Morning Shows Hype Angelina Jolie’s Mastectomies With Nearly 27 Minutes of Coverage; Just 56 Seconds for Gosnell Verdict
ABC and NBC led their morning shows on Tuesday with nearly 10 minutes of "breaking news" coverage of Angelina Jolie's double mastectomy. This celebrity-driven story was apparently deemed more important than abortionist Dr. Kermit Gosnell being found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder, as Good Morning America and Today devoted just 38 seconds to the Gosnell trial. (audio clips of Jolie coverage available here; video below the jump)
Altogether, the ABC and NBC morning newscasts aired 19 minutes and 3 seconds of coverage on Jolie. Tuesday's CBS This Morning waited 12 minutes to cover the Hollywood news item, but ultimately ended up setting aside 7 minutes and 49 seconds of air time to the surgeries, versus a 18 second news brief on Gosnell. The total Big Three coverage of Jolie on Tuesday morning, including CBS's reporting, added up to 26 minutes and 52 seconds, as opposed to 56 seconds on the Gosnell case.
NBC Applauds ‘Comedian-in-Chief’ Obama, Raves Over His ‘Terrific’ Performance at Correspondents’ Dinner
At the top of Sunday's NBC Today, co-host Erica Hill cheered President Obama's performance at Saturday's White House Correspondents' Dinner as she announced: "Comedian-in-chief....President Obama gets lots of laughs at the White House Correspondents' Dinner." Moments later, fellow co-host Lester Holt gushed that Obama was "very, very funny...very loose." Hill agreed, suggesting the President "take that show on the road." [Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump]
Following a report on how Obama "embraced his role as comedian-in-chief," Hill asked Meet the Press moderator David Gregory for his thoughts on the presidential stand-up. Gregory happily joined in the Obama praise: "I think the President did well. I mean, the President always does well. Any president does who, you know, is in a position to be sort of rooted on in many ways. And I think that's what happened last night. But I think the President was particularly on last night..." One wonders who Gregory thought had "rooted on" the President at the event heavily attended by media figures.
NBC Applauds ‘Comedian-in-Chief’ Obama, Raves Over His ‘Terrific’ Performance at Correspondents’ Dinner
At the top of Sunday's NBC Today, co-host Erica Hill cheered President Obama's performance at Saturday's White House Correspondents' Dinner as she announced: "Comedian-in-chief....President Obama gets lots of laughs at the White House Correspondents' Dinner." Moments later, fellow co-host Lester Holt gushed that Obama was "very, very funny...very loose." Hill agreed, suggesting the President "take that show on the road." [Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump]
Following a report on how Obama "embraced his role as comedian-in-chief," Hill asked Meet the Press moderator David Gregory for his thoughts on the presidential stand-up. Gregory happily joined in the Obama praise: "I think the President did well. I mean, the President always does well. Any president does who, you know, is in a position to be sort of rooted on in many ways. And I think that's what happened last night. But I think the President was particularly on last night..." One wonders who Gregory thought had "rooted on" the President at the event heavily attended by media figures.
NBC’s Roker Claims: ‘Ronald Reagan Probably Would Be Seen Almost Liberally Today’
During a panel discussion on Tuesday's NBC Today about a new survey on how Americans view the 1980s, co-host Willie Geist noted an interesting political finding: "If a presidential election were held today, according to this survey, 58% would vote for Ronald Reagan over President Barack Obama." [Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump]
Weatherman Al Roker couldn't let that data be reported without putting his own spin on it: "But the interesting thing is a lot of people probably – I mean Ronald Reagan probably would be seen almost liberally today as opposed to being a conservative. I mean, he did a lot of great things. But, I mean, things have shifted." Geist agreed: "Relative to what you see now, absolutely."
Networks Ignore Obama’s False Claim About ‘Fully-Automatic Weapon’ Used at Newtown
The Big Three networks' Friday morning newscasts all highlighted the "backlash" over President Obama's "best-looking attorney general in the country" compliment of California's Kamala Harris. But in addition to ignoring First Lady Michelle Obama's recent "single mother" gaffe, as of Saturday morning, ABC, CBS, and NBC have yet to report on the President's erroneous claim about the use of an automatic firearm at the Sandy Hook massacre.
The Democrat made the false statement at a Wednesday fundraiser in California. Mr. Obama asserted, "It is possible for us to create common-sense gun safety measures that respect the traditions of gun ownership in this country...but also make sure that we don't have another 20 children...gunned down by a semiautomatic weapon – by a fully automatic weapon in that case, sadly."
Al Roker Appalled by Poll Showing 37 Percent Believe Global Warming is a Hoax
NBC's Al Roker was appalled by a poll of conspiracy theories that showed 37 percent of those surveyed believed global warming was a hoax. During a discussion, on Wednesday's Today show, of a Public Policy Polling survey that included respondents' views on everything from the John F. Kennedy assassination to the existence of Bigfoot, co-host Willie Geist reported: "Global warming is a hoax. Thirty-seven percent believe that."
To which Roker responded with an audible, "Wow!" and then later scolded global warming skeptics: "Okay, two words: Superstorm Sandy!" (video after the jump)
Al Roker Appalled by Poll Showing 37 Percent Believe Global Warming is a Hoax
NBC's Al Roker was appalled by a poll of conspiracy theories that showed 37 percent of those surveyed believed global warming was a hoax. During a discussion, on Wednesday's Today show, of a Public Policy Polling survey that included respondents' views on everything from the John F. Kennedy assassination to the existence of Bigfoot, co-host Willie Geist reported: "Global warming is a hoax. Thirty-seven percent believe that."
To which Roker responded with an audible, "Wow!" and then later scolded global warming skeptics: "Okay, two words: Superstorm Sandy!" (video after the jump)
Bozell, Hannity Review Media’s Over-the-Top Praise for Obama at Second Inaugural
"Chris Matthews has it exactly wrong!" NewsBusters publisher Brent Bozell told Sean Hannity on the January 22 "Media Mash" segment, reacting to the Hardball host's effusive praise on Monday for what he insisted was a Lincolnesque inaugural address by the president. "The Gettysburg Address was an attempt at healing the nation's wounds" from the Civil War while "Obama's speech... was a left-wing declaration of war against the conservative movement, so it was the opposite of the Gettysburg Address."
Another telling exchange from MSNBC on Monday was when presidential advisor Valerie Jarrett thanked the crew of MSNBC's Morning Joe for "a good four years with you all," Fox News host Sean Hannity noted. [watch the full segment below the page break]
NBC’s Roker on Inaugural Yelling at Obama and Biden: A ‘Pretty Special’ Moment
After shouting like an excited groupie at President Obama and Vice President Biden during NBC live coverage of Monday's inaugural parade, weatherman Al Roker reflected on the incident during Tuesday's Today: "To be acknowledged by the President, a handshake from the Vice President on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I think, was pretty special....I was thinking about my folks and they were looking down, and I think pretty pleased." [Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump]
NBC’s Al Roker Yells Like a Groupie at Obama and Biden During Inaugural Parade
Like one of President Obama's adoring fans camped out along the inaugural parade route on Monday, during live MSNBC coverage of the event, NBC Today weatherman Al Roker excitedly yelled at Obama and later Vice President Biden to get their attention as they walked by. His hard-hitting question to the President of the United States: "Is the weather good?" [Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump]
Brian Williams: Al Roker’s Accident ‘Hasn’t Happened in the West Wing Since Nixon Discovered the Tapes’
NBC's Al Roker revealed Sunday that back in 2002, he had an embarrassing accident in the White House as a result of getting his stomach stapled.
On CBS's Late Show Tuesday, NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams said, "That kind of thing that happened to Al hasn't happened in the West Wing since Nixon discovered the tapes” (video follows with transcribed highlights and commentary):
NBC Gushes Over Obama’s ‘Very Fashionable Decision’ to Possibly Name ‘Vogue’ Editor as Ambassador
At the top of Tuesday's NBC Today, co-host Savannah Guthrie cheered the news that President Obama may make one of his major campaign donors, Anna Wintour, an ambassador: "Going Vogue? A report this morning that the President could appoint Vogue's famed editor-in-chief Anna Wintour to be his next ambassador to England or France. More on what could be a very fashionable decision." [Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump]
During a panel discussion later in the show, fellow co-host Willie Geist excused the obvious patronage job: "This is not unusual...I think something like 30% of appointees to ambassadorships are political, as a reward for people who raise a lot of money." That prompted a round of jokes about giving money to Obama to get an appointment. Fill-in news reader Tamron remarked: "[Wintour] raised more than $500,000 for his campaign, so we need to get on the ball....We need to get it going..."
NBC Fawns Over Obamas’ First Date, Mocks Romney As Being Like Britney Spears
In a particularly petty attempt to pump up President Obama and denigrate Mitt Romney, Tuesday's NBC Today brought on left-wing MSNBC host Alex Wagner for a supposed pop culture segment that devolved into Democratic campaign talking points. [Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump]
Co-host Natalie Morales touted a new viral video that "reveals details about President Obama and Mrs. Obama's first date." Wagner gushed: "They always sort of had a high bar, as far as their husband and wife interactions.....The First Lady and the President first went and had lunch at the Art Institute of Chicago, then they took a walk down Michigan Avenue, and then they ended the date with a screening of Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing. The First Lady said it showed that he was hip, he was culturally sensitive. We know that it all ended in marital bliss."
After cheering the "bliss" of the Obamas, weatherman Al Roker moved to the next topic: "Mitt Romney and Britney Spears have something in common?" Wagner delighted in the Romney bashing: "...a little quiz for you, Al. What do Mitt Romney and Britney Spears have in common?...Is it leadership of the Salt Lake City games in 2002? Chart-topping singles and a fierce love of dance? Envelope-pushing on-stage outfits? Or perhaps the $55,000 Phantom Park car elevator?"
Roker and Morales played along as they both chose the car elevator connection, Wagner happily proclaimed: "You guys got it, you nailed it. They both have – Mitt Romney's installing the car elevator in his La Jolla vacation home, Britney Spears has one, too....It's for the owner who wants to have a hands-on relationship with his or her automobile." Roker joked: "You know you're really fancy if you've got a car escalator."
After the nasty jab at Romney, the three of them gushed over Cory Booker, the Democratic Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, being "a superhero with a big 'S' on the shirt" after another heroic act helping a car accident victim. Wagner announced: "I'm not convinced there's not like a bat signal somewhere in Newark....Cory Booker, superhero." Roker chimed in: "I wonder if Kryptonite affects him?"
Beyond being thrilled by the dating habits of the First Couple, Tuesday's Today was filled with other bits of pro-Obama fluff. In the 7 a.m. et half hour, Morales helpfully spun the President being booed by supporters at a Boston fundraiser after making a comment about Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis being traded to the Chicago White Sox: "...the booing did turn to cheering after one female supporter yelled out from the crowd, 'We still love you!' And the proof was in the price, the crowd was willing to pay, tickets for the fundraiser ranged from $250 to $2,500."
In another supposed news item at the top of the 8 a.m. et hour, Morales touted another Obama video going viral: "We start with another video by 'Barack Dubbs,' the YouTuber who makes the President sing and rap. In this case, it's a spoof of Justin Bieber's song, 'Boyfriend'....Well, the clip has already racked up more than 100,000 hits on YouTube."
Here is a transcript of Wagner's June 26 segment:
9:19AM ET
(...)
NATALIE MORALES: Okay, on to politics. A video reveals details about President Obama and Mrs. Obama's first date. This is very interesting.
ALEX WAGNER: Indeed it does. They always sort of had a high bar, as far as their husband and wife interactions. Although at that point they were, of course, just maybe going to be girlfriend and boyfriend.
MORALES: Starting out.
WAGNER: The First Lady and the President first went and had lunch at the Art Institute of Chicago, then they took a walk down Michigan Avenue, and then they ended the date with a screening of Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing. The First Lady said it showed that he was hip, he was culturally sensitive. We know that it all ended in marital bliss. Nothing brings a couple together like Danny Aiello and John Turturro apparently.
[LAUGHTER]
AL ROKER: I like that.
MORALES: That's a good way to put it.
ROKER: Now here's the one – Mitt Romney and Britney Spears have something in common?
WAGNER: What do they have – a little quiz for you, Al. What do Mitt Romney and Britney Spears have in common?
ROKER: Nice teeth?
MORALES: It might be the number of followers or something.
WAGNER: Is it leadership of the Salt Lake City games in 2002? Chart-topping singles and a fierce love of dance?
MORALES: No.
WAGNER: Envelope-pushing on-stage outfits? Or perhaps the $55,000 Phantom Park car elevator?
MORALES: I'm going with 'D'.
ROKER: I'm going with the car elevator.
WAGNER: You guys got it, you nailed it. They both have – Mitt Romney's installing the car elevator in his La Jolla vacation home, Britney Spears has one, too.
ROKER: I'd like to get-
MORALES: What's a Phantom Park car? What does it do? Your car disappears?
WAGNER: It's for the owner who wants to have a hands-on relationship with his or her automobile.
ROKER: You know you're really fancy if you've got a car escalator.
MORALES: Alright, next up, Twitter and news surrounding, apparently, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, once again a superhero with a big 'S' on the shirt.
WAGNER: I'm not convinced there's not like a bat signal somewhere in Newark. This guy – okay, Cory Booker last week was at the scene of an accident just by happenstance, rescued the man who was hit by a car, who was bleeding, I think, from the nose and the mouth, waited until EMS arrived, brought the man ice and water. This is, as you mentioned, Natalie, one in a long string of Booker rescues. He was out shoveling snow during the "snowpocalypse," he was rescuing a neighbor from a fire. Cory Booker, superhero.
MORALES: We do like him.
ROKER: Pretty cool. I wonder if Kryptonite affects him?
(...)