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We love this woman: MSNBC anchor says no to Paris

Jun 28, 2007, 05:02 PM | by Leah Greenblatt

Categories: Paris Hilton, Television

Dear EW.com-mers: We understand that if you wanted to read about the defeat of the immigration bill or the body count in the floods currently ravaging Texas, you would be on CNN.com, not this site. We also know that you're undoubtedly about as sick of the Jailbird Millionaress Who Must Not Be Named as the rest of the sentient planet. But it's still a total kick in the pants to see an honest-to-God news professional completely (and justifiably) lose her shizz over having to cover the heir-head's Let Freedom Ring media tour as serious news. Witness as MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski finally takes the headlines into her own hands (literally):

We're not sure what we love most: The failed lighter? The conveniently placed shredder? Her "move the teleprompter down" hand dance? Mika, you're our new hero. Though the two dudes on either side of you (I like to call them Smugs 'r' Us) could really lose a little of the condescension. But what do readers think? Is this tirade as justified as we believe it to be, or has or Paris fatigue swelled our brains and impaired our YouTube judgment?

JR Fri, Jul 6, 2007 at 02:59 PM EST

The "Morning Joe" show 7/6/07 was one of the best. Mika is to be commended for her stance on Paris Hilton, enough is enough. Her non-judgment of Al Gore (sr and jr) is appreciated but I also respect John Ridley's position on parenting priorities. Most of all though Willie Geist did a very commendable job of keeping the program on track, you all did not talk at once and respectfully listened to each other's opinion. What a treat for those who really "listen". I actually listened to the whole show without fast forwarding (thanks to TiVo) through the jibberish.

I was a faithful fan of Don Imus and frankly feel he and is special genre is irreplaceable, but Willie Geist I really appreciate the style you exhibited this morning.

Joey Fri, Jul 6, 2007 at 12:24 AM EST

Her reaction after showing the Paris clip? Priceless.

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Todd Mon, Jul 2, 2007 at 08:24 PM EST

I am in no fan of the huge coverage of Paris at all. But at the same time I can't back Mika on this. She comes off looking dumb. She was going to read the story till she got picked on. I think she came off a stuck-up. Ohh well.

This is just sad... Mon, Jul 2, 2007 at 07:38 PM EST

With Bush commuting Scooter Libby's jail sentence today, Paris Hilton will end up doing more jail time for driving with an expired license than Libby will for lying under oath and obstructing justice.

That's remarkable...and completely insane...

Big Donkey Sun, Jul 1, 2007 at 07:19 PM EST

Fantastic work. I hope this brings Mika to the forefront of a war against celebrity news. We need a spokesperson against this sort of trash like Paris. A new national hero has been born!

Janet Sun, Jul 1, 2007 at 12:07 AM EST

Brava, Mika! Someone finally has the guts to say it. Boo to Larry King and Barbara Walters and anyone else behaves as if she is real news. Paris is all about self-promotion and nothing else. I'm planning to cancel my waiting room subscription to "People" who put her on the cover (I'm also annoyed with their obsession with a couple other people). I'm not supporting this idiocy any more and I'm voting with my wallet.

South Asia Argento Sat, Jun 30, 2007 at 07:11 PM EST

I did a search of Paris memorabilia and her jailhouse letter is up for auction on Epier!

Fri, Jun 29, 2007 at 07:34 PM EST

Wow, I hate those two men on first sight. The retsraint Mika showed was impressive, I'd have been tempted to slap their smirks right off their faces.
...but you know, Mika's "just doing it to impress her Daddy"- WHAT A JERK!!!

Jackie Fri, Jun 29, 2007 at 04:42 PM EST

This was, by far, the BEST thing I've seen on TV in 6 months. (Besides the Lost finale.) Mika, you are my new hero.

LisaMama Fri, Jun 29, 2007 at 02:22 PM EST

Love her, though it was unprofessional and could have been handled before she went on the air. Those two morons on either side of her should have let her talk instead of constantly interrupting her. And even if it was staged, she was trying to make a good point!

DLM Fri, Jun 29, 2007 at 02:07 PM EST

That is the most courageous, defiant act of integrity I have seen in a long time in the modern "news" media. When the newsman to her right asks condescendingly, "Why does she have to be such a journalist?" it shows us the news media at its most nakedly, horribly corrupted. I am offended that Paris Hilton is the lead story, that Mika was clearly being strong-armed into discussing Paris Hilton as the lead story, and that our major news organizations have been reduced to doing the job of "Entertainment Tonight." I wrote for a college newspaper run with more professionalism and integrity than the likes of CNN, Fox News, and MSNBS these days. Those producers and co-anchors should be ashamed and embarrassed for not standing up for their peer, and Mika Brzezinski is my new hero.

Johnny Utah Fri, Jun 29, 2007 at 12:56 PM EST

This lady rules! Now, if she could just also do this to Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan, Bradgelina, Tom Fag (we know u are, and we know you kidnapped Joey Potter!)Rosie O'fatie, and many more.....

Johnny Utah Fri, Jun 29, 2007 at 12:56 PM EST

This lady rules! Now, if she could just also do this to Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan, Bradgelina, Tom Fag (we know u are, and we know you kidnapped Joey Potter!)Rosie O'fatie, and many more.....

Michael311 Fri, Jun 29, 2007 at 12:39 PM EST

Jesus Christ Mika, THANK YOU! Thank you for at least attempting to refocus our nation on slightly more pressing issues like, I don't know, the war in Iraq? Our idiot president invoking "executive privelidge" to protect himself against this nations laws. Joe and that other guy sitting next to Mika should be fired. Sadly, Mika probably will be for her courage.

Amber Fri, Jun 29, 2007 at 11:46 AM EST

Wow, that was awesome.

Scotty Fri, Jun 29, 2007 at 10:25 AM EST

Is CBS Evening News hiring?

Hi Fri, Jun 29, 2007 at 10:22 AM EST

I thought that was great! Way to go Mika! I kind of pity her for having to deal with the smug condescension of that other guy though. Shouldn't he be on Fox?

Middento Fri, Jun 29, 2007 at 10:20 AM EST

I had never heard of this woman before, but boy she already has more integrity than any of the other brain-dead newsreaders on 24-hour news. (And the two guys around her deserve permanent positions at 2AM, when no one will see them.)

Who can we direct mail to at MSNBC to applaud her actions? This is a serious question.

No Brand Woman Fri, Jun 29, 2007 at 09:37 AM EST

Way to go, Mika! Now just get rid of the pigs on either side of her. Their sexist, patronizing attitude made me sick. It's awesome to see someone on TV stick up for what they believe. Kick those worthless jerks to curb and give this woman her own show.

junior Fri, Jun 29, 2007 at 09:31 AM EST

MeNY, thanks for the info...

And after reading some of the comments, I'm starting to think this was "played up" (not completely faked but a massage of the truth) a little. Mika prolly knew this was the lead the night before. She had plenty of time to object to the story. Or do people not listen to her at MSNBC?

Fri, Jun 29, 2007 at 09:25 AM EST

Well done Mika!!! Good for you for taking a stand.

Margie Fri, Jun 29, 2007 at 09:17 AM EST

Wow. If I did not know better I would have thought I was watching a scene with Kitty from last fall's version of Brothers & Sisters. The whole thing with the lighter not working, and the bending over the shredder, and the "No! No!" was very Ms. Flockhart.

That said, the reactions of the men on screen were just as surreal as her attempts with the lighter. The guy on the right saying she did not want to do the story because her dad called her mousy two weeks ago? How condescending is that, and how dare he undermine a coworker like that on the air?

Or perhaps that is the general personality of this show, talking to each other in a veiled nasty way and creating a faux-personable toxic environment. In which case I hope someone offers Mika a new job, because flustered or not she can definitely do better.

Tim Lade Fri, Jun 29, 2007 at 08:52 AM EST

My big question (and yes Whitney I am looking in your direction and wondering what your opinion on the subject it) is why has pop culture veered off into celebrating people who do nothing to contribute to pop culture. I have heard Paris referred to as as a celebutante before, which suggests to me that she is a celebrity because she is rich. This suggests to me then that popularity and celebrity are not about talent anymore but about money and controversy. Tom Cruise gets more press for being insane or in a cult than he does for making movies anymore. I am just wondering what defines the standard definition of celebrity now. It is because someone is talented and deserves it or is it because they are rich and therefore important. Just a couple thoughts inspired by a really great clip.

mark in nyc Fri, Jun 29, 2007 at 08:29 AM EST

it's been so long since I have seen ANY journalistic integrity that I was shocked

joecool Fri, Jun 29, 2007 at 07:54 AM EST

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED that scene. She was awesome and now is my new favorite news anchor....not that I ever had one of those.

Me Fri, Jun 29, 2007 at 07:41 AM EST

And now it's time for EW to do more of the same. PLEASE, stop covering this monster that is Paris Hilton. Enough already!!!

RayT Fri, Jun 29, 2007 at 07:39 AM EST

While I'm certainly no fan of the new "all Paris, all the time" programming schedule the news media has prepared for us, I'm finding this Howard Beale/"I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore" shtick that the anchors are feeding us just as silly and unprofessional as the Paris Hilton coverage is. Did anyone witness Anderson Cooper on the "360" installment that followed the Larry King interview? He was trying WAY too hard to verbally rip her apart; I felt like I was watching Best Week Ever! I'm so NOT defending Paris Coverage '07, I'm just saying that when the anchors try to act all renegade/freedom fighter on us and go on a tirade against Paris, to me it comes off as patronizing, fake and just as unethical as the anchors on other extreme: namely Larry King permitting Paris to read her diary on air like she was Anne Frank!

e4ia Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 11:11 PM EST

My favorite part was when they showed the clip of Paris strutting down the jail runway and the guys started to mock her saying (in such a coy way) "Oh, don't take a picture of me"

Terri Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 09:45 PM EST

As a faithful, daily MSNBC viewer from the west coast, I've gotta say KUDOS TO MIKA for saying "buh-bye" to the ridiculous saga that is Paris Hilton! "Morning Joe" airs too early for my taste, but I usually enjoy the wacky irreverence of Joe Scarborough and Willy Geist -- and you gotta remember, "buffoonery" is part of their schtick. While I must agree that, in principle, the Paris story is somewhat newsworthy of the day, it's certainly not worthy of being THE lead story. Gimme a break! (P.S. I'll never confuse Mika with her MSNBC colleague Milissa Rehberger ever again!)

Joey Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 09:45 PM EST

Like others here, I totally agree with Mika. However, she and those two other jackasses just wasted 3 minutes of my life talking about NOT doing a news story. That's a waste of time, and I can't help but think that all 3 of them were taking advantage of the situation. You could tell that they were having fun with it. And come on, anyone who spends time discussing how something "isn't newsworthy" on air is probably feeding the flame and doing the viewers an even greater injustice. Cover something or don't cover it, and move on.

ceej Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 09:42 PM EST

If she wrote her own copy in the first place --like she was (hopefully) trained to do-- the story wouldn't have ever been keyed into the prompter.

chree Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 09:41 PM EST

*bows down*

MsDaisy Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 09:22 PM EST

Isn't spending 3 minutes talking about NOT doing the Paris Hilton story worse than doing the original 30 second story????

Nix Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 08:52 PM EST

Unprofessional? Perhaps. Showboating? Probably? Necessary for our collective sanity and her own? You betcha!

Shows what we know, the more insufferable of the two men is one of cable news' big selling insta-pundit authors commentator hosts. Fight the power Mika! And still be blond and sweater-y while doing it!

Deb Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 08:45 PM EST

Who are those two dingbats sitting on either side of Mika? Surely they can't be authentic journalists! I wonder what puppet master is pulling their strings.

Houstonian Jen in Baltimore Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 08:45 PM EST

That looked completely staged. I don't believe it.

stephen Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 08:43 PM EST

I think Us Weekly is handling it better, by simply not printing anythin about Paris at all. And that's a tabloid that is drawn to Paris like a moth to a flame, or those guys on Dateline to the oung boy's house.

Daniel Fidler Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 08:35 PM EST

What an awesome woman.
Wouldn't it be just terrible if she's now in some sort of trouble with the network?

whol Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 08:09 PM EST

you go girl!

Ceballos Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 07:51 PM EST

I 100% agree with the stance, but I also agree with the people who say she behaved unprofessionally.


I understand that she's fed up, but the whole show with the lighter (come on!) and the shredder...that just came off as grandstanding.


That being said, those other two fools are absolutely intolerable...they should slap each other.

Meta Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 07:42 PM EST

I may actually watch the news now and not feel its a waste of my time if she is the Anchor! Three cheers!

Stephen Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 06:47 PM EST

She lost her dignity, even though I agree with her stance. She should have confronted the producers before going on air.

B Ro Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 06:44 PM EST

In principle, I totally agree with Mika's position. Frankly, I'm as sick of the shows that cover Paris as those that go on about how they hate doing Paris news and then spend the next half hour talking about her anyway (I'm looking at you, AJ Hammer and Showbiz Tonight).
However, as a former news producer, I'm wondering how honest this was. Hear me out... the anchors are supposed to review the rundown of the newscast before they go on air, so they don't stumble over anything (yeah, I know, it obviously helps, right?). So, either she knew it was coming up and did nothing in advance, in which case she totally screwed the producer or staged her meltdown, OR she failed to do her job by checking out the rundown in advance. I dunno, I'm just curious how much went on behind the scenes of this tirade. Where are you my MSNBC sources?

Lene Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 06:39 PM EST

I love her.

However, the sexist, offensive and patronizing buffoons next to her need to be shredded, too. Especially Morning Joe - or whatever, the guy on the right - who is responsible for my bloodpressure skyrocketing. Could he possibly have patted Mika on the head any more? Yech! I'd start watching that show if only he got kicked off.

Grulg Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 06:32 PM EST

Bring back Imus.

MeNY Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 06:29 PM EST

Junior - The clip is actually from three separate times (4:00 5:00 and 6:00 a.m.). They were edited together which is what makes it look like a long rant.

BrandonK Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 06:23 PM EST

Brava, Mika. Get rid of the story and those two guys while you're at it.

Ellipsian Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 06:14 PM EST

Would that I could also scroll the TelePrompTer of my life down to avoid any- and everything Paris. Ugh.

Richard Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 06:07 PM EST

Give this woman a big pay raise.

Val Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 05:27 PM EST

Yay!!!!

Jen Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 05:20 PM EST

That was one of the most refreshing things I've seen all day, but I definitely think someone needs to slap the two guys. How completely obnoxious can someone be?

All I can really say is, Good for Mika! I can understand having a Paris Hilton story further down in the newscast (after all, people DO want to hear about her, if for no other reason than to mock her), but to lead with it is irresponsible journalism, especially with all the big "real" news that has been going on lately!

Marshall Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 05:11 PM EST

LOVE her.

Ed Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 04:45 PM EST

I have never heard of this woman before or this show but after watching her do that I'm going to look for her tomorrow.
I need a new morning show to watch since Gillian Barbarie is on maternity leave.

aramis Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 04:43 PM EST

Paris is a celeb made for YOUTUBE. If you want "news" on her taking a dump, or farting, or being in jail: YOUTUBE. If you want REAL news, watch the news. Point taken, Mika, you rock!

lw Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 04:38 PM EST

rock on, mika! i woulda kicked the a**es of the two dudes on either side of her. those two are as bad as she-whose-name-will-no-longer-be-spoken.

Jenny Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 04:33 PM EST

God, those guys are insufferable.

Marci Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 04:32 PM EST

Way to go Mika! Finally, a news anchor who has the balls to do what we all wish that they would.

junior Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 04:29 PM EST

I'm with Mika's stance, don't get me wrong, but I think the minute plus of talking about not doing the story and the vaguely-sexist commentary from the other male host-bot about Paris leaving prison was actually worse than whatever the story was in the first place. Mika, hon, next time this happens, cut to a commercial, then change the lead story with your producer off-camera... and, trust me, there will be a next time 'cause Paris ain't going nowhere.

Vicky Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 04:23 PM EST

I enjoyed when she moved the teleprompter down. That was sweet.

enoughallready Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 04:19 PM EST

You go girl!

alexsim Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 04:09 PM EST

I love Mika for this! She refused to do the Paris news for at least two days, ripping up the copy on Monday. Brava!!!! (And yes, Joe & Willie Geist were insufferable!)

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