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Network anchors bend to Stephen Colbert's weakened wrist

Aug 27, 2007, 03:50 PM | by Gary Susman

Categories: Television

Do we really want our TV news anchors to be jolly, jokey, backslapping, reg'lar folk you'd wanna share a beer with? That's the impression I get from their efforts to appease and amuse Stephen Colbert. Now, I think the Comedy Central faux newsman is hilarious, but does that mean he gets to play puppeteer to real newsfolk, getting them to play along with silly stunts like his "Wrist Strong" campaign (see the video below)? At least Charles Gibson had the good sense not to play along like Brian Williams and Katie Couric — at first. Later, though, he caved a little with a jokey apology. None of these news professionals seems to remember that Colbert is a fake newsman on a late-night basic cable show.

After the jump, I'll explain why I find the anchors' behavior, particularly Williams', so distressing.

The New York Times article linked above suggests the anchors feel they have to kowtow to Colbert to show their authenticity — as if they're being more authentic when clowning around with Colbert than when they're somberly intoning serious news stories on their own shows. That's probably not authentic either; on a basic level, TV newsfolk are entertainers, and they're performing every time they get behind a microphone, theirs or someone else's.

Still, TV newsfolk seem to have confused themselves with politicians — who, in turn, are also expected to behave like entertainers all the time, and who also must make tongue-in-cheek appearances on The Colbert Report to prove their hipness. Williams seems to have taken this to an extreme lately. Not only is he broadcasting out of a casual newsroom that appears to be in his parents' basement, but he's even trying his hand at stand-up comedy. Again, why do we want news anchors and politicians who are loose, hip, and funny? I want my newscasters (and my elected officials) to be serious people who act like grown-ups. Don't you?

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Sadie Tue, Aug 28, 2007 at 11:17 AM EST

Apparently no one watches late night shows either, not just the news. As Ceballos said, Williams has long been doing funny on the late-night talk show circuit -- BEFORE The Daily Show and Colbert. Being intelligent enough to deliver the nightly news does not mean you have to be a stick in the mud the remaining 23.5 hours of the day.

Michael Tue, Aug 28, 2007 at 11:14 AM EST

If Brian Williams let his actual newscast suffer, all of this might matter, but it doesn't because NBC Nightly News is the best newscast out there right now. (Sorry, a messy desk while they build a new set doesn't scream "disaster" for me.) I don't really understand why this blog has it out for him. If he wants to be a little loose and funny in public, that's totally fine with me, because from 6:30-7:00 he'll give me the news. And perhaps part of his decision to wear Colbert's bracelet (the horror!) was because Wrist Strong has become an actual charity?

me Tue, Aug 28, 2007 at 10:42 AM EST

There's a reason Charlie Gibson is kicking both Williams and Couric's tails in the ratings. He's someone I'd actually turn to when I want to hear serious news. He's one of the few remaining anchors that I really respect and who actually remember what journalism is supposed to be about, as opposed to to entertainment/infotainment.

Love Stewart and Colbert and what they do, but there's a difference between them and the broadcast news. Hopefully the line won't blur even more.

Although I appreciate Couric and Williams helping out the cause...I can give them credit for that.

Fluffy Tue, Aug 28, 2007 at 10:01 AM EST

The anchors did it because Colbert was using it as a gimmick on his show to raise money for soldiers and their families and the VA hospital with the bracelets. Newscasters regularly do undignified things for charitable causes, like wheelbarrow races, dunk tanks, bachelor auctions, talking to Kermit the Frog at a parade -- and this has always been the case. Trying to make some deep media shift out of it may be good for a slow news day, but is it really a topic for an entertainment magazine?

Tue, Aug 28, 2007 at 09:46 AM EST

After reading that article from Gawker about Brian Williams tying "stand up" I believe that has been totally misrepresented. It sounds like he was simply telling stories to inspire improvised comedy scenes at an improv comedy club in NYC. I do improv, and it's not uncommon to get a celeb to come in and tell stories that a group of improvisors use as fuel for scenes. It really would be dramatically overstating it to say he was doing "stand up." That's all. I don't have any problem with Brian Williams having a good sense of humor. If he was moonlighting on tour with Carlos Mencia (ugh) that would be one thing. This is something else entirely.

Jimi D Tue, Aug 28, 2007 at 08:02 AM EST

All the things to worry about and you worry about this. Go back to reporting on Paris Hilton dude.

Alex Tue, Aug 28, 2007 at 02:41 AM EST

Gary, I have a chill pill with your name on it.

Randy Lander Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 08:34 PM EST

I'd rather have my news anchors be serious journalists willing to act like the fourth estate they're meant to be and ask the hard questions about the war, civil liberties and other issues rather than just take the White House talking points and construct a story with jazzy graphics around them.

And if I can't have that, then yeah, let's go with funny.

Stephen Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 08:27 PM EST

KJ had it. With viewership down in the nightly news as well as political debates, politicians and anchors are trying to appeal to a younger demographic.

keb14 Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 07:12 PM EST

I agree... when I want comedic news, I will (and do) watch The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. When I watch the evening news (admittedly not that often), I want staid, serious reporting. That said, I have no problem with the anchors appearing on the talk show circuit and cracking jokes if that is what they want to do. And I have no problem with them wearing the Wrist Strong bracelets - on their own time. I *love* Stephen Colbert, but I don't think it's appropriate for the "serious" newspeople to bend to his genial harassment during the evening news. There is some serious stuff going on in the world, and it deserves to be treated seriously by those who are reporting the facts. It is fine for the comedians to put a funny bend on it, but it has to stop somewhere.

Dio_K Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 06:24 PM EST

They're not paid millions of dollars a year to be grown-ups. They're paid to make money. From the first chimp on the Today Show, to Mike Wallace selling cigarettes, TV news has been dressed up to be many things, but it's always been about money. I don't understand your mortification that the latest metamorphosis is about being "smart and hip", rather than "old and wise". New marketing for the newer generations. (Generations who aren't buying it since we can get our news "realtime" rather than sit through their ads and editing.)

cinephile Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 06:23 PM EST

Brian Williams said in an interview that Rush Limbaugh is an important voice that more people should listen to. The Scooter Libby trial revealed (as it wasn't already obvious, but still) that Dick Cheney saw Tim Russert as a media figure he could manipulate to "get the message out." Chris Matthews compared (no, I am not making this up) Hillary Clinton to Luca Brazi on the aptly named "Hardball." And THIS is the media silliness that has Gary's upset? Really? Going a comedy show for charity is somehow worse than cheerleading for a dangerous war? Man, EW really is a part of its Time-Warner parent company, isn't it?

shaun Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 06:20 PM EST

You should see someone to have that stick removed from your butt, Gary. I hear that it could be unhealthy.

healthypanda Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 06:06 PM EST

I have to disagree here. I like Brian Williams after he showed up on The Daily Show a couple of months ago-I respect people who have a sense of humor and don't take themselves too seriously.

Matt Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 06:00 PM EST

When they're reading the news, seriousness applies. But the expectation that they behave like that under all circumstances? That seems unreasonable.

Chad Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 05:44 PM EST

Lighten up Gary.

Snarf Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 05:14 PM EST

Elected officals that act like grown ups? What planet are you from?

Jeremy Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 05:13 PM EST

I don't think it's out of line for anchors to kid around on comedy shows, it shows they are human. Yes, I want a straightforward delivery of the news, but to know that they have feelings is always good. Nothing worse than hearing an anchor report a horrible catastrophe with a fake smile on their face.

Plus with the Wriststrong bracelets, though they are a joke premise, the sale does go to benefit real soldiers, so it's a good thing they help.

kelsey Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 04:36 PM EST

Sorry, I don't understand your complaint. You think anchormen aren't allowed to have a funny bone? That a good sense of humor should only belong to writers and bloggers? Good grief! Chill, dude. I never thought you could be so uptight.

Scott M. Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 04:25 PM EST

I'd much rather wear a Wrist Strong bracelet than one of Lance's... I sanyone else tired of this self-aggrandizing blowhard? Oh, gee, you're famous now Lance what are you going to do? I'm going to divorce my wife and start screwing rock stars! Yeeaah baby! And when the rock star I'm screwing gets cancer herself, I'm going to break up with her! Gee, Lance you don't think your buddy Floyd was doping? What a shock! And how brave of you! I understand he went through very hard times and is a survivor of a deadly disease, but when is he going to stop capitalizing on that fact? I know proceeds from the Live Strong bracelets also go to a good cause, but guess what buddy? Lots of other people have survived cancer as well. Sorry, I just don't like the guy.

Ceballos Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 03:42 PM EST

I agree with Brian. More than anything I just want anybody, whether they're a newsperson or a politician to act like themselves, or at least be authentic.


There's nothing more painful than seeing like that try to be something they're not. I mean, some of these people are just NOT funny.


As far as Williams is concerned, I've seen him on Conan a few times, and he's been pretty funny. I'd rather see him and other news anchors act more like themselves than do some third-rate Cronkite routine that they go through because they figure that's how a news anchor ought to act.

Patti Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 03:32 PM EST

No, the days of ultra-staid anchors is long gone. I think the network guys know that they need to jazz it up a little if they want ratings. Mix it up with Colbert, act like a real person who I can relate to. Plus I have to agree, the wriststrong bracelets are for a good cause, who wants to say no to that (Gibson) and seem like a stiff who doesn't want to get mixed up with the cool kids and walk on the wild side for 5 whole minutes.

Brian Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 03:27 PM EST

Not really - I'd rather have my newspeople and politicians act like themselves - if that's goofy, stupid, whatever. I like people, not robots.

junior Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 03:14 PM EST

The problem with nightly news is that it's not about the news, it's about ratings and money. Of course that was true during the Brokaw/Jennings/Rather heyday, but at least people were watching then. Now it's a scramble for the last remaining viewers clutching onto their oxygen tanks. OK, that was wrong, but you get the idea. They are desperate (and Williams is just plain annoying, 'ole crooked nose - OK, that was wrong too, sorry...)

Eric Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 03:13 PM EST

All the money raised from the wriststrong bracelets goes to the Yellow Ribbon Fund, which assists injured servicemen back from duty, so quit your whining Susman before your red states start calling you a traitor.

(yes i'm another self righteous canadian, and how!)

KJ Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 03:02 PM EST

The anchors are just trying to stay relevant. Audiences for the nightly news broadcasts have been dwindling the the last years. And really, how many people do we know that watch the shows that are under the age of 50? Hardly the audience that the networks are trying to court. I don't watch any of the nightly news broadcasts. In fact, I can't remember the last time I actually tuned into one when it wasn't a time of national crisis. But I do watch Stewart and Colbert every night. And I do know that when tragedy struck, most recently the case of VA Tech comes to mind, I went to Brian Williams. I might not watch him regularly, but at the time, it was nice to see a familiar face. Even if he was familiar because he was the giant talking head that floated on the Daily Show.

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