Kiran: Chetrylicious Still?

K.C.: “Thanks for the honorable mention. i think.” Former FNC and CNN anchor Kiran Chetry may have exited cable news but she is far from forgotten. In “Sports Bank’s 1st Annual Hottest Female News Anchors” Top Ten list, the Nepalese beauty still earned an honorable mention even though she left “the building” almost a year and half ago. In fact, the “judge” indicated that otherwise she “would have easily made…[the]…Top 5.”

Accepting her “hotness” award with good humor, Kiran Tweeted, “Thanks for the honorable mention. i think. lol.” Raising hopes anew for her fervid votaries, Kiran continued, “I’ll be back soon. one year wiser, one year older.”

However, taking issue with Kiran’s list placement, hubby Chris Knowles aptly remarked, “@Kiranchetrytv honorable mention? Clearly blind men took part in this survey.” Following Chris’ cue, one Kiran Twitter follower payed his own homage, succinctly saying, “Namaste rani….” Meanwhile, another acolyte chimed, “You should be #1 on that list. You r the most beautiful and professional reporter I have come across.”

As long-time readers may recall, Carpe Diem coined the term “Chetrylicious” for Kiran over four years ago. Subsequently, American Morning EP Jamie Kraft seemed to embrace the moniker: E.g., during one AM, when the author suggested that he show Kiran dancing on camera, he did so forthwith to the tune of “Fergalicious.” Perhaps, taking that thought to heart a mite too much (about seven months later), “Richard Simmons literally salivated” over Kiran (and her feet) on that very memorable American Morning.

Chetrylicious still? If Kiran’s recent Twit pics are any indication (1,2), she certainly still definitely deserves that description. Nevertheless, Kiran’s fans may need much more proof–or, at least, assuredly want it!

Morning in America Again? Almost.

Graphics and gams: Rise and shine! A new day is dawning on American Morning as CNN’s “Ray of Light,” Kiran Chetry, shines ever brighter. Yesterday new CNN chief Ken Jautz formally announced a new and improved AM with a “more upbeat and faster-paced” format and less of its old personnel, i.e., co-anchor John Roberts and EP Jamie Kraft.

On November 23, Jautz began his much needed transformation of AM by creating a spanking-new set with not only sunny graphics that awakened the AM audience but also a very sexy see-through desk that further aroused the male admirers of Kiran (a la Megyn Kelly’s America Live one). Unfortunately, these improvements of Jautz in part seem short lived: Seemingly, some priggish and prudish producer embraced anew the CNN castrato ethos only  two days later. I.e., the foolish philistine eunuch veiled Kiran’s lovely legs with apparently a reflective coating on the glass table that would have made John Ashcroft proud.

Unfortunately, for now, Jautz’s American Morning is a much more muted and bowdlerized version of FNC’s Fox & Friends. However, Jautz is promising to elevate the status of his anemic cable morning news show: Jautz asserts that he is transforming AM “to make it better suited to the morning” by rendering it “more upbeat and faster paced.” Beyond the format changes, Jautz states that he wanted to “make sure we have the right ‘American Morning family,’ as it were and we will be looking at different people [including T.J. Holmes] alongside Kiran on a rotating basis.”

A promising start. Happily, Jautz, unlike some of his colleagues, finally seems to realize that there may well be a desirable demographic beyond the Upper East Side effete elite. Here’s to a real American Morning soon!

Kiran: “This Feels Very Odd”

Ali: “Can we hold hands then just to be a little closer while we do this?” American Morning guest co-anchor Ali Velshi gave a general thumbs down to the new AM “Morning Talkers” [“MT” hereafter] segment set. Co-host Kiran Chetry indicated that she was not a big fan of it either. [The “MT” set consists of two black stools placed far apart with a huge screen in between them.]

When the first “MT” began this morning, Aly commented, “This is new to me.”* Expectantly, Kiran queried, “You like this?” Quite candidly, Ali responded, “Well, we’re a little bit far.” When Aly reached out his hand to Kiran and grasped her hand, Kiran concurred, “Yeah, a little bit far.” Sounding half-way serious, Aly jested, “Can we hold hands then just to be a little closer while we do this?” Seeming slightly chagrined, a laughing Kiran somewhat opaquely explicated, “No, ’cause they need to see this inner Morning Talkers and they need to be able to see them in the wall, Ali. Go with me here!”

Later, as the fourth and final “MT” started, Ali complained anew, grousing, “Why is it when we want to have casual chat we come in these formal things really far apart from each other?”** Heartily, Kiran concurred, “I know. This seems, this feels very odd.” Pointing to the big screen in between them, Kiran explained, “But, I’ll tell you why. Because we need to show the video here.”

Very odd indeed, Jamie. Both Aly and Kiran echoed what the author has been thinking since “MT” premiered less than a month ago. As Aly observed, the black stools are indeed rather “formal” for a “casual chat” between the AM anchors and they are placed “really far apart from each other.” Furthermore, as Kiran aptly noted, the AM set seems “very odd.”

Solution? In the author’s opinion, put Kiran and her co-host in the plusher pleather chairs and place them closer together (with the screen to one side of them). Better yet, perhaps, the big middle screen should be ditched altogether in favor of a split screen (with the co-anchors on one side and the aired clip on the other). To boot, the addition of a third person, e.g., Christine Romans to “MT” might well add some much needed conviviality to the conversation.

As Carol might say, “Just sayin!”

*American Morning – 11/11/10 (@ 6:22 a.m. ET)

**American Morning – 11/11/10 (@ 8:21 a.m. ET)

JD: I Wasn’t Going to Go There!

But, fiancee Kyra Phillips certainly did. As American Morning ended today, co-anchor John Roberts reported Minnesota Viking quarterback Bret Favre’s record 500th career touchdown pass (to recently acquired receiver Randy Moss). Ad libbing, John remarked, “Perfect. [He] laid it right up. So, it’s going to be a good pairing [Favre and Moss] for the rest of the season I think.” When John stopped and Kiran waited for him to elaborate, John added, “Looking forward to seeing more of that.”

Grinning, Kiran answered, “I thought you were going to say something else.” With a slight smile, John succintly said, “No.” Feigning belief, Kiran nodded and quickly echoed, “It’ll be a good pairing for the season.” Continuing the staccato colloquy, John replied, “Yeah. Tersely, Kiran countered, “Okay, good.” “Definitely,” retorted John. “Alright,” answered Kiran.” Beaming at the viewer, John responded, “Looking forward to more.”

Subsequently, when John segued to his “sweetie” and CNN Newsroom host, Kyra Phillips, she was not about to let that sleeping dog lie. Alluding to Favre’s current NFL troubles (pertaining to alleged graphic sexts sent to Jennifer Sterger, a NY Jets reporter and Playboy/Maxim model), Kyra brassily boasted, “I know what Kiran was thinking: Brett Favre, all those text messages must be inspiring him to do well on the field. Right, Kiran? Just saying!”

As Kyra’s affianced nodded his head in agreement and looked on with a sheepish grin, Kiran demurely replied, “Well, I was thinking that there is possible talk that he might, you know, get in trouble, perhaps, suspended. So, we’ll see how the rest of the season goes.” Cackling wickedly, Kyra replied, “Yes, we shall. As we know, those boys get by with a lot of trouble.”

Raising his eyebrows, John remarked, “I wasn’t going to go there!” Seeming to know him all too well, Kyra simply smiled and said, “Mm, hmm.” In response, John wisely chuckled to himself and remained silent.

A still too rare moment of AM levity. Perhaps, CNN’s new Executive VP Ken Jautz’s sage advice on improving ratings during CNN primetime is beginning to be applied in the morning. In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, he said, “We need to make our primetime more compelling and engaging, sometimes more fun, you could even say.” Hopefully, AM executive producer Jamie Kraft was listening.

AM on Holiday?

Lady Gaga still “wins.” With American Morning co-hosts Kiran Chetry and John Roberts off today, it appears their copy editor was playing hooky. As guest co-host Jim Acosta read the MTV Video Music Awards headlines story, the graphics read, “Lady Gaga Winds Big: Takes home eight trophies at MTV VMAs.” (N.B. Glaring error: “Winds” vis-a-vis “wins.”) To make matters worse, it occurred twice: once at 7:07 a.m. ET and again at 8:07 a.m. ET. Doubtless, a timorous truant is awaiting a good tongue lashing by his executive producer–unless Jamie Kraft, too, is on an AM vacation.

Oops! AM Airs “N” Word

Bleep! Bleep! Bleep!…”N*****.” No, it was not a rap video nor a Chris Rock comedy routine that let the “N” word rip today: rather, it was CNN’s American Morning.

Initially, AM had somewhat successfully censored the offensive term thrice when it first aired an interview with the mother of the Connecticut Budweiser distributor killer’s girlfriend.* During the segment with CNN correspondent Alison Kosik, the girlfriend’s mother indicated that the gunman Omar Thornton had been racially harassed and gave instances using the ‘N’ word thrice explicitly. When she did, AM producers bleeped it but it was not completely rendered inaudible each time.

Approximately, an hour later, CNN ran the story anew. Reading the headline news account, co-host Kiran Chetry stated, “People who knew the alleged gunman…are trying to make sense of the shooting rampage….The mother of Thornton’s girlfriend says he was angry about his treatment on the job.”** After she did, producers ran a clip of the interview again. However, this time the mother was unedited: She stated, “He was being harassed racially at work. Supposedly, there [were]…pictures on his cellphone…showing that there was the word ‘n*****’ written on the bathroom walls.”

Strangely, neither Kiran nor co-host John Roberts apologized nor even mentioned the apparent slip-up. However, AM executive producer Jamie Kraft apparently noticed: He did not run the story again during the second half of the show. Apparently, someone else at CNN took note as well:, When Kosik’s report resurfaced later on CNN Newsroom with Kyra Phillips, the mother’s interview was conspicuously cut.***

*American Morning – 08/04/10 (@6:16 a.m. ET)

**American Morning – 08/04/10 (@7:15 a.m. ET)

***CNN Newsroom – 08/04/10 (@9:01 a.m. ET)

The Notorious J.F.C.

“That was pretty good.” This morning American Morning contributor Jason Carroll got caught rocking it out to the rap of the Notorious B.I.G before his segment. As AM returned from commercial break to the tune of  “Mo Money: Mo Problems,” the audience heard the sounds of human oral percussion.* With his back to the camera, there sat Jason, apparently, the mouth of music, moving animatedly to the beat. When co-hosts Kiran Chetry and John Roberts caught sight of the cam, Kiran suddenly stopped her more subtle swaying but John just continued reservedly rocking his head.

As the cameraperson zoomed in on Kiran and John, Jason whispered, “That was pretty good.” Grinning broadly, Kiran turned to him and remarked, “We did catch you there, Jason!” Chuckling, John interjected, “Jason approves.”

Subsequently, after Kiran previewed Jason’s report about a Detroit teenager, John jested, “Her story is the latest in our ongoing series, Building Up America. And, our Dancing with the Stars contestant, Jason Carroll, here with that this morning.” Grabbing his coat lapels, Jason sheepishly replied, “You caught me [inaudible], too!”

Too bad, the AM audience does not share more such “off-camera” moments. With Americans waking up each day to two prolonged wars, economic distress, and ecological disaster, they could use a little levity on occasion. Hopefully, AM executive producer Jamie Kraft is listening.

*American Morning – 06/30/10 (@8:55 a.m. ET)

Kiran: Jump on It! [Updated]

“Oops, I Did It Again!” was the message that American Morning co-host Kiran Chetry sent her Twitter followers this morning. To be exact, she Tweeted, “If you see something on my leg this AM, it’s an aircast. I sprained my ankle pretty badly jumping on a trampoline!” As her Twitter followers may remember, Kiran likewise injured herself (albeit her neck then) last year on a trampoline (Moonbounce) as she showed off for her daughter Maya’s friends at a birthday party with an ill-fated flip.

Strangely, Kiran, co-anchor John Roberts, and AM producer Jamie Kraft made no mention of Kiran’s sprained ankle during the show today. In fact, the cameraperson seemed intent on concealing it: e.g., in Kiran’s standing shots, she was shown from basically the knee up. However, on occasion, her cast could be barely seen from a distance when AM returned from commercial break as the camera panned the studio.

Conversely, could one imagine its juggernaut competitor, Fox & Friends, missing such an opportunity to connect personally with its audience and showcase its co-host? Surely, its hosts, especially, Brian Kilmeade, would have given Kiran all kinds of grief as to how she was injured as their cameraperson took more than a few lingering shots of her gorgeous gams. However, AM executive producer Jamie Kraft seems to have taken the mayo tack to news–all too distinct from the spicier salsa approach that his predecessor Janelle Rodriguez had preferred.

Second-chance suggestion: Jamie, let JD pick a few songs to showcase Kiran’s injury on the trampoline, e.g., Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “Jump on It,” Pointer Sisters’ “Jump (For My Love),” or Van Halen’s “Jump”. Or, maybe even include the Van Halen vid itself, too, in which lead singer David Lee Roth bears a resemblance to John in his MuchTV veejay days: a twofer! At the very least, have John and Kiran do another “What’s Under the Desk” segment.

Jamie, “Jump on It”!

Update: According to Mediabistro.com, Kiran is supposed to have her ankle in an aircast for 4-6 weeks but she hopes to have it off sooner, i.e., the Friday before the 2010 Daytime Emmys (June 27, 2010). (Kiran’s seemingly self-shot close-up of her ankle is included in the Mediabistro.com article.)

A.M. & Costello: Funny Business?

CNN’s Carol Costello: Journo joker? (Cf. “Who’s Your Expert, Carol?,” infra.) If the BP oil spill ecological disaster were not so tragic, perhaps, Carol’s Orwellianly named report, “Emotion vs. Science: Are sand berms a smart defense?” would have been comedic. As President Barack Obama, under fire for being unemotional and for his reticence to approve of the sand berms to protect the Louisiana wetlands, traveled to Louisiana today, Carol seemed to be on a personal mission to give him cover from his detractors, both liberal and conservative.

Introducing her straw-man segment, Carol stated, “When President Obama comes here today, some people want him to show more emotion. They want him to take emphatic charge of the situation. There are plenty of local politicians, showing a lot of emotion. You know, they want to build those sand berms. But, scientists say, ‘Hold off on the emotion for just a minute and think about what these sand berms really do to the environment.’ So, is emotion or science better? A gut check this morning.”*

As footage of the disaster site ran, including that of Louisiana Governor Jindal, local Louisiana officials, and an oil-soaked pelican in the wetlands of Louisiana, Carol opined, “Louisiana’s governor is usually low-key but not these days. He’s fired up, emotional like so many other Louisiana politicians…There is a sense of doom here and some say politicians in their eagerness to do something are calling for solutions that may not work like giant six-foot walls of sand or sand berms. It’s a concept that politicians say has been in their area contingency plan with the Corps of Engineers. President Obama finally agreed under pressure, approving six berm sites.” [Italics added for emphasis.]

After portraying the Louisiana “politicians” as being uber emotional, Carol turned to a young unidentified bearded man with sunglasses and a BTNEP baseball cap, asking, “Would these giant sand walls really work?” He answered, “There are instances where they would be of benefit.” With no mention of his credentials, Carol continued, “Mel Landry studies the barrier islands and marshlands Louisiana politicians are so desperate to protect.” Subsequently, she solicited his view on the berms which he said “could have adverse impacts” citing a bulldozer’s incidental leveling of nests in the berm-building process. (Seemingly not satisfied with her sound bite, Carol superimposed, “He adds the berms could be blown away in a hurricane and could also disrupt natural tidal flows if they’re use to block gaps between barrier islands. But local politicians aren’t hearing that. The berms will go up and BP will pay the price, $360,000,000!”)

As the footage ended, Carol remarked, “John, six berms have been approved. One berm is under construction. Um, experts tell me [that] it could take a couple of weeks for these things to be put up but they’re raring to go.” Then strangely BP sensitive, Carol facetiously snarked, “And, hey, BP’s footing the bill, $360,000,000. So a lot of people here are saying, ‘If it is a waste of money, who cares? BP is paying!”

Seemingly, less than impressed with Carol’s reasoning, John sensibly stated, “Alright. Well, some good news for those folks there.” Similarly sympathetic to the plight of Louisianans on the Gulf coast, Kiran (who herself had reported from Grand Isle and other devastated areas in Louisiana) cogently countered, “The front page of all the papers this morning has some heart-breaking pictures–and we have the video as well–of these birds covered in oil. And, a couple of the datelines at East Grand Terre Isle, which is where one of those berms is being built currently, and they said [that] if they could have just gotten that done earlier, maybe, that marshland would not have become oiled. So, there are very strong opinions on both sides about that.”

Unfortunately, after Carol nonchalantly said, “Absolutely,” and asked for viewer input to her AM blog, she got back on message. Shaking her head, Carol icily commented, “I mean, should politicians just step back just for a minute and really study this and bring scientists in and, and really get a group together to see if these berms are really effective because sometimes the solution could be worse than the initial problem–because if these sand berms are gonna kill the wildlife anyway, why erect them?”

As an, apparently, incredulous John sat tight-lipped, wide-eyed, and stone-faced, Kiran reasonably remarked, “Yeah, a lot of questions this morning about that situation. And, another guy (vis-a-vis Landry?) locally said, ‘Hey, if a hurricane does knock the berm over, it’s done its job. At least, it’s protected it from getting on shore. So, again, a lot of differing opinions about it. Carol Costello this morning, thank you.”

Carol smugly smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

“Who’s Your Expert, Carol?” Even though John and Kiran seemed to sanely reject Carol’s premise that the sand berms were a case of “Emotion vs. Science” (or, in Carol’s case, local Louisiana “politicians” versus her mysterious scientific expert Mel Landry), they did not tell you the “rest of the story.” Just who is Mel Landry, Carol’s source for science or font of wisdom? According to his Facebook page, the twenty-nine year old Mel Landry is a 2004 college graduate from LSU who majored in fisheries and aquaculture. Furthermore, he states that he is the “Public Involvement Coordinator for the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program.” In his role, Landry explains, “I work with local communities, businesses, governments and volunteers across the state to save Louisiana’s vanishing coast and culture. I’m neck deep in science and politics and anyone who’s been around long enough knows that there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

So, for her scientific authority, Carol depended on a mere college graduate who is “neck deep in science and politics” and who works as the “public involvement coordinator” of a non-profit organization, Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program. Perhaps, she could not find a non-political, post-graduate Louisiana scientist to do her bidding. After getting this senior sage who taxied her around Grand Isle and a berm or two, Carol (in her AmFix blog) vapidly and vacuously pontificated, “So, chalk up one for emotion: the berms will go up, BP will dole out $360 million for the project, and maybe science will be the better for it. Or not.”

“Chalk up another one for emotion”? Indeed. In fact, Carol’s seeming selection of her own “expert” to make her case is remarkably similar to the time (about six months ago) that she apparently chose a panel of four “very sharp” women to pan, er, critique Sarah Palin’s book, Going Rogue. Now, as then, she appears to have readily obtained the conclusion that she wanted from her self-selected “experts” that had few if any bona fides. Playing politics with Sarah Palin is one thing but playing politics with Louisiana, its wetlands, and its way of life is another thing altogether.

Carol, as a CNN reporter, you should be ashamed of yourself for producing another biased, specious piece: strike two. Jamie, as AM executive producer, you should be embarrassed for letting it air once, much less a second time. And, Jon, as CNN news chief, if you really meant that you wanted CNN “to position itself as an opinion-free, middle-of-the-road alternative to its cable news rivals — conservative Fox News and liberal MSNBC,” you need to make it happen.

*American Morning – 06/04/10 (@6:32 a.m. ET)

Kiran: Still Off Her Game?

BP: “Beach P” or “Beach Pee”? American Morning co-host Kiran Chetry appears all wet when it comes to BP and its oil spill of late. Last Thursday and Friday, Kiran seemed deaf to the estimates of the BP oil well leakage per day in the Gulf of Mexico. Today, she did one better: she got the company’s name wrong.

In a preview of her upcoming interview with BP COO Doug Suttles this morning, Kiran misspoke, declaring, “Coming up next on the Most News in the Morning. More than a month later, thirty-five days the oil still pouring into the Gulf of Mexico. We’re gonna be speaking with Beach P‘s chief operating officer, Doug Suttles.”* Not quite, Kiran. Of course, BP is an acronym for British Petroleum.

In Kiran’s defense, maybe, she simply had a Freudian slip a la such notables as the erstwhile House Majority Leader, Dick Armey, and former President Jimmy Carter. As to Armey, the conservative Texas Republican once referred to the proudly gay Democratic liberal Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) as “Barney Fag.” Re Carter, he flubbed his 1980 Democratic presidential nomination acceptance speech by dubbing the loquacious late Dem great Hubert Humphey as “Hubert Horatio Hornblower.”

Perhaps, Kiran merely said on air what she, too, may say in private, at least, in front of her children, i.e., “Beach Pee” (a rather mild invective against BP, the polluter of Louisiana’s wetlands now and most probably its beaches soon). Reader, remember, she does say “h-e-double hockey sticks” in the hearing of her kids, Maya and little Chris.

Nevertheless, Jamie, you may want to give Kiran a bit bigger BP briefing book tomorrow.

*  American Morning – 05/24/10 (@6:39 a.m. ET)

AM: Fox & Fiends!

“Fair use” or abuse? Apparently, Fox News, the devil, did not deserve his  due on CNN’s American Morning today. In particular, AM producers failed to give FNC Fox News Sunday the same accreditation for its snippets that it provided for NBC’s Meet the Press. It was as if that evil name would not easily pass those saintly lips.

During a twice-aired Jim Acosta segment entitled “Oil Slick Blame Game,” AM producers ran snippets of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano’s appearances on NBC and FNC’s respective Sunday morning news programs (to defend the President’s handling of the BP oil spill). When AM producers showed the Meet the Press (NBC) clip, they clearly identified it as “NBC’s ‘Meet the Press” for seven solid seconds: However, when they ran the Fox News Sunday slice, they put up a the generic chyron “Fox News,” and, they did that merely a split second before it had ended.*

Jamie, you may not understandably like the cable news network that regularly trounces your beloved AM. But still! If you must, please try to be less patent.

* American Morning – 05/03/10 (@6:32 a.m. ET and @8:12 a.m. ET)

Kyra Prefers “Johnny Canuck”?

Phillips’ Red-headed Roberts. American Morning co-anchor John Roberts cannot accuse his woman of turning his hair gray as some men are wont to do. In fact, it appears that his betrothed, Kyra Phillips, has conversely changed his silver mane into a reddish-hued one. Perhaps, the golf-obsessed CNN Newsroom anchor wants her hubby-to-be to return to his Scottish roots.

When the two began their sub rosa relationship in December 2008, John wore his “gray head of wisdom” with pride as American Morning’s “voice from the mountaintop.” Apparently, Kyra preferred the MuchMusic veejay with the famed mullet from Canada. (In fact, she calls him “J.D.” as he was known then according to John in a recent interview with ExploreMusic.com’s Alan Cross.) Today, as Kyra’s fiance, John sports a younger more fashionable look with his shortly-cropped locks tinged reddish brown. (If the reader missed AM today, cf. link1 or link2 or tune in tomorrow for a clearer view.)

Now, if only Kyra can also quicken John’s youthful exuberance and irreverence to shake up CNN’s too often staid and stodgy news. Or, at least, she could show AM executive producer Jamie Kraft John’s crazy costumed interview with “Nash the Slash to incorporate some Fox & Friends-like fun into the morning. If AM co-host Kiran Chretry (an F&F alum) joins John in the levity, maybe, AM can finally start competing with FNC’s juggernaut.

[Serendipitous factoid: John credits Kiwi country singer Keith Urban for his newly found appreciation of country music. In his interview with Cross, supra, John said that despite his long-time dislike for the genre that Keith Urban “really turned me on” to country music. In so doing, he remarked, “I’m a huge fan of Keith Urban not just because he’s a great singer and an amazing performer…but he’s an amazing guitarist.” Laughing, John added, “My girlfriend (Kyra) insists I have a ‘mancrush’ on Keith Urban [but] it’s not a ‘mancrush’ but I do appreciate his musicality and his talent.]

A.M.: Another Moos?

In the name of Sarah Palin, Jamie, no more re-heated Moos soup! American Morning EP Jamie Kraft served his audience yet more leftover fare from his Moos menu. “For the second time in three days,* Kraft added a repeat “Moost News in the Morning” to his morning news show. Monday, it was “Ma’am…Is That a Squirrel” (06/30/09 repeat): today, it was “Valet Parkers Gone Wild” (12/17/09 rerun). Mercifully, after the author complained after it first-hour airing today in a Tweet, Kraft appeared to relent and did not repeat the report in the final hour (as is his wont).

Thanks for the reprieve this morning, Jamie. However, in the future, the author suggests more fresh news and less frozen Moos for AM breakfasts. A better way to start the day!

*Third time in 3+ weeks (including February 15, 2010 episode).

Kraft’s “AM”burger Helper?

News flash (back): Squirrel in a woman’s cleavage! Once more, American Morning EP Jamie Kraft seems to think that the best way to have the “most news in the morning” is to have repeat “Moos News in the Morning.” If he’s not careful, AM will become “M(old)s News in the Morning.”

Today AM co-anchors John Roberts and Kiran Chetry twice presented the Moos report entitled, “Ma’am…Is that a Squirrel?” The story featured a squirrel that kept popping up from a witness’ bosom as police questioned her. It was an amusing anecdote when it aired last year (06/30/09), and it was again today–slightly. However, one might think that a cable news network that prides itself on the latest and most news would not have to continue to dip into the archives for filler programming for its morning show.

Jamie, please. If you are going to continue to run repeat reports during original AM broadcasts, at least, acknowledge them as such. Otherwise, it militates against the AM motto and message. Not to mention, the cred of your co-hosts.

Kiran: Sexy Coed Fun?

“Far less PC”: Chetry’s joie de vivre contagious. During American Morning co-host Kiran Chetry’s “cat walk” headline news segment today, she read a story on certain colleges trying to curb student (under 21) binge drinking by tattling to their coeds’ parents. As Kiran returned to the desk, guest co-anchor Christine Romans began the rote repetition of the dire consequences of such reckless actions by students. When she had finally finished, Kiran ducked her head, smiled impishly, and remarked, “I was going to say something far less PC–which is, my parents would have gotten [sic] so much mail.”*

Christine chuckled, “I take the clinical [route] and Kiran’s like ‘Whew!'” Riantly, Kiran replied, “Well. It’s great to have already gone through all of that before the age of cell phones and texting and photos, right? Facebook. We had some privacy as young kids. Right?” Sounding somewhat uncertain, Christine answered, “Yes, we did. I think we did.”

Subsequently, tossing to AM’s meteorologist, Christine haltingly commented, “It’s time for a check of the quick heather, weather, heather weadlines with. As Christine struggled to segue, Kiran guffawed and interposed, “Now I really messed her up.” After she had composed herself, Christine continued, “Yeah. Uh, Jacqui Jeras is in the Extreme Weather Center. Good morning, Jacqui! We’ll not talk about anything that happened at Iowa State, shall we!”

Quickly cluing in the AM audience, Kiran interjected, “Hey, you two [Jacqui and Christine] went to college together.” Laughing, Jacqui responded, “This is why Christine is flustered because she knows I have stories.” Then she added, “I’m going to have to agree with you [Kiran]….Thank goodness, no cell phones or Facebook at that time.”

Just what AM EP Jamie Kraft needs to inject into AM. Less elitist hauteur and affected gravitas and more Everyman humility and a propos levity. A very good start, Kiran!

[As an aside to Carpe Diem’s red-blooded AM viewers, these CNN beauties have their collegiate anonymity now. However, do not fully despair: Christine’s “fears” may yet be realized. Who knows? Perhaps, TMZ’s Harvey Levin will come to your rescue. Or, maybe, Gawker will (as AM’s weatherstud Rob Marciano once discovered).

*American Morning – 03/01/10 (@6:48 a.m. ET)

AM: Yesterday’s News?

“If you haven’t seen it, it’s new to you.” American Morning co-hosts John Roberts and Kiran Chetry and AM executive producer Jamie Kraft seem to have embraced the old NBC slogan about their repeats today. This AM viewer experienced a strange sense of deja vu this morning when Jeanne Moos’ “Chocolate Covered Bacon Anyone” story ran this morning.

Twice, Moos’ “Moost News in the Morning” segment was broadcast today without any indication that it had been aired almost a year ago (March 10, 2009). Not only did Kiran and John not mention that it was a repeat but they also even regurgitated their prior “ad lib” remarks from that report (in AM’s first hour). I.e., John reminded Kiran again that he had introduced her to the Canadian “delicacy” poutine during the election; Kiran remembered anew that it tasted “even more delicious” because she was pregnant; and John revealed once more that poutine consisted of “French fries covered in gravy…topped in [‘with’ today] cheese curds.”*

If Jamie needed some quick filler for the show today and Kiran and John did not feel like adding new color after a late Valentine’s night, that is understandable. However, an apropos caveat to the AM audience would be appreciated. The “most news in the morning” should not include yesteryear’s news unless it is duly noted.

American Morning – 02/15/10 (@6:56 a.m. ET)

Chetrylicious: Too Delicious?

Apparently, American Morning co-anchor Kiran Chetry once again just looked too good for her guest co-host T. J. Holmes. As AM began this morning, a beaming T.J. Holmes turned his gaze upon the Nepalese lovely clad in her sharp black dress with a plunging neckline. Seeming to sense the effect of her allure, she smiled back at him with a twinkle in her eye and simply said, “Hi!” before welcoming the viewer. T.J. looked ahead, chuckled, and seemed to steal a brief glance before he introduced himself to the audience.

Unfortunately for T.J. and the AM viewer, EP Jamie Kraft seemed to take note. Around fifteen minutes into the program, Kiran began a Haitian survivor story with AM chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta by phone: however, as Sanjay finished answering her question and his report, Kiran had left the set and T.J., sitting all alone at the desk, thanked Sanjay before going to commercial. When the show resumed after the ad break, Kiran had reappeared but her decolletage had disappeared. Apparently, Kraft had Kiran put on a top underneath her dress to cloak her beauty more.

Jamie, Jamie. Not the best way to boost ratings. Remember, there’s nothing wrong with being too delicious–especially, if you’re Chetrylicious.

W/o Kiran’s Ray, Her Boys Stray

Weathergals unwelcome? Today American Morning co-host Kiran Chetry and her “chauvinistic” weatherMEN, colleague Rob Marciano and hubby Chris Knowles, took opposing sides on the old battlefield of the sexes. Even though Kiran (aptly meaning “Ray of Light” in Sanskrit) consistently and inclusively cited the “weatherperson” or “meteorologist” today, her benighted boys just could not seem to include their female counterparts on this anachronistically dubbed “National Weatherman Day.”

When introducing AM’s first weather segment with meteorologist Rob Marciano, seemingly, realizing the old-boy designation, guest co-host Christine Romans alluded to “National Weatherman’s Day or Meteorologist’s Day”: as Rob began his report, he merely referred to “this holiday.”However, when he concluded it, Kiran commented, “Happy Meteorologist’s Day. Is that what it is?,” Rob obliqued replied, “Thank you. Close enough.” Then, he smiled and chuckled.

Apparently, AM EP Jamie Kraft sent Kiran the memo posthaste: when segueing to Rob in his second segment, Kiran remarked, “It’s National Weatherperson’s Day.” Christine surely received her copy, too: in the final hour, before tossing to Rob for his report (and atoning for her earlier verbal gaffe?), Christine queried, “What is it? National Weatherperson Day?” Kiran immediately responded, “Yes, it is! It’s National Weatherperson’s Day.” Perhaps, not completely concurring, Rob added, “What better way to celebrate the holiday? As he concluded his weather story, Rob just apparently refused to use the gender neutral name: rather, he referenced “this sacred scientific holiday.”

Unfortunately, Kiran, apparently, did not share her AM memo with hubby Chris Knowles (NY WPIX weekend weatherman) or Chris simply ignored it. While AM was in progress, Chris Tweeted, “@robmarcianoCNN Wxman’s day, yo! Make sure they’re treatin’ you…right.” Apparently, appreciative of his fellow weatherMAN’s support and “shout-out,” Rob reTweeted, “[F]ollow my NY wxpal CK also @kiranchetry husband! RT @chrisknowles11: @robmarcianoCNN Wxman’s day, yo!”

In this age of female ascendancy, perchance, a measure of machismo blowback is inevitable. Nevertheless, a game of boys versus girls seems somewhat passe. Unless, it’s the proverbial “kiss chase.”

Kiran: Bruised Beauty?

Manhandled? American Morning co-anchor Kiran Chetry may have had some “splaining” to do when she got home yesterday after the show. That is, if hubby Chris Knowles saw a blue and purple mark on his beloved’s right arm.

Mid-AM Monday, perhaps, in a rush to interview New York Times Pultizer winner columnist Nicholas Kristof for the following healthcare segment, Kiran seemed to lose her camera cognition. As she ended a story with Alina Cho and co-anchor John Roberts, Kiran prematurely started to leave as John began to read the headlines. Then, as the news video subsequently ran on the wall, an oblivious Kiran began to walk in front of the screen unawares.

Out of nowhere, an apparent crew member, dressed in black, grabbed a startled Kiran by her right upper arm. Then, the chunky, calvous chap began to roughly march her out of the shot. As he did, Kiran winced in pain, grabbed her arm, and quietly exclaimed, “Ow!”

Jamie, you better be careful. AM’s Aphrodite may not like her beauty bruised.

American Morning (01/11/09) – @7:29 a.m. ET

American Morning Censored?

Iconic sex symbol Marilyn Monroe’s alleged marijuana use? Hush! Controversial pop SINsation Lady Gaga’s gender? Hush! Hush! What is going on at American Morning this week or, actually, the last eight days? Unfortunately, it appears that  AM executive producer Jamie Kraft has presided over its becoming C.N.N. (not CNN), i.e., the Censored Network News.

Last Wednesday, when AM co-host John Roberts reported on the recent sale of a private Marilyn Monroe video, he failed to inform his AM audience that Marilyn Monroe was allegedly smoking marijuana in it: rather, he simply twice said, “[It] shows her acting casually on the couch with friends, smoking and drinking wine.”** However, cable news rivals FNC* and MSNBC did not shy away from Marilyn Monroe’s alleged pot use nor did the main stream media, e.g., ABC, BBC, and the New York Times.)

Today, Jeanne Moos reported on Lady Gaga’s meeting Queen Elizabeth II in Liverpool, England, after the Royal Variety Performance.*** Afterwards, Roberts remarked, “I’ll admit that there’s something strangely fascinating about her but, I mean, it’s all image and marketing.” Co-host Kiran Chetry concurred, “Of course, it is!”

Really? According to recent concert footage, Lady Gaga may be Laddy Gaga: In the NSFW Gawker.com clip, as she gets off a motorcycle and subsequently shimmies in a micro red mini, she exposes what seems to be a small male member. According to Bossip.com, Lady Gaga confirmed her hermaphroditic status, stating “It’s not something that I’m ashamed of, just isn’t something that I go around telling everyone. Yes. I have both male and female genitalia, but I consider myself a female.” Reportedly, she added, “The reason I haven’t talked about it is that it’s not a big deal to me.”

With Marilyn Monroe, AM omitted a material fact, i.e., her apparent smoking of marijuana. As to Lady Gaga, AM seemed to include a significant fiction, i.e., that her “strangely fascinating” nature is “all image and marketing.” If Kraft does not give his AM viewers the full news, sans such salient omissions and questionable inclusions, they may begin to lose confidence in the accuracy of American Morning and, by extension, CNN.

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*Fox & Friends (12/02/09)

** Full quote: A new home movie of Marilyn Monroe unscripted has surfaced. The quick clip from the ’50’s shows her acting casually on the couch with friends, smoking and drinking wine. The copyright to the film will be offered on Ebay this week by a collector who paid a quarter of a million dollars for it.” American Morning (12/02/09)- @ 6:08 a.m. ET and @8:39 a.m. ET (Second reading omitted “and” between “smoking” and “drinking” and substituted “one” for “a” before “million.”)

***American Morning (12/09/09) – @6:55 a.m. ET