O-pinion. Sunday, June 25
My Dearest CNN:
You are killing me.
I am well aware that the Angelina Jolie interview is a Huge Scoop for you. I'm very happy for you, CNN, really. I was a little wary about the amount of commercials you played, a week before the thing even aired, but hey, it's business. And then, the previews. A preview isn't 'exclusive' if you play it on every show, is it? You know I hate to give kudos to Lou Dobbs, but he refused to touch the subject. Of course, if it isn't about super-fences designed to kill Mexicans with lasers, he won't. Nonetheless, reluctant kudos.
And then Tuesday came, and I thought it would be over. I watched it, of course. It was...boring. You got good ratings, nicely done. But that wasn't the end of it, was it? No. It had to be further discussed on every other show you had, and summarized for days.
Friday, the reruns started. I know the Friday 360 track record is not very good. Not many live shows, and if it is live, the last hour is almost always a pretaped "special edition." It must be nice to have the power to take Fridays off all the time, and not report the news.
But it didn't stop at Friday, oh no. Saturday afternoon. Saturday night. Sunday.
All told, you have thus far, played 11 reruns of the Angelina Jolie interview, in place of things like, THE NEWS.
I wish I could say it was just with this one interview, but darling CNN, you're failing me on so many levels. I remember a time when a single story wasn't rerun on every show. Some stories are important, yes. But some (namely, anything Rick Sanchez covers*) are not.
Now, maybe normal people aren't up in arms about this, but I happen to watch a staggering amount of CNN. And when I can't stand CNN anymore, I switch to HLN. I don't have the luxury of other cable news channels. I suspect if I had MSNBC, I might have the same problem. After all, I am rabidly in love with Keith Olbermann, and Tucker Carlson, but only with the sound down.
What I'm trying to say is: CNN, there is news to cover somewhere. There is a direction you have to go towards. Jon Stewart, as usual, is right. It doesn't matter what you're talking about with the celebrity, it is still a celebrity interview.
Pull up your socks before I get digital cable, CNN. Don't base your schedule around one poorly-done interview.
Waning Love,
J.
* - Rick. I know you're bilingual. Because you make mention of this in EVERY STORY YOU COVER. I didn't need to know your family history, but you mention it at every turn. And don't sign off live shots by saying "I'm Rick Sanchez." We know you're Rick Sanchez, sadly. We know all too well.
posted by Janis @ 17:49,
