THOSE BIG SHOT TV ANCHORS

THOSE BIG SHOT TV ANCHORS: HOW GOOD AND HOW BAD ARE THEY!?

Keep on flipping and changing stations. You are not going to miss a thing! By Maximillien de Lafayette, Syndicated Columnist

Photos from L to R: #1. Mr. Larry King. A perfect gentleman and seasoned talk how host. #2. Dr. Monica Crowley host of The Monica Crowley Show; one of America's most intelligent and respected news personalities. A real national gem!

American media is a contemplative product. A blend of autocratic ideology and individualistic comprehension of events. American journalists including an avalanche of TV commentators and talk show hosts seem to know everything. Yes sir, they talk about every imaginable topic. Mr. Bill O'Reilly, (honest and sharp!) for instance, at ease and with permissive critical approach nightly argues about an astonishing variety of delicate subjects, topics and themes, ranging from questioning the loyalty of President Bush's former senior advisors to same-sex marriage, and from global ecology to immigration and naturalization services, and from questioning the validity and honesty of a ruling by a judge in the State of Florida to salty or sweet water on Mars. The two guys and "lovely" Juliet Hudy of the FoxNews morning show “FOX AND FRIENDS” have answers to all your questions. Certainly, they are entertaining and easy to follow but, their conquest and analysis of world affairs, Spanish political dynamics, President Chirac's political ideology, Bin Laden's underwear, Michael Jackson lipstick and astrophysics-outer-of-space latest technologies are a little bit "too much" for the trio.

On the American tube, the host and the commentator become the news. They are the show! They know everything and they talk about everything. Nevertheless, we rush to our TV sets to watch them and amuse ourselves. They dissect news when they occur and invent them when the world events ponds become stagnant. However, they are colorful, animated, agitated and easy to like or disregard. Watching the American tube is a rare experience at many levels. The alert viewer must begin to wonder whether he or she is listening to world events or simply watching the anchor or newscaster. In that context, the host and the commentator become the news. They are the show! Consequently, commenting on news and delicate political issues become irrelevant, for the American radio and TV program hosts will inject into the veins of the debate and analysis their very personal conviction, subjective opinions, crafty visions and silly jokes. However, a very small number of political analysts and contributors of the American media excel in their analysis and "projected" interpretation of facts, suppositions, points of views and unnecessary eloquent prologues and monologues. Few of them invite you to think and allow you to understand "what's really is going on". Among the most alert, informed and credible media commentators, analysts and talk shows hosts are Ms. Greta Van Susteren, Ms. Anne Coulter, Ms. Laura Ingraham, Ms. Monica Crowley, Ms. Candy Crowley, Mr. Bill Schneider, Mr. Chris Matthews, Ms. Catherine Crier, Ms. Deborah Norville, Ms. Judy Woodruff, Ms. Judy Woodruff, Mr. Larry King, Mr. Charlie Rose, Mr. Aaron Brown, Mr. Geraldo Rivera, Mr. Jeff Greenfield, and Mr. Bill Schneider. Take those names out, and the American news and TV entertainment factory becomes "Toys R US".

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Let's illustrate a case: Every time, Ms Greta van Susteren asks her guest a question, particularly on legal matters and socio-political issues, the correct answers were already provided in her polite and eloquent silence. For, we know that Ms. van Susteren already knew the answers, being a lawyer herself. However, she allows her guests to give their opinions without interrupting them. The French call this "Le Beau Geste". Ms. Monica Crowley is blessed with a brilliant analytical mind, a high level of education and a captivating persona. Those qualities are a rare commodity in the world of American media. Dr. Crowley is currently hosting a very successful radio show in New York "THE MONICA CROWLEY SHOW" and millions of viewers and watchers are benefiting from her impressive experience and wisdom. But, she does not have a show on national television. None of the TV networks in the United States offered this bright young lady a deal on the wheel! Occasionally, she "sits in" for some anchors and hosts at FoxNews. How do you explain this phenomenon?

Photo: Dr. Monica Crowley, one of America's brightest political analysts and commentators. She is the author of the book "NIXON IN WINTER", an international bestseller. This book is one of the most informative and "intelligent" book even written about President Nixon, his times and own world.

Another brilliant mind is Anne Coulter. She is the author of several authoritative and informative books on politics. Occasionally she appears on national television. So far, Ms. Coulter does not have her own TV show. Brilliant minds are kept in storage. Silly big mouth hash-hash anchors and hosts grab the spotlights. And they are doing fine. They don't need to be intelligently analytical, well-informed, highly educated with a broad vision of world affairs. What they have and need to do is to be either aggressive, talkative, agitators or silly. Silliness is like hot bread. You eat it when it is hot. You eat it when it is cold. It depends on how much and how bad you need that loaf of bread. Almost 87% of the American tube viewers tuned unconsciously to their TV sets. And 82% of American TV watchers flip their remote control every 4 minutes. Since, there is no continuity and logical synthesis in the commentaries of the anchors and show hosts, changing programs and constantly flipping stations would not affect the quality nor the importance of "chronologically following" the news and listening to the commentaries. So, keep on flipping and changing stations. You are not going to miss a thing!

Photo: Jeff Greenfield: means depth and integrity.

Probably, the most interesting and intelligent figures of the American TV cable networks are Judge Andrew Napolitano, Monica Crowley and Jeff Greenfield. Unfortunately, they are rare birds. Their commentaries are well presented, their analyses are well founded and their "persona" enjoys credibility. They never steal the show. Once again, one primordial question arises: "Why Judge Napolitano is kept in the dark?" He just appears on the screen when another talk show host is "required to do so" or badly needs a legal advice. A "Judge Napolitano Show" would and could be a great asset and a great "BOOM" to FoxNews. Helas! Nobody is paying attention. The viewers are glued to their sets. Do not let them think. Bring the popcorn and Kentucky fried chicken boxes, sit and enjoy the show. Don't think. Just eat! TV programs are not meant to be cultural, educational and informative in the United States. Unless, you are watching Public Television, A&E, The Learning Channel, The Discovery Channel and the History Channel. TV programs in America are "entertainment". For now, we are 50% lucky, as long as the cable networks keep on bringing Bill Schneider, Jeff Greenfield, Catherine Crier, Judge Napolitano, Deborah Norville, Chris Matthews, Gretta Van Susteren and Monica Crowley.