Another New Day–Again!

Michaela says goodbye. Friday, New Day co-host Michaela Pereira called it quits: Now, Chris Cuomo is the last original co-anchor left standing. CNN honcho Jeff Zucker can try again to make that winning team that can give Fox & Friends a run for the money–or, at least, come in a respectable second.

Last week, CNN seemed to want to ease Michaela out the New Day door unlike its ceremonious ditching of another original co-host Kate Bolduan when she was on maternity leave by Zucker: Nevertheless, the slow sendoff of Michaela from New Day seemed like a painful display of inane maudlin, mawkish sentiment. The shtick appeared to be a pouting Chris about Michaela “abandoning” the show; a reveling Michaela in the “pain” that her departure caused Chris; and a laughing Alisyn Camerota at their silly departure dance.

Before Michaela exited the stage, she may have been billed as a coequal anchor but the loyal New Day viewer knew the pecking order: Chris was the alpha male; Aly was the alpha bitch (in a good way); and Michaela was still along for the ride. It did not go unnoticed by ND fans that prime anchor Chris would open the show in the first hour; secondary host Aly would intro it the second hour; and Chris would lead in the third and final hour: Tertiary anchor Michaela would tend to do the personal interest stories and racially sensitive ones.

Now that Michaela has “left the building,” the auditioning will begin–hopefully, for both males and females. Early Start co-hosts Christine Romans and John Berman would be a good place to start: No-nonsense Christine guest co-hosted ND predecessor American Morning regularly and quick-witted John Berman is oft a guest co-host of New Day. Of course, Aly and Chris might be a good duo a la Kiran Chetry and John Roberts (the last official co-hosts of AM).

Good luck, Michaela, as you move to HLN to host your own to-be-announced morning show! And, good luck Aly, Chris, and Zucker as you craft anew a New Day!

Alluring Aly’s Anniversary

Comely Camerota: “Can’t believe it’s already my one year #CNNannniversary[:] it’s been a terrific first year.” And, it has been–with New Day co-host Alisyn Camerota doing what she does best, resurrecting moribund cable news morning programs (a la her second and third stint at Fox & Friends Weekend). Aly to the rescue: Aly’s cool and Aly’s hot!

When New Day replaced American Morning (soon after Kiran Chetry‘s tearful namaskaar), CNN put beefcake Cuomo scion Chris on to co-anchor the show with tyro Kate Bolduan and sweet third wheel news reader Michaela Pereira. It never quite worked with Chris leading the pack as the alpha male with puppy Kate yapping for his affection and second wife Michaela seeming to just want Big Love or peace, joy, and happiness–not that there is anything necessarily wrong with that. When Kate got preggers, the ND viewer could sense that Kate’s tearful goodbye may have been forever (with Zucker itching for a winner in the morn).

Subsequently, Aly began filling in for Kate. Even the casual viewer could sense a whole new dynamic–where the boy was not the boss anymore: The girl was even if she did not necessarily let him know it. Like his Pop or his brother, Chris plays partisan style: And, Aly plays it fair. Poor Michaela seems to opine from the peanut gallery.

With Aly at the helm, it is indeed a New Day at CNN. A good day!

Cuomo: Demonize Concerned Non-Vac Parents

“Not…inform the ignorant.” New Day co-hosts Alisyn Camerota and Chris Cuomo battled on CNN Tonight on whether the measles vaccine should be mandatory.

When host Don Lemon posed the question to Chris, he answered with an unqualified, “Ah, Yes! They should be…We have enforcement issues with schools…that have allowed exemptions….”

When Don winnowed Chris’ “short answer” to a simple “yes,” Aly replied, “I say it’s impossible because there are exemptions and we don’t want to do away with those exemptions. Some are for religious purposes–the Amish don’t get immunized, for instance, and every school makes an exemption for…[a] medical exemption.”

Elaborating, Aly said, “If you have a child, for instance, I’ve interviewed scores of these people: I have been covering this immunization measles case for a long time. There are parents whose first child was vaccine injured: they don’t want to vaccinate their second child. They don’t have to: Schools don’t make them vaccinate their second child.”

Querulously, Don queried, “Do you have the right to endanger someone else’s kid because you don’t want your kid to be vaccinated?”

With a mite too much machismo, Chris exclaimed, “No, you don’t have the right!” Pointing at Aly, he disdainfully declared, “And, also, Alisyn’s answer is a little, you know!”

Uncowed by her Italian stallion ND hubby, Aly defiantly riposted, “Go ahead! Try it! Bring it out! Bring it on!”

Realizing that he was no longer lecturing a compliant Kate Bolduan but rather a combative Camerota, Chris dialed it back, saying, “You’re answer is the same as mine. He [Don] said, ‘Should it be mandatory?’ Yes! Unless, of course, there is a proviso in there; of course, if you’re kid is immune compromised or if it’s an infant.”

In answer to a somewhat chastened Chris, Aly answered, “Yeah. Well, that’s how it is right now. That’s how it stands right now.”

Chris riposted, “Right…and that’s what I’m saying. That’s what it is. So, it comes down to enforcement.”

Sounding chauvinistic, Chris continued, “Where I think that you get a little outside the box on this–because, obviously, we’ve been talking about it on the show so much is–I think you have to be careful not to inform the ignorant on this.”

Subsequently, after Chris and Don dogmatically argued for vaccination, Aly reasoned that there were “many layers to this.” When Don declared, “People aren’t not [sic] vaccinating because they’re concerned about their immune system: They are, they’re doing it because of a faulty report, bad science,” an undaunted Aly answered, “Some, some are doing it that way. Everybody has their own reasons. Some people are doing it because they know somebody who they believe got injured by a vaccine….That’s why this is happening!”

Animatedly, Chris retorted, “Yes, parents think that they shouldn’t give vaccines: they’re wrong! So, don’t give credibility to their position!”

Calmly, Aly reasoned, “Yes, but this is the problem with what you are saying: You also can’t sweep it under the rug. I hear people say all the time say, ‘These anti-vaxers, they’re crazy: they’re wearing tinfoil hats….In other words, you’re a flat-earther if you have any questions about it.”

As Don compared “these anti-vaxers” to “climate change people,” Chris indicated that they were worse. Sounding a tad like Tony Soprano, Chris continued, “You are right: you can’t just tell somebody they’re stupid and expect them to change because this is not an intellectual position, it’s an emotional position for parents so you have to appeal to them on that level: With raised eyebrows and a menacing look, he added, ‘But, they also have to know there’s a price.'”

Turning to Don, Aly demanded, “How does demonizing them help?” Interjecting, Chris exclaimed, “It helps a little bit. There should be a price for their position!”

Sorry, Chris. Aly is right: Demonizing concerned anti-vax parents is not the answer. And, no one, including you, has a right to make these parents pay “a price for their position”!

*CNN New – 02/05/15 (10:48 p.m. ET).

 

Aly New ND Anchor: “Thrilled!”

Camerota finally gets her weekday morning gig! CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota confirmed today that she is replacing Kate Bolduan as New Day co-host with Chris Cuomo. Tweeting a link to the Wrap report of the ND shakeup, Aly exclaimed, “Thrilled!” And, so are Aly’s fans.

As Aly’s acolytes remember well, Fox & Friends Weekend‘s savior and three-time co-anchor and frequent Fox & Friends fill-in was inanely overlooked when F&F co-host Gretchen Carlson left F&F weekday for her own show The Real Story, and Aly lost the coveted job to then FNC outsider, Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Soon after this strange snub by FNC SVP of Programming Bill Shine, FTVLive rightly reported that Aly was headed to CNN. When she did indeed, she debuted on CNN Tonight as a co-host with Don Lemon in a her usual sure-footed fashion yet as an awkward counterpart to Don.

Almost six months later to the very day, Aly will reportedly make her official debut in the morn as the new ivory queen of New Day. (Her ebony counterpart will be Michaela Pereira who was promoted to ND co-host with Aly and Chris according to the Wrap.)

Hopefully, Aly will be encouraged to show her lighter side in the CNN morn in a way that her former F&FW co-anchor and CNN precursor, comely Kiran Chetry, was never allowed to do fully, unfortunately (as co-host of CNN’s erstwhile American Morning): If CNN ever really wants to compete with the Fox & Friends juggernaut, it must abandon its too oft aloof, elitist approach to the news and extend a more welcoming, personal touch to its audience.

Congratulations, Aly! You deserve your new role as New Day co-host: It’s FNC’s loss and CNN’s gain. Game on!

[Author’s aside: According to the Wrap, Kate will co-anchor This Hour with John Berman at 11:00 a.m. ET. Confirming the change, Kate Tweeted, “End of this month. New Time slot. Hope you can join us at 11a.]

Aly & Chris: Dawn of a New Day?

James Earl Jones’ voice silenced. As rumors swirl over New Day host Kate Bolduan‘s possible ouster from her CNN morning anchor chair, ND host Chris Cuomo and ND guest anchor Alisyn Camerota introduced themselves and New Day in a whole new way Thursday and Friday. Gone was the daily dulcet baritone introduction of James Earl Jones teasing, “This is New Day with Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan, and Michaela Pereira!” Instead, it was either Chris or Aly introducing each other and ND to the viewer. No mention was made of Michaela: But, perhaps, more tellingly, no mention was made of Kate either–seemingly, for the first time since she left on maternity leave.

When Kate tearfully took her maternal sabbatical and deemed it “super, super, super bittersweet” (09/19/14), the author wondered whether she was also actually getting a divorce from her ND hubby, who reportedly had informed CNN honcho Jeff Zucker “that Kate Bolduan is not a good fit for him and he wants someone new.” Perchance, she was indeed taking that fateful step–whether she knew it or not.

Reportedly, Zucker is mulling Chris’s purported suggested amid a marked increase in ND ratings since Kate’s hiatus from New Day. As the new diva on the ND divan for the last two months, Aly is proving that she may well fit the bill.

ND’s Aly: “Two Weeks!”

Camerota’s “New Day” turns to night too soon? For the last three weeks, new CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota has ruled the roost on the New Day divan in the absence of Kate Bolduan who is away on maternity leave. She has shown her co-host Chris Cuomo what a real equal–or superior–looks like: In other words, the Italian stallion has more than met his match with his comely, perspicacious counterpart.

Monday, Kate returned to ND for her “Roots: Journey’s Home” story (which is a smart, delightful way that CNN has chosen to personalize some of its anchors to its viewers). In tow, Kate took her beautiful newborn Cecilia Eve to  the CNN couch: Of course, “uncle” Chris cooed and cooed over his co-host and neighbor’s firstborn beauty, as well he should. As the ND cast share the serpentine sofa, the contrast between the too oft callow Kate and the more seasoned Aly appeared all too palpable.

Perchance, Kate came back Monday to show that she is still a permanent co-host on ND. On Friday, Aly seemed to affirm that: When a Twitter follower asked, “Where did you go, miss your commentary” [sic], Aly answered, “Tune into @NewDay for the next two weeks!”

However, Aly may well have a longer stint on ND than she thinks. If CNN chief Jeff Zucker decides to suspend or even can embattled Carol Costello for her controversial Schadenfreude of late, he may keep the current winning team on ND–and give new mom Kate a later, more convenient slot on CNN Newsroom.

CNN’s arousing espresso? Aly in the a.m.!

Fox (Aly) & Friends Weekend Reunited

Dave Briggs: “Reunited & it feels so good.” Yesterday, whilom Fox & Friends Weekend team of co-hosts Alisyn Camerota, Dave Briggs, and Clayton Morris got back together: Unfortunately, for their F&FW fans, it was only for lunch. Excitedly, Aly Tweeted, “Guess who I had lunch with? #reunited IMG_0199.JPG.” Subsequently, she posted a pic of her, Dave, and Clayton, posing happily together.

Inexplicably, Aly deleted the pic of the reunited erstwhile F&FW three amigos later. Perchance, she (or CNN) did not want her fans to get too nostalgic for the good old days of Aly reining on the F&FW curvy couch with her boys at FNC. After all, she has moved on to CNN–and has been ruling the New Day divan with Chris Cuomo and Michaela Pereira of late. And, now that ND co-host Kate Bolduan is on maternity leave, Aly may be taking over more permanently.

Happily, for partisans of the penultimate F&FW iteration, current “NBC Sports guy” Dave Briggs provided two fab photos of him and his buds, CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota and still FNC F&FW co-host Clayton Morris [pic1, pic2]. In his Tweet (including a great selfie seemingly shot by Clayton), Dave proudly declared, “Peaches & Herb sang it best, “Reunited & it Feels so Good…”

So good to see you all reunited, too, Dave–if only for a repast.

[Author’s aside: Not too surprisingly, Clayton did not RT the photos of him, Aly, and Dave back together again: After all, he assuredly wants his F&FW fans not to look back too fondly on his former “Friends” and to transition their affections more completely to his new ones, Anna Kooiman and Tucker Carlson.]

Bolduan Gives Birth!

Cecelia Eve debuts! CNN New Day anchor Kate Bolduan and hubby Michael Gershenson welcomed their first child, Cecelia Eve, into their family yesterday morn (September 25) at 10:39 a.m. Less than a week after taking maternity leave, Kate gave birth to a beautiful daughter weighing six pounds and measuring 18.5 inches.

This morning, Kate’s New Day co-host Chris Cuomo proclaimed the good news with pictures of the happy mom and her new bundle of joy in ND‘s “Good Stuff” segment at the end of the show. Declaring little Cecilia the “most beautiful new baby in the world,” Chris remarked, “The ‘Good Stuff’ couldn’t get gooderer…..”

Subsequently, when Chris segued to Carol Costello (CNN Newsroom co-host), she aptly added, “What a beautiful baby: But, I didn’t expect anything less of Kate Bolduan. Let’s face it!”

Congratulations, Kate and Michael!

[Author’s aside: For pics of the new princess, link here.]

Aly & John: Sitting in a Tree?

Camerota and Berman: a TV coupling in the making? With New Day co-hosts Kate Bouldan and Chris Cuomo away, Aly and John finally met up and did play–at least, a little this morn. And, apparently, they have all week to develop some real chemistry.

In the wee hours of today, Aly teased, “If only I knew @JohnBerman better. He seems like a great guy. Oh well.” Two hours later, she revealed that she would indeed, reTweeting, “@ChrisCuomo and @KateBouldan [sic] are off this week, so @JohnBerman and @AlisynCamerota are joining @MichaelaCNN to hold down the #NewDay fort! Waxing waggish as usual, John ejaculated, “I have a blind anchor-date with @AlisynCamerota on @NewDay. They say you never get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression. I’m screwed.”

As if. CNN’s resident bad boy had to settle for some platonic love today. And, the sweetest thing Aly said to John this morn was “John, great to be with you” as the second hour of ND commenced.

But, tomorrow is a whole New Day!

 

Kate Bouldan Preggers!

And, her Mikey likes it! Today, New Day co-host Kate Bolduan confirmed to her viewers that she is indeed pregnant with her first child. In the first block of the final hour, guest news reader John Berman closed his headline news stories segment, saying, “And, finally, crossing just moments ago on People.com, I want you to take a look at this [photo of People.com article entitled, “Kate Bolduan Expecting First Child”].* Jesting, he deadpanned, “CNN currently working to confirm this story: And, by that, I mean, Kate Bolduan, tell us everything!”

As applause erupted on the set, a chagrined Kate replied, “What is there to tell! My husband and I are expecting our first child.” She continued, “And, we finally are at a place where we are very excited to share the news with everybody.” Looking over at her co-anchor Chris Cuomo, she added, “And, very thankful because you all without probably even knowing it put up with some pretty gnarly morning sickness.”

Disabusing Kate of that notion apace, Chris riposted, “No. We’re all painfully aware.” Turning to Kate and embracing her with a kiss, Chris assured, “And, it’s worth it! Worth it! Congratulations!” Bussing him back with a hug, she replied, “I love you.”

As Kate beamed and reddened, Chris turned to the camera in a quick “shout out” to Kate’s hubby Michael Gershenson [pic and bio]: As if to assuage any jealousy from Kate’s hubby, Chris exclaimed, “Congratulations, Michael!” Then, he heartily sent out a feigned embrace with both arms around Michael and a closed-eyed kiss on the mouth of the poor man for “good measure.”

Turning to Kate anew, Chris declared, “We’re so happy!”

Indeed. Congratulations, Kate, to you and Michael!

*New Day – 04/11/14 (@ 8:12 a.m. ET).

Comely Camerota: CNN’s Catch?

Bathing beauty Aly: “For anyone wondering what I’ve been up to….” Today, Alisyn Camerota, the quondam queen of Fox & Friends Weekend‘s curvy couch got her fans attention with that Twitter tease that featured her in a sexy bathing beauty pose. She may have been more demure than her daring ’80’s bikini shot but the Bristol Bay Babe was just as alluring with her sexy come-hither pose. The catch? The former F&FW fox has jumped ship to CNN according to FTVLive.

For Fox & Friends viewers, Aly’s move should come as no surprise. FNC’s Senior VP of Programming Bill Shine has seemingly given his erstwhile best anchor the shaft: When he ditched Gretchen Carlson on F&F weekday, it appeared that the long-suffering three-time co-anchor of F&FW and frequent guest-host of F&F would finally get her due. Instead, the same genius that chose Gretch to be E. D. Hill‘s replacement on F&F over the eminently superior Kiran Chetry decided to go outside of the FNC family and choose Barbara Walter’s View outcast, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, rather than F&F fan favorite Aly.

Hopefully, CNN Prez Jeff Zucker will put Aly on against Lis in the mornings to jump start his moribund morning show New Day. Of course, Aly will be at a distinct disadvantage having to contend against Shine’s FNC juggernaut trio that also includes F&F Everyman Steve Doocy and Puckish wit Brian Kilmeade. Hopefully, Aly will join a cast including current Early Start co-host, wag John Berman, and another engaging gal or guy during the New Day time period: I.e., if the proverbial CNN stars are aligned propitiously, ND co-anchor Kate Bouldan, Michaela Pereira, and Chris Cuomo will find new places on Ted Turner’s network and Aly can usher in a new dawn to CNN.

Congratulations, Aly! And, good luck!

H/t, J$P!

New Day Censors Sexy SI Swimsuit Models–Butt

Fox & Friends celebrates the bevy of beauties’ derrieres. Sex: Yes, it sells. And, that may be one of the reasons that priggish CNN’s morning show New Day gets it head handed to it on a silver platter on a daily basis by its saucy FNC counterpart Fox & Friends.

Today, New Day (a la the 1956 “Ed Sullivan Show” of Elvis’ gyrating hips) bowdlerized the bottom half of the cover of the Sports Illustrated 50th Anniversary Issue cover which featured three bathing beauties flaunting their assets. In its sole coverage of the SI cover, ND entertainment correspondent Nischelle Turner stood next to a big screen (featuring the fetching faces and topless tops of Lily Aldridge, Nina Agdal, and Chrissy Teigen from the back), reporting, “Now this is the first time since 1994 that three women have been on the cover.”*

Noting the obvious omission, i.e., ND co-host Kate Bouldan complained, “I don’t see swimsuits, though….You could actually show their derrieres!” Expressing her disappointment at New Day‘s censorship, she explained, “One of my girlfriends–her swimsuit line is featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue“: When Nischelle responded, “Oh, so they’ve got your friend’s bottoms on?,” Kate excitedly exclaimed, “Yes! “Basta! So proud! It’s such a big moment!”

In pellucid contradistinction from CNN, F&F prominently and proudly featured the uncensored scantily clad ladies: To wit, it proudly proclaimed “Bottoms up” of the 2014 SI Swimsuit cover girls. At the start of each hour, the cover was shown as F&F co-hosts touted SI‘s answer to the winter blues: In tandem, respectively, news reader Heather Nauert would end her top-of-the-hour headline stories with the SI Swimsuit cover displayed on F&F full screen as she invited guys to “take a long look” at “those booties” that “everybody wants to see.”**

Except for Jeff Zucker‘s censors on CNN.

*New Day – 02/14/14 (@ 7:14 a.m. ET).

**Fox & Friends -02/14/14 (@ 6:11 a.m. ET; @ 7:06 a.m. ET; and @ 8:06 a.m. ET).

Kate Bolduan: Out at New Day?

“No, not yet!…I still need him here for a little while longer.” Yesterday, New Day co-host Kate Bolduan appeared to let viewers in on a little secret, i.e., that she may not be Chris Cuomo‘s co-anchor for much longer on CNN’s early morning news flat liner. Perhaps, CNN honcho Jeff Zucker has given her the news: According to FTVLive last month, its sources disclosed that Chris told CNN honcho Jeff Zucker that “Kate is not a good fit for him and he wants someone new.”

During a segment on Obamacare, political commentator Will Cain used the “you” as a pronoun for government in answer to a query from Chris.* Chuckling, Chris replied, “From now on, every time you’re here you call me “government. That’s my new nickname.” As Cain remarked that he was using the proverbial “you,” Chris jested, “You can call me “Guv.”

Smiling, Cain riposted, “Are you announcing something today?”

Grabbing Chris’ arm, Kate interjected, “No, not yet!…I still need him here for a little while longer.”

For Chris and/or Kate’s acolytes, the question is “how much longer, Zucker?”

*New Day – 11/21/13 (@ 6:33 a.m. ET)

BP “To The Couch” Walk: New Day Stupid?

Polluting America’s Gulf: Polluting CNN’s airwaves? Lampooning themselves unintentionally a la a Saturday Night Live spoof, CNN New Day co-hosts Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan, and Michaela Pereira made a mockery of themselves and their show today anew with their diurnal “To The Couch!” walk sponsored by BP in the penultimate block of ND. After Kate announced that they would be making their odd amble to ND‘s version of F&F‘s “curvy couch” for John Berman‘s “Award of the Day” segment, an actual ad sponsored by BP began to air in a split screen alongside with Chris, Kate, and Michaela strolling to the sofa.

It was embarrassing and absurd. When the author saw this inanity of a crass commercial during ND itself for the first time a while back, he thought it was a lame joke or, perhaps, a jejune jab at F&F‘s famed “curvy couch.” But, it was not to be: It was actually a legitimate commercial. Yikes! It was especially jarring since CNN’s American Morning (an earlier ED iteration) co-hosts Kiran Chetry and John Roberts had covered the 2010 BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico with exceptional reportage and sincere sensitivity.

Whenever this viewer watches Chris, Kate, and Michaela stroll to ND‘s “curvy couch” as the ad voice-over proclaims the merits of BP, he remembers the pollution from that oil company spill that savaged the Gulf of Mexico, its marine life, and the economic livelihoods of so many Gulf states natives. And, those images now spill over onto a seemingly much too cavalier New Day itself.

Scrub well with Dawn, ED, and start a whole new dawn!

Oops! Michaela Pereira’s Number Revealed!

Smart watch: dumb reporter? Today, New Day news anchor Michaela Pereira fell victim to the “eye of the camera”–and a CNN colleague’s naivete. In a segment on Samsung’s soon-to-be-released smartwatch, business correspondent Zain Asher gave Michaela and her New Day co-hosts Kate Bolduan and Chris Cuomo a revealing demonstration of what the smartwatch can do. After taking a photo of Kate and Chris, Zain called Michaela: when she did, the camera’s eye closed in on the face of the watch clearly showing Michaela’s phone number [(3**) 2**-***2] for approximately three seconds.*

When Michaela’s number appeared on the screen, Chris slyly interjected, “Why does Michaela have a 1-900 number?” Playing along with his futile attempt at legerdemaine, Michaela smiled suggestively and rolled her eyes racily. Then, when her phone began to ring, Michaela exclaimed, “Oh, there’s a phone call for me! I wonder who that could be!”

After today, that phone call could be from any of Michaela’s New Day fans. But, poor Zain should not feel too bad: she’s not the first one on CNN’s premier morning show to make that mistake. When John Roberts co-anchored American Morning (a New Day precursor), the veteran newscaster called Kiran Chetry on air with his cell phone and similarly displayed Kiran’s number for the world to see. Consequently, Kiran had to change her number: And, doubtlessly, so shall Michaela.

Smile, Michaela! It’s time for the “good stuff.” Time for your free upgrade!

*Early Day – 09/05/15 (@ 8:41 a.m. ET)

[Author’s aside: Obviously, Carpe Diem did not publish Michaela’s full phone number for privacy purposes.]

Cuomo Tweaks “Really Dumb” Carlson Twerk?

Flexin’ Fetchin’ Gretchen: “This [twerk] seems more like a hula!” Yesterday, CNN’s New Day co-anchor Chris Cuomo appeared ready for bear as he took aim at his FNC Fox & Friends rival Gretchen Carlson seemingly Friday. On the very day after the Huffington Post mocked Gretchen for her twerking a la Miley Cyrus on air Thursday, Chris seemed strangely eager to get in a sharp jab at Gretchen.

When a ND story on the birth of panda twins in Atlanta began to wrap Friday, Chris stammered, “I don’t believe, I think it’s really dumb when you see these newscasters trying to twerk.”* Pointing his finger at his audience for added emphasis, he continued, “But, I do believe it is not done very cute and we should try best panda sound.” Smiling dismissively, his co-host Kate Bolduan riposted, “I can not believe [that] you made a twerk/panda reference!” Paying her little mind at most, Chris answered, “Of course, when you see them trying that, you’re like, ‘why are they doing that?'”

Perhaps, Chris, Gretchen is twerking toward that full twelve years for F&F as “king of the hill.” Who knows? If Kate follows suit, she might well give ND, at least, a fighting chance against FNC’s inimical juggernaut.

[Author’s aside: Gretchen’s quote in the subtitle was the remark that she made after briefly trying to twerk, supra.**]

*New Day – 08/30/13 (@ 7:46 a.m. ET)

**Fox & Friends – 08/29/13 (@ 7:48 a.m. ET)

“New Day”: New Dawn or New Dud?

Chris, Kate, and Michaela: CNN’s New Day morning team brings a brighter dawn to their viewers–at least, for now. Gone are the too oft surly Soledad O’Brien and her Starting Point panel of milquetoast toadies (and the subsequent SP fill-ins): And, in their place are three sunnier replacements, alpha male Chris Cuomo, tomboy beauty Kate Bolduan, and the engaging BBBW Michaela Pereira. And, thankfully, for three full hours for those sick and tired of the schizophrenic Early Start/Starting Point (two hour/two hour) start to their CNN day.

For early morn viewers wondering who in the world the new CNN honcho Jeff Zucker’s tyro trio were, they introduced themselves to each other and to viewers in their respective profile segments (vids): Chris’s “Poseidon Adventure”; Kate’s “Skeet’r Shoot”; and Michaela’s “Soccer Mom.” It was almost an homage to FNC’s Fox & Friends: i.e., an acknowledgment that morning news TV should be informative, informal, and personal if it is truly to resonate with its audience.

However, the personal chemistry among Kate, Chris, and Michaela does seem somewhat forced at times, e.g., Chris requesting and receiving a kiss from Michaela and their subsequent group hug at the end of Michaela’s “Soccer Mom” segment. Nevertheless, the three seem to genuinely like other.

Still, Chris seems to be the wild card: He’s the baritone Cuomo scion that sometimes seems somewhat solipsist but is trying hard to mingle with the masses. Hopefully, he can. But, for future reference, as Kate seemed to sense, he probably should not tell aurally challenged, camera-curious three-year-olds–even if in jest–that he won’t abide their stealing “[his] camera” or his “single.”* [Video.]

As Ad Age noted, the results for a New Day were mixed in its debut week (June 17-21). It did edge out its HLN sibling in the ratings and was leaps and bounds above Soledad’s cellar status in the same time period in 2012: However, New Day was trounced by FNC’s Fox & Friends and lost to MSNBC’s Morning Joe.

A New Day: a new dud? It could yet be: But, CNN fans are hoping New Day is truly a new dawn. Leading that chorus, former American Morning co-host Kiran Chetry wished her a.m. “successors” well, saying, “Good luck guys!! The hours are a bear… But the experience is priceless. Godspeed!!!”

*New Day – 06/21/13 (@ 5:28/5:49)