02/01/2007
FOX: Anderson Cooper the "Paris Hilton" of Television News
It's hard to not feel slimy after watching this clip which boasts about a FOX ad touting Greta van Susteren's ratings win over Anderson Cooper. What's more wrong — the sexist comment that Anderson's getting beaten in the ratings by - of all things - a woman...or the commentary that insinuates he's a bit of a girly man because of it?
In any case, the Rupert Murdoch empire is trying to up the ante in this feud by using The Post to hype the feud between the networks:
"A CNN flack called Fox's ad an 'act of desperation because Greta's audience has been eroding and 'Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees' is getting closer. This is a sign they are starting to panic.' The rep also denied CNN had spent tens of millions to hype Cooper, but wouldn't say what it has doled out."
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 10:04 AM EST by Andy in Anderson Cooper, News | Permalink
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I have to say, this is a new low for news programming/anchors.
The idea that one anchor man/woman would cut down another's talent on live air is beyond tacky. While FOX is what it is, they still impact all those dumb ass Americans (yes, we have many of them) who watch.
Makes me glad that we have news sources like CNN and Anderson Cooper.
Posted by: Tom | Feb 1, 2007 10:15:05 AM
They should run an ad showing how the Today show kicks there morning show in the ass each week, that would shut that bunch up
Posted by: Sam | Feb 1, 2007 10:16:18 AM
Wait, Anderson Cooper isn't a girly-man?? And as for Greta...well, she's a manly-man!
Posted by: Wayne | Feb 1, 2007 10:21:35 AM
I'm just sayin'
Posted by: jake0526 | Feb 1, 2007 11:03:38 AM
I don't watch Anderson Cooper because of his alleged connection as a Daughter or Dorothy, or for the fact that he is easy on the eyes. I watch him because he is a great, hard hitting, no holds barred, FACT DRIVEN, in depth reporter.
Anyone who watched his coverage of Hurricane Katrina will know that he was the ONLY reporter to ACTUALLY GO INTO New Orleans, do ACTUAL FRONT LINE reporting, and call into question the federal and local governments' (lack of) response to New Orleans and the surrounding areas.
What was Fox doing? Still hitting their heads against the wall over the Iraq War.
As far as Greta Von Manly-Woman is concerned, I would be pissed off if I were her. Her own colleagues sneer at her in thier "report", his inflection when he stated that Anderson Cooper was "beaten by a WOMAN?!?!?" I mean come on, where does he live, the 1950's? Is it so shocking that a woman can be a good reporter? His tone when he said that even offended me.
Not that I think she is great, but she is CERTAINLY better than the entire lot on Fox and Friends. I mean come on, "Fox and Friends"??? Sounds like some stupid Saturday monring kids show. Has anyone ever watched that show? It is so annoying and has such a LACK of actual news I seriously want to gouge my eyes out!
Tyical response though by Murdoch and all of his puppets....when you're down, whine and point the finger at the schoolyard bully cause you're too lame to fend for yourself. It's Fox's neverending Pass The Blame Reporting.
Posted by: Steven | Feb 1, 2007 11:04:54 AM
While Anderson was paying his way through Darfur 15 years ago, these bitches were pointing at a weather map in Dumbshit County USA.
Truly a NEW low for Faux News.
Posted by: Andrew | Feb 1, 2007 11:37:30 AM
and one more thing...what the hell is that gremlin like voice screaming at the end of the video? 'i will kick you in the nuts'?
wha?
Posted by: Andrew | Feb 1, 2007 11:44:48 AM
"Reported by Fox News" is an oxymoron.
Posted by: alan | Feb 1, 2007 12:47:53 PM
@Andrew
That's Cartman from South Park. LOL!
Posted by: soulbrotha | Feb 1, 2007 12:50:16 PM
Of course Fox is beating Anderson...fiction almost always outsells non-fiction.
Posted by: ChristopherM | Feb 1, 2007 1:07:52 PM
I'm just waiting until the day when the flag with the swastika unfurls in the background of FNC.
Posted by: David | Feb 1, 2007 1:15:48 PM
If Fox is investing money and effort into pummeling Anderson Cooper he must be doing something to make them notice him.
If he wasn't, why would they bother? Why kick down someone who is already apparently not a threat?
Fox always plays like the asshole bully jock at school.
Anderson has done good work as a humanitarian, he's certainly more honest about the extent to which his reporting is influenced by opinion - but, while he's not bad as an anchor, he has no majestic, respected or solid presence.
He's in a bind though because in order to grow into a certain maturity he needs to come out but it seems unlikely that CNN will allow that.
Posted by: Matt | Feb 1, 2007 1:27:46 PM
Puh-leaze, everyone knows Faux News' ratings have dipped 14% while CNN has climbed. Talk about panic...
Posted by: Cory | Feb 1, 2007 1:31:50 PM
Greta doesn't actually report any news per se. She beats crime stories to death. AC360 is a straight-up news recap show, so it's better to compare Greta to 20/20 or news magazine show than AC360. Heck, compare Greta to a drama show like CSI!
Posted by: anon | Feb 1, 2007 1:37:03 PM
Is that true about Faux News? Interesting. It's true - Fox's movements are as predictable as an insecure alpha male bully.
However, if Anderson Cooper's appeal was waining I wouldn't be surprised. I always thought Anderson Cooper's rocketing ratings during Katrina were based on a couple of tiny circumstantial things, one - he's beautiful, two, he cried on air and three, really championed reporting during Katrina which also happened to be the moment everything started to turn for the White House.
That time he dressed down the senator made good footage but ultimately - he hadn't spent a lot of time working up to that kind of hard core anchor role. Most of these things were just things he sort of fell into or lucked out with.
I mean, I'd watch Anderson over Fox (unless I want to piss myself off) but Anderson's appeal is questionable to me anyway. I'd rather go on a date with him than watch his show.
Posted by: Matt | Feb 1, 2007 1:44:06 PM
I'm a news junkie, and I gotta say, 360 is consistently drab and boring. I'll take the 60 Minutes peeps - including Lesley Stahl - over Cooper any day. As for FOX, their little mud-slinging will probably end up helping his ratings.
Posted by: jjabely | Feb 1, 2007 2:20:26 PM
Fox News' overall viewer ship has been on the decline as of late. Too many problems with cheerleading and credibility. This little stunt shows that they're definitely getting desperate to attract viewers...
Posted by: Robert In WeHo | Feb 1, 2007 2:53:18 PM
Im not surprised this came from the Faux News/Fox Noise Channel. And to respond to that comment about rather going on a date with Anderson than watch his show, what kind of gay man wouldn't. Hell yeah i'd love to go on a date with that man and then maybe go back to his place. :)
Posted by: Ben | Feb 1, 2007 3:24:20 PM
Is Anderson Cooper like Paris Hilton in the sense that he's getting WAY over-exposed and thus, somewhat irriatating? Yeah, I have to say I can't totally disagree.
Posted by: FanGirlHater | Feb 1, 2007 3:26:08 PM
This is so petty--I wonder if Greta van Susteren knew they were doing this. I never watch Fox.
Is van Susteren a Scientologist or am I confusing her with someone else?
Posted by: Daniel | Feb 1, 2007 3:39:58 PM
Even by the standards of Fox News, this is a cheap and pathetic stunt that results in the media doing what it does best, that is talking about itself rather than reporting stories that matter to the public.
I doubt Greta van Susteren will be impressed by the remark by the Fox anchor that Anderson Cooper has been beaten in the ratings "by a woman!!".
Also, aren't the presenters of Fox & Friends some of the dumbest people on the planet?
Posted by: Leo | Feb 1, 2007 4:59:03 PM
Roger Ailes is going to get away with this homophobic attack for one reason alone: how is this homophobia when the subject of the attack refuses to even let the issue be discussed? Cooper is bringing this on himself. Sissy teasing works on a closet case - you can't get away with it on an openly gay man. (TR Knight, for example)
Ailes knows he's gay. We know he is gay. Cooper knows he's gay. But Cooper will do or say nothing to compromise the massive marketing campaign by Jonathan Klein and the suits at CNN. And that not only undermines his integrity every time he or CNN grill a public official on questions they don't want to answer (Cheney on his daughter for instance) -- it allows jerks like Ailes to get away with crap like this.
How long is this gonna go on until a solid journalist takes it on?
Posted by: kevin | Feb 1, 2007 7:56:35 PM
Fox "News" is a complete joke. They can't show Anderson's face in the ad because he's much better looking than Greta, even with all her surgeries and they can't come up with a legitimate criticism without resorting to cheap, childish insults. Anderson Cooper is in NO way like Paris Hilton, but if I had a choice, I'd watch the REAL Paris Hilton report the news before I'd EVER watch anyone on Faux.
Posted by: Ron | Feb 2, 2007 5:18:48 AM