An observation on the age of current TV news personalities


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geegee
March 30, 2003, 09:09 PM
This thought occurred to me the other day, while watching a few news reports about Iraq. It seems that during the Viet Nam War (my first point of reference for when I saw a war reported on TV), that when it was time to hear about casualties and deaths of our soldiers, those reports were being delivered by people with a little more substance than what's offered by our current slew of anchors and anchorettes. I mean, Walter Cronkite is as left as you can get politically, but theres something to be said about hearing him tell some bad news (in his trademark gravelly voice) vs. the same report being given by Shepherd Smith (who I believe owns more eye and facial makeup than your local Mary Kay rep).

I hate to use what became such an overused word during the Bush vs. Gore campaign, but some of these folks really lack gravitas. Not to overstate the obvious, but in trying to hire the most beautiful people available to win the Beauty Contest of the Cable News Stations, all they're left with now are people who often appear to be as deep as paper plates. Now that we've entered a time period of realworld life and death crisis, many of them look and sound especially silly, and at the very least, ineffective.

Or, am I just getting old? :confused: :uhoh: geegee

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Blackhawk
March 30, 2003, 09:44 PM
You're just getting old. :D

geegee
March 30, 2003, 10:03 PM
Just as I suspected....:p :D geegee

Art Eatman
March 31, 2003, 10:51 AM
To repeat myself: These people are highly-paid unskilled labor. They led me to coin the word, "Mediahcrities".

:D, Art

Monkeyleg
March 31, 2003, 06:38 PM
No, you're correct, at least in terms of Shepherd Smith. I absolutely cannot watch his show, especially when he's covering the war in a format that resembles "Entertainment Tonight."

Leatherneck
April 1, 2003, 08:55 AM
You and me both, Monkeyleg. I absolutely gagged every time he would do his stupid "G Block" thing. Thankfully, they've canned that for now; but he still lapses into that same cutesy demeanor from time to time. When he's serious, he's an effective commentator. Still beats the alternatives. :neener:

TC
TFL Survivor

geegee
April 1, 2003, 09:02 AM
He has a great and identifiable voice, but watching him report anything other than a Michael Jackson update just looks silly. geegee

Thumper
April 1, 2003, 09:26 AM
Gravitas notwithstanding, and with all due respect to Mr. Cronkite, I'll take my reporting from Laurie Dhue. Mmmmmmm...

geegee
April 1, 2003, 09:35 AM
I'd watch her report on house paint drying! :D geegee

M2HMGHB
April 1, 2003, 10:42 AM
I dont even watch the news anymore, I just head over to the websites. To me the time wasted in waiting for some decent news isnt justified when the website's have the same news and you can choose which stories to read.

Dannyboy
April 1, 2003, 11:19 AM
I'll take my reporting from Laurie Dhue. Mmmmmmm...
You are a very wise man, my friend. She can give some bad news any day.

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