AM: Ali (Velshi) Moves (On)

Ali: “My last morning was yesterday.” Today, American Morning‘s “temporary” co-host Ali Velshi left CNN’s moribund morning show–a day early without explanation, seemingly. Yesterday, he announced, “1 more day as your @CNN bookends: anchoring @cnnAM 609aET, then @OutFrontCNN 7/11pET.” When an apparent AM viewer queried, “[H]ow do you plan to mark the last ever @CNNAM tomorrow morning?,” Ali tersely replied, “My last morning was yesterday [Tuesday].

Such an abrupt departure by Ali should not be surprising to the AM audience. Since AM‘s last permanent anchor Kiran Chetry gave her fans a final namaskaar in late July, AM has had three “temporary” co-hosts, Ali, Christine Romans, and Carol Costello. Generally, if any of them were off, their absence was duly noted by the ones present. Lately, the co-anchors do not even do that anymore: In fact, today, guest co-hosts Alina Cho and Deborah Feyerick, seemed almost to forget Ali, Christine, or Carol altogether.

If CNN is not careful, AM‘s audience may forget–to tune in.

AM Hot Mic: Deb Boring?

“Obviously, we’re talking about something more interesting.” Laughter. Dressed to kill in her all black pleather mini with sleek boots and transparent stockings to match, the generally dour and dowdy CNN correspondent Deborah Feyerick expected her viewers undivided attention today. And, that she got–at least, from this male author. However, her female producers (apparently) were not so kind.

After taking her toss for “Everyday Radiation Exposure” segment from AM co-anchors Kiran Chetry and Christine Romans, Deb declared, “Everybody is concerned about this [the compromised Japanese nuclear reactors]. Everybody wants to know what this potential nuclear cloud means to us.”* However, subsequently, she droned on about the ubiquity of radiation in our quotidian experiences and then played a professorial pundit’s pontification to prove a point. When the clip ended (and a muted Deb tried to continue), a female producer with a live mike could be heard, saying, “Because that makes–obviously, we’re talking about something more interesting.” To make matters worse, another laughed heartily in the background.

Deb, your female producers may have been right. But, take heart: At least, your new look kept the keen interest of your viewers. Especially, your male ones.

*American Morning – 03/16/11 (@ 8:43 a.m. ET)

CNN Reporter: “Russian Roulette: Give It a Shot!”

Living on the edge: Or, dying there? On American Morning today, CNN correspondent Deborah Feyerick certainly left her audience with a buzz. At mid-show with co-hosts Kiran Chetry and T. J. Holmes by her side, Feyerick reported on the the proliferation of “bath salts,” a misnamed substance that mimics cocaine and is legally available in most States.

During her segment, Feyerick ran an interview of DEA special agent Gary Boggs, who expounded on the availability and dangers of the over-the-counter drug. When Feyerick wrapped up her story, she declared that there was no medicinal purpose for the “bath salts” and that people who want to get high can use it: However, she cautioned that they are playing Russian roulette (as she said that Boggs had characterized it). Then, coining the worst AM tagline ever, Feyerick concluded, “Russian roulette: give it a shot!”*

Clever, Deb. But, what a dud. Hopefully!

*American Morning – 02/16/11 (@ 7:34 a.m. ET)