chrissy for the things they done and said thats gone over the line but they will throw David under the bus to keep the Clinton’s happy.
Comment by mlong — February 11, 2008 @ 12:48 am
Re Malkin: I’ve seen the exact same thing on liberal blogs/websites and that is NOT what Shuster was implying at all (imo). He WAS implying her parents were Pimps but I do not think he meant at all to imply she was a whore because her parents were pimping her.
I think the quote from Olbermann from last September where he uses the same exact phrase is interesting. When might we expect HIS suspension?
Comment by Alison — February 11, 2008 @ 8:41 am
And - don’t forget about the pole dancing comment Joe Scarborough made about Fred Thompson’s wife. Never could stand David Shuster but he is no worse than the other biggies - Chrissy, Joe, KO.
Comment by sophia — February 11, 2008 @ 9:10 am
Alison,Sophia,
I made my last comment on the Malkin Blog on this topic #85 if they can’t see the double standard it is because they don’t want to. I am an Independent on a Conservative Woman’s blog arguing about Liberal David Shuster vs Democrats posting what I stated the above, they construe that Shuster called Chelsea a Whore because that is how they “Feel” about it. I think Marty Davis’s Blog Chickaboomer where she posted her manifesto was right on. Marty is right, This needs to stop.
GE they bring good things to life? GE likes the way MSNBC is being run?
Comment by Ree — February 11, 2008 @ 10:32 am
Alison: “I think the quote from Olbermann from last September where he uses the same exact phrase is interesting. When might we expect HIS suspension?”
Or Glenn Beck’s suspension for saying Sheehan was “pimping out the tragedy of her own son’s death for her own agenda”?
Comment by STP — February 13, 2008 @ 10:22 am