6:03 PM Mon, Aug 27, 2007 | Permalink
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I've been working to come to grips with this for a long time, but now it's official... my TV standards have gone way downhill.
I was the only one I know who watched "Anchorwoman" last week, which says a lot, considering the amount of TV my friends watch.
And one thing's for sure, I was one of a handful of people who actually liked the show. A mere 2.7 million people tuned in for "Anchorwoman" and it was cancelled the day after its premiere.
Here's a look at a couple of headlines panning the show:
"Fox's 'Anchorwoman' nothing but dead weight"
"'Anchorwoman' is bad news"
"Anchorwoman Given Swift, Merciful Death"
Certainly, the show did little for journalistic integrity. But I wholeheartedly believe our viewers understand that it takes more than a big chest and peroxide to be a reporter/anchor.
The on-air pros I work with are some of the hardest working people I know. They log long hours, make stressful deadlines, and ask the tough questions (pay me later guys).
And being an anchor isn't just about reading the script. It's about making viewers feel like they're included in a dialogue. For that large crowd who missed "Anchorwoman's" premiere-- Lauren Jones did not read smoothly, she mispronounced a handful of words, and she struggled through interviews. Let's just say Jones did not make the gig in Tyler, TX look easy.
Some critics believe the show represents a grim shift in the news business. Do viewers prefer brains over beauty?
But don't let "Anchorwoman" fool you. Nothing has changed. News directors have been grappling with this issue for a long time. Lou Grant did not hire Ted Baxter for his acumen.
Fortunately, you don't have to choose between the two. Our newsroom at KMOV is full of good looking people who are also great journalists. Don't you agree?
"The on-air pros I work with are some of the hardest working people I know. They log long hours, make stressful deadlines, and ask the tough questions "
I couldn't agree with you more.
Go Jayhawks!