Swimming in Quicksand

Sarah Palin - The Person, Not the Caricature - in HBO's "Game Change"

NO, NOT TINA FEY, BUT JULIANNE MOORE AS SARAH PALIN

Soon the Newseum will host the premiere of the new HBO film, "Game Change," based on the political bestseller of the same name. It will debut on the air March 10. From beginning to end, it is about Sarah Palin, who is played by Julianne Moore. Please read my review of the film, on washingtonian.com: A Sympathetic Portrayal of Sarah Palin. 

Why Can't DC Anchors Be Kinda Fun Like This?

 I will take back the snark 150% percent if it comes out tomorrow that she hadn't been at a Christmas party but was instead on meds. Because you're not human if you haven't ever been messed up at work.

GEORGE STEVENS JR., The Gentleman Impresario Behind The Kennedy Center Honors

GEORGE STEVENS, JR., AT THE HONORS "BRUNCH"

From Washingtonian.com:

While state dinners, National Gallery of Art openings, and a few other local galas get worthy attention, Washington’s most glittering cultural and social event takes place this weekend: the annual Kennedy Center Honors. It is many things: a tribute to talent, a weekend of haute hobnobbing at black-tie dinners, a groovy brunch, a White House reception, an extravagant show plus an Emmy-winning television broadcast. And none of it would exist if not for the creative vision of George Stevens Jr., who has been the event’s producer and gentleman impresario since its birth in 1978.

There is certainly much more to Stevens than the Kennedy Center Honors. He is the founding...(read the full story at George Stevens, Jr.) 

On Washingtonian.com, The Blog Broadcasters Love & Hate

Dave Hughes is editor of the website dcrtv.com, the go-to for and about local Washington and Baltimore radio and TV people, and the occasional story about the local print media. I have a story about Dave and his site on Washingtonian.com today. Read it here. 

NYSD Today: Summer Pursuits

My regular Monday  New York column has a little something for everyone, beginning with the American flags distributed throughout Georgetown this past weekend. Interesting where one ended up. Also Washington Kastles tennis begins today down at the team's new stadium on the Maine Avenue waterfront, where a week ago I boarded Jeff Pfeifle's yacht Sea Loafers for a lovely cocktail gathering, a prelude to surgery for Jeff's friend, Adam Mahr. Reluctant to give up the watery theme, I also attended a fascinating gala for explorers and exploration hosted by, (who else?), National Geographic Society, and featuring a humble James Cameron. Read it all here on New York Social Diary.

Innocent Spouse, On "Success In The City" TV

This interview with Success In the City TV was recorded at Morgan Stanley's offices in Tysons, Va. Thank you to Cynthia de Lorenzi, who conducted a very good interview.  

 

 

 

 

HOWARD STERN: "Heavily edited" by Piers Morgan

On his "live" radio show this morning, Howard Stern said his interview with Piers Morgan was "heavily edited." It aired last night on Morgan's new CNN show, filling the 9 pm slot that formerly was Larry King Live. Stern said they shot for two hours, it was cut down to one hour, and Morgan edited out parts that included some of Stern's comments about David Letterman, Larry King, President Obama.

I knew it wasn't live, but the heavy editing explains why it came across like every other interview program. It was lifted up only by the presence of Stern who, most of all, is comfortable in his skin and can run laps around an apparent lightweight like Morgan.

To maintain the franchise CNN needs to produce that show live. If Morgan can't handle a live interview, they should replace him with someone who can. If the guests balk at going live -- they didn't with Larry -- the producers have to deal with that. If they leave it as it is, the program will be special only when the guest is special, and special guests can't be counted on five nights of the week. The host has to have the dynamite skill and talent to carry the day when the interviews are with regular folks about the day's headlines. Can Piers Morgan do that? Can he ride the winds of what's happening in the world? Or is he a red carpet interviewer placed in the wrong chair? 

Edited interviews generally suck. They are manufactured. My show isn't live, but it is live on tape. We don't edit the content. If I mess up, make a fool of myself, or lose my train of thought, its there for the viewer to experience, as if in the room. If the guest says something awkward, unflattering to me, or controversial, it doesn't get snipped out. It stays in the show.

Spontaneous, live interviews are what Ted Koppel did masterfully on Nightline, what happens on most of the Sunday shows, and what distinguished Larry King Live.

CNN is lost. Should someone remind the bosses that the letters stand for Cable NEWS Network?

To Be The Guy Who Replaces the Guy Who Replaced Larry King

I'm watching Piers Morgan interview Howard Stern. Howard is good, of course. He's the star of this show. Piers is trying too hard. He did almost too much homework and wants us to know. But somehow he's not the star of his own show. I can't figure out what makes his talent unique, the way Howard's talent is unique, or Larry King's talent was unique. He seems, at first blush, not knowing anything about him, a roly poly dude with a British accent, like so many other roly poly dudes with Brit accents.

What makes him any different from Ryan Seacrest? Actually, I'd rather watch Ryan. Could it be CNN tried to get Ryan, he said know, so they went for Piers?  Piers would be okay on the red carpet, asking celebs about who made the dress, loaned the jewels, did the hair. 

Why did they change the set into just another fleeting television interview set? Why didn't they keep Larry's set concept, upgrade it a little, and go live? LIVE? Why is not live? That was the franchise. Can Piers not do live? 

I should be fair to Piers. All I know about him is that he's in the clip of the singer who did so well on that British talent show. It seems to me he became famous in the reflection of her awesome fame. (Though I can't recall her name) CNN did a lot of hoopla in the run up to this week's debut, almost too much. I wasn't impressed with his first booking, Oprah, only because she wasn't exactly a tough "get" and he got her at the end of her promo run. Where's the coup in that? Howard's a bigger coup, but Howard's eager to be out there now to promote his new deal with Sirius. 

I will say this about Piers. He makes Anderson Cooper into the new jewel in the crown of CNN. I'll say this, too. The job to have is to be the guy who replaces Piers. Or the woman. But you get my drift. 

Mostly I feel ho hum. I'm watching because I'm home, in bed, on meds, and there's nothing else on. But otherwise I wouldn't even remember to look for the show. Again, Anderson comes on like Cronkite after Piers. 

Far far more perceptive than anything I have to say is Hank Steuver's smart review in The Washington Post today. 

NYSD Today: A Rush Before the Holiday

PARTY GUESTS IN JULEANNA GLOVER'S KITCHEN

On New York Social Diary today I write about Larry King and his long-time producer, Wendy Walker; a private screening hosted by Jeff Zucker on behalf of Prince Charles; an Amy Holmes party at Juleanna Glover's, and an interesting visit to the ISPA convention at National Harbor. It's all here. 

Unfortunately when I was at the ISPA convention I missed the folks at Alchemie, DC's own Georgetown based brand (lower Wisconsin). I did stop by to admire their products, however, and today received this nice note from them which is an early holiday present for local fans. This is a deal not to be passed up:

"The Alchimie Forever showroom is a DC beauty destination that offers personal attention and quality Swiss skin care! We would like to offer your readers 15% off during the month of December if they mention LOVEAF at checkout."

 

 

Swimming in Quicksand

Twitter; Facebook; Mailing List

CONTACT INFORMATION

IN DC, BUY SIGNED COPIES OF "INNOCENT SPOUSE" AT:
Scheele's 1331 29TH ST NW  (202) 333-4143
A Mano 1677 Wisconsin Ave NW (202) 298-7200