This disaster of an interview was an ABC News Now segment where someone named Merry Miller interviewed Holly Hunter about her new TV show. Possibly the worst news clip ever to air, the segment was full of long awkward pauses while the reporter repeated out loud the instructions from floor staffers (who can be heard commanding her to "Talk!" and "Ask her the question!"), gave the wrong premiere date for Hunter's show, stumbled over words and injected sorority-girl pep with the unprofessional comeback "Truetruetrue." Instant classic.
Watch out for Miller forgetting which network she's on and the resulting tortured shriek of “Noooooooo!” that can be heard from someone in the studio who is probably about to go back to producing farm reports.
Miller strangely used “we” in the interview, as in “We love the show,” which made me wonder who was the “we” that she kept mentioning? An invisible friend? A Vulcan mind-melded Brian Ross? The voices in her head? The producer who begged her to “talk?”
Ironically, she closed with, “That's all the best that we have for you today.” Even by ABC News standards, that can't possibly be true. If ABC doesn't care about the ability of the people it puts on air, then what about the people who aren't so visible? Turn up the volume and enjoy.
...........
This train wreck of an interview put to rest all of the claims that anyone can read the news and ask celebrities boring questions. It is clear that everyone can not. It also made the women of “The View” look like Johnny Carson.
This isn't political bias, but it made me wonder about the journalistic standards at ABC and ABC News Now. Full transcript follows (emphasis mine throughout):
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TRANSCRIPT
MILLER: Welcome back to “What's the Buzz?” You may know her as Academy Award winning actress, but today she's here to talk about a new project on the small screen. We're talking about the talented Holly Hunter and her new TV drama series, called “Saving Grace.” Holly, thanks so much for joining us.
HUNTER: Hey thank you
(Long pause)
BACKGROUND VOICE ON FLOOR: Talk!
(Pause)
MILLER: (repeating)Talk.
(Pause)
MILLER: All right Holly, thanks so much for joining us.
BACKGROUND VOICE ON FLOOR: Ask her the question (unintelligible).
MILLER: Oh (responding to producer).
(Pause)
MILLER: OK, we love the show. What drew you to this character that you play Grace?
HUNTER: I'm sorry?
MILLER: What drew you to this character Grace:
HUNTER: Responded to question stating she loved script.
MILLER: Well we just love the show
HUNTER:Aw, great
MILLER: So...(talking over Hunter)
MILLER: You're welcome
MILLER: ...so, what drew you from the big screen to TV, 'cause we hear that you don't watch TV?
HUNTER:Response
MILLER: Well, I love this character. So, were you nervous tackling something so controversial?
HUNTER: No, I leave that to other people
(Pause)
MILLER: Truetruetrue. All right. Anything else you want to tell us about Grace?
HUNTER: We premiere Monday night July 23 at 10:00 pm right after “The Closer” on TNT. I think the show is really thrilling. It's a great ride.
MILLER: I think it's a great (garbled, possibly ride). What's the best part about shooting [the TV show]?
HUNTER: Response
MILLER: I think it's fantastic.
HUNTER: Cool
MILLER: (talking over Hunter's “Cool”) Alright so now that you wrapped up shooting, what are the summer plans?
HUNTER: Actually I haven't wrapped up. We are in our tenth hour which is pretty exciting. We've got three more hours to go, three more episodes to shoot..so it's going to be sad to say bye to it. We'll finish up in the beginning of August, and then I'll be back in New York!
MILLER: Yeah. Well we want you back in New York. We are so excited about this show, it's so good to have you back, we are all thrilled to watch it.
HUNTER: Aw, great, thank you
MILLER: All right and you do a great job. So thank you so much...(pause)...for joining us.
(Pause)
MILLER:You can catch...(pause)...And you can catch more Holly on “Saving Grace,” which is going to premiere on Monday, June 23 [ed. She gave the wrong date. The show's actual premiere was July 23] on 10:00 pm Eastern on TNT. Alright folks, that's all the best we have for you today. Make sure to check us out on demand at the Arts & Entertainment section of NBCNews.com
UNKNOWN VOICE IN NEWSROOM: NOOOOOOOOOOO!
MILLER: I'm Merry Miller in New York. Thanks for watching this edition of “What's the Buzz.”
..........
“What's The Buzz” is on ABC, not NBC. Ooops. Somewhere an entertainment news producer is just now scraping him/herself off of a VP's floor.
In the movies and on TV, I've seen jokes about performances like this, but I've never actually seen one before. The version that made it to ABCNews.com has a new ending.
I do have to hand it to Miller though, she never broke down or lost her game face, which is saying a lot with this kind of catastrophe. Maybe she has a future in politics.
I wonder if Holly Hunter was reminded of her breakthrough movie “Broadcast News,” which involved on-air disasters by unprepared or unqualified TV news reporters?
Updated (09:00): Updated and link to edited video at ABCNews.com added.
Contact Lynn with tips or complaints at tvisgoodforyou2 AT yahoo DOT com
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Merry Miller's Other Identity
July 28, 2007 - 08:36 ET by P.J. GladnickThe most amazing thing about Merry Miller is this VIDEO interview with her in which she seems like a completely different human being. In contrast to her awkward airheaded appearance on "What's The Buzz," in the above video she seems a lot older, wiser, focused, and even her voice is completely different. Perhaps the TV rays from celeb interview shows turn people into goofy airheads. Anyway, the contrast is amazing. Or are there actually TWO Merry Millers out there?
Where's facial recognition software when you need it?
July 28, 2007 - 09:24 ET by Lynn DavidsonIt really does look like her in the segment, although, a slightly younger version. I never realized just how important it is to have good lighting.
Both Merrys have the same nose and facial features, the same slight undercurrent of a Texas accent and the exact same nervous habit of fidgeting back and forth on camera.
Like you said, the contrast is amazing. Even though the Crain's Merry seemed much more composed and mature, she still appeared as untrained and unready for network TV as the Buzz Merry.
If this is the same Merry, at least she stopped moving her head around while talking. That's an improvement. She looks nice on camera and has composure, and the lack of professionalism that Buzz Merry showed can be taught.
I doubt Miller was prepared for this intense of an Internet onslaught when she agreed to go on the air. I was impressed that she didn't break down during the interview but kept going, no matter how awful it got. She may have forgotten her network, but she didn't forget to smile or lose her composure.
Tale Of Two Merrys
July 28, 2007 - 09:40 ET by P.J. GladnickIt's like a Tale Of Two Merrys. The goofy airheaded Buzz Merry with the teenybopper voice and the older more composed Crain's Merry with the wizened voice.
My advice to CBS News is to HIRE the Buzz Merry to replace Katie Couric. People would tune in nightly to watch the train wreck. However, if the Crain's Merry reappears, they would have to fire her.
BTW, it is AMAZING what lighting and makeup can do. The Buzz Merry seems 20 years YOUNGER than the Crain's Merry.
It's the same woman. Merry
July 28, 2007 - 11:11 ET by balboaIt's the same woman. Merry Miller has built herself an impressive array of contacts in the industry by getting celebs to teach classes at the learning annex, and seems to have parlayed that into a entertainment interview gig, which she's obviously HORRIBLE at.
On TX accents
July 29, 2007 - 00:32 ET by UnsaneLynn, as a Texas native/residence, I would like to know what this "Texas accent" is.
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
Old Radio BS
July 28, 2007 - 08:41 ET by Warner Todd HustonThis Miller nitwit must have some background in radio. The "we" business is old radio schtick to relate to the listener that they are listening to the radio station and not just the radio host.
You'll hear the often disingenuous Sean Hannity saying "we" all the time during his radio show. "We love Charlie Daniels," or "We'll be in Denver next week," goes the convention.
I hate it no matter WHO does it.
...yes, I meant I hate it... NOT we!
PATHETIC!
July 29, 2007 - 12:45 ET by goldenthroatHaving spent over fifteen years in radio broadcasting, six of those in the producing and hosting of talk shows, this inteview is one of the most shallow, brain-dead, asinine and flaky ones I have heard or read!
Merry Miller obviously did no prep on Hunter or the show, has no clue as to how to ask open ended questions, and the result was a disasterous crash-and-burn!
It's amazing how networks continue to hire no-talents like Miller and pay them more money in a month that I have made in a year in an attempt to cater to these hollywood egos. Merry Miller must have an IQ equal to her bra size!
Network execs had to have been upchucking their lunch after this aired.
"Yeah, that's the ticket! - Tommy Flanagan"
Forget Whoopie...
July 28, 2007 - 10:41 ET by BondPlainBond...Merry Miller would be perfect on ABC's The View, don'tcha think? Miller and Behar would be perfect together - Tweedledum and Tweedledummer.
They could rename the show...
July 28, 2007 - 10:44 ET by goldenthroatThen they could call it "Three Airheads and a Princess!"
"Yeah, that's the ticket!" - Tommy Flanagan
Call me a softie---
July 28, 2007 - 13:15 ET by misterbillCall me a softie---but I feel very bad for the young lady--- I did not watch the whole video, my embarrassment for her was so great. I hope she gets a few more chances to redeem herself.
Is she or is she not...?
July 28, 2007 - 13:46 ET by goldenthroatmisterbill,
Is she or is she not a well paid professional? This is the kind of interview that is could be conducted by a high school sophomore! Just listening to the giddiness alone made it the equivlant of trying to digest a pound of sugar on an empty stomach.
The network ought to be embarrassed by this pathetic performance. Merry Miller belongs on MTV where her mentality would fit better!
"Yeah, that's the ticket!" - Tommy Flanagan
goldenthroat-- I know you are right---I
July 28, 2007 - 14:35 ET by misterbillgoldenthroat-- I know you are right---I just have moments where I feel a lot of sympathy for other people. I spent a 30 year career with a major corp and had to present many times. The only ones I remember are the couple that I did poorly. So, I guess that is where the sympathy comes from.
Sorry, but I had to click it
July 28, 2007 - 13:55 ET by Sonny LykosSorry, but I had to click it off after the first few seconds because I was embarrassed for Ms. Miller.
Oh good.... .....some
July 28, 2007 - 14:43 ET by bigtimerOh good....
.....some more Saturday afternoon laughs.
Sure this wasn't the Cartoon Channel?
LMAO!
lol! I didn't hear the
July 28, 2007 - 19:58 ET by Jinx McHuelol! I didn't hear the off-screen comments before. The "NOOOOOO!" was hilarious!
Holy crap, that was the most
July 29, 2007 - 09:40 ET by WhoIsJohnGaltHoly crap, that was the most painful thing to watch. She looks like an intern doing her first interview. Holly wasn't much better with her answers.
Miss Hunter handled herself
July 30, 2007 - 17:09 ET by 4arrowMiss Hunter handled herself well in an awkward situation.