05/20/2008
FOX Talking Heads Upset Ellen Can Talk About Marriage Now
Mike Signorile pointed me to this clip from last Friday's O'Reilly Factor on which Ellen's marriage announcement was discussed.
The show's "marketing expert" talking head Laura Ries says Ellen should just shut up about her personal life and gay marriage.
Says Ries: "This is great for gay marriage, but this is terrible for a talk show. Talk show hosts are best when we know little about them, when they put the light on the guest and not their own issues..."
Plus, Ries adds, it will scare the advertisers and, by the way, "How did a 50-year-old woman get a 35-year-old woman?"
Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 9:23 AM EST by Andy in Bill O'Reilly, Ellen DeGeneres, Gay Marriage, News | Permalink
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Talk show hosts are best when we know when we know little about them? Explain Oprah then.
Posted by: MT | May 20, 2008 9:31:37 AM
It only works when the talk show host is gay.
Posted by: tobal | May 20, 2008 9:35:15 AM
"How did a 50-year-old woman get a 35-year-old woman?" Money, honey, ka-ching. Seriously, is this all they have?
Posted by: davefromtampa | May 20, 2008 9:36:46 AM
Tell that slut to shut it. She's just jealous Ellen wouldn't be interested in her old ass.
Posted by: Jeanluc | May 20, 2008 9:43:11 AM
Jesus, can you yell a little louder lady. Why do right wingers have to do that all the time. So shrill!!
She sounds panic sticken.
Posted by: realitythink | May 20, 2008 9:55:41 AM
And yet, here they are on FOX helping to provide even more media coverage for Ellen's planned nuptials. These folks just love to see and hear themselves on camera, don't they?
Posted by: RJ | May 20, 2008 9:56:49 AM
"...it will scare the advertisers..."
The only people this will scare are those narrow-minded bigots that would like to keep GLBT's at the back of the bus (or under it). God forbid everyday housewives in Des Moines no longer be frightened of the pink menace and actually cheer Ellen on.
Posted by: ichabod | May 20, 2008 9:59:18 AM
God, Laura Ries, just shut the fuck up. Yap, yap, yap, scream, scream, scream, Absolutely!!!!!
Posted by: homer | May 20, 2008 10:03:24 AM
Laura Ries makes me want to shoot myself in the head.
Ellen has found her niche, unlike when she first came out and was broadcasting her Anne love. (An awkward evening I wrote about a while back: http://placeinsun.blogspot.com/2008/02/ellen-degeneres-discusses-recent-tragic.html) It's about balance, and it seems like she's found it. She knows her audience, and you don't get where Ellen is today by being stupid.
Posted by: Ernie | May 20, 2008 10:05:31 AM
Yes, cause of course the advertisers had no idea that Ellen was a lesbian before the marriage proposal. PLEAAAAAAAAASE!!! Can they come up with some new material?
Posted by: Max | May 20, 2008 10:06:06 AM
What a shrill bitch! It is amazing to me how some people just can't be happy for other people's happiness. They have to try to find problems, or criticisms.
Posted by: Reggie | May 20, 2008 10:15:47 AM
Oh my Lord, this woman is loud.
And, hey, I know Pete!
Posted by: Chris | May 20, 2008 10:16:07 AM
Yet more evidence that there is NO end to how low Fox News Network will go.
They are truly pathetic.
I guess this is what one has to do to hold on to their key demographic; conservative bigots over 70.
It also explains why their ratings have plummeted over the last few years.
"ALL fear and hate, ALL the time" just doesn't sell like it used.
Posted by: Zeke | May 20, 2008 10:20:28 AM
OH MY GOD! HI LAURA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU HAVE SUCH A DELICATE PLEASANT TONE TO YOUR VOICE! WOW IT'S JUST LIKE MOTHER NATURE HERSELF IS WHISPERING IN MY EAR!!!!!!!!!!!! IT'S LIKE IM BEING KISSED WITH SOFT SWEET PILLOWS OF SUNSHINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Joe | May 20, 2008 10:24:33 AM
Does anyone but the religious right believe that the term "Fox News" isn't an oxymoron?
Posted by: Jon | May 20, 2008 10:27:34 AM
We all know more about Laura Ries now. Ugh, does anybody even watch Fox anymore.
Posted by: z | May 20, 2008 10:31:56 AM
Wait just a minute everybody. Think about this. Really. The host and both guests emphatically supported Ellen as a talented celebrity, an out lesbian and human being entitled to get married to the person she loves (who they also described as gorgeous). Their BIG side joke was how did she get someone so hot when she's 50. That's standard fair for all older/younger celebrity matchings. There were panelists representing both sides of the discussion and they were actually allowed to speak. An Ries' role was to discuss the legitimate potential pitfalls from the overt discussion of a polarizing issue. Ries does have an annoying presentation, but that's just her personality. But her arguments were in NO way disparaging or homophobic. Whether or not we agree with the position she was asked on the show to take, she stuck to the issue of whether or not middle American would be put off by it. And this was the O'Reilly Factor for heaven's sake! Not only could this have been WAY more hateful, homophobic and biased but just think how great it is that Fox just did a piece where everyone was in agreement that it was okay to be gay, that gay marraige was perfectly appropriate and fair, and that the only issue worth discussing was whether or not there would be any PR fallout. This was LITERALLY a PR discussion. I call that serious PROGRESS!
Posted by: Alex | May 20, 2008 10:32:14 AM
It's funny how Fox says you shouldn't talk about the private lives of talk-show hosts, and then goes on to talk about the private life of a talk-show host....
Posted by: luke | May 20, 2008 10:43:13 AM
Oh my god I can't believe I own one of Laura Ries's books... it's good, but still... never again. She looks and sounds like the Dr. Laura abortion that lived.
Posted by: Strepsi | May 20, 2008 10:54:33 AM
How does a 50 year old woman get a 35 year old woman?
The same way an 60 year old man gets a 25 year old woman AND gets her pregnant.
Posted by: poof | May 20, 2008 10:57:35 AM
Joe, ha, exactly. :-)
As annoying as I found Laura (see comment above), I mostly agree with Alex. As FOX goes, the conversation (or CONVERSATION if you're Laura) was downright civil and substantive.
Posted by: Ernie | May 20, 2008 10:59:11 AM
The only thing about this discussion that shocks me is how many of the gay folks out there spend time (obviously) watching the fox channel!!!
Years ago I asked the local cable provider to stop the transmission of the channel from which the evil bunch spew their hate and slander. I've never regretted that move.
(OK, OK the last bit was just a joke.)
Posted by: westcoastkid | May 20, 2008 11:21:20 AM
Let's be fair: the news division of Fox News is pretty even in their presentation, although the MSNBC/NBC political coverage is superior. It's the Fox "commentators" who are whacked-out. One positive trend - Keith Olbermann is now kicking "Bill-O's" behind on ratings. As far as Ellen and Portia are concerned, as daveintampa said, "KA-CHING!"
Posted by: Jack Scribe | May 20, 2008 11:43:29 AM
Laura--thank you for reminding me exactly why I'm gay (besides all that liking the cock stuff)
Posted by: Christopher | May 20, 2008 11:52:31 AM
How did she get a 35 year old woman? I suppose the same way Demi Moore got Ashton Kutcher. Geez society is hypocritical. Well, I can't blame all of society for crazy Fox news.
Posted by: Ryan | May 20, 2008 12:17:01 PM
I would suggest that EVERYONE email Laura Ries directly and let her know how ridiculous she is. The Oprah argument is a perfect example (molested, hello that's personal) and 'a 35 yr old woman and a 50 year old woman' hmm don't hear her screaming about Michael Douglas and Cat Zeta Jones...or any other older men with much younger women. You can reach her directly at lauraries@gmail.com
Posted by: ZnSD | May 20, 2008 1:28:03 PM
The guests don't want too much personal info from the talk show host because they should put the spotlight on the guests? What a dumb broad. That's like saying men buy Playboy for the articles, not the pictures.
People watch Ellen because of Ellen, not because of her guests.
Posted by: Willem van Oranje | May 20, 2008 1:38:32 PM
Did You see her dried hair...PLEASE, that bitch is wondering how Ellen got Portia??? Well Hag I'll tell you how....Because Ellen Is a great person and Portia is Hot....soemthing this bitch will never know....I bet her husband or bf looks like he was left for death...hahaha She is just jealous and a total homophobe, I'm sure she goes in the restrooms and fingers herself thinking of us the gays having GREAT sex... and yes Biatch! WE CAN GET MARRY, DEAL WITH IT!~
Posted by: Bosie | May 20, 2008 2:04:55 PM
Is there some kind of Fox Bootcamp where they train their talk show hosts to scream? The only thing I can figure is that they yell because their audience watching is mostly over 70 years old. :-)
Posted by: David | May 20, 2008 2:47:26 PM
I suspect she used to work for Merv Griffin.
Posted by: anon | May 20, 2008 3:01:10 PM
Why is this gargoyle worried about Ellen's advertisers? Is this a subtle hint that they should come advertise on her show? HEY LOOK AT ME, I'M STRAIGHT AND I DON'T HAVE A LIFE!
Merv Griffin? The only person who could work with that is Helen Keller.
Posted by: David D. | May 20, 2008 3:42:47 PM
At the lowest office-level volume, my ears still hurt from trying to tolerate Laura Ries. Maybe Ries needs to see the playback of the audience giving Ellen a standing ovation during her marriage announcement. Ellen's advertisers are going to flock to her show now!
Posted by: Alec Sarkas | May 20, 2008 3:58:39 PM
Why is she screaming! I had to turn my volume down. I think it was funny how they mentioned that talk show hosts do not share their life. I think Oprah, Rosie, and even Regis have shared plenty about their life. And advertisings don't like controversy? Well it sure worked for the View since it boosted their ratings.
Posted by: Travis | May 20, 2008 4:03:35 PM
Ummm...Rupert Murdoch (the owner of Fox News) is 37 years older than his current wife Wendi Deng. They were respectively 68 and 31 years old when they married in 1999. Does Laura Ries not know this???
Posted by: jay | May 20, 2008 9:00:41 PM
Wait a minute, I'm confused...
Were Cracker Barrel and Hobby Lobby sponsors of The Ellen DeGeneres Show?
Posted by: Jen C. | May 21, 2008 1:32:54 AM