ABC's 'Hot Seat' to Diane Sawyer: Which Deadly Sin Do You Do Most?

The "Good Morning America" "hot seat" series concluded on Monday with co-host Diane Sawyer answering silly viewer questions, such as "Which of the seven deadly sins do you do most?" But the segment, which was designed as a way for the ABC morning show hosts to be forced to answer tough queries, never featured any questions related to media bias or other difficult topics. Most of the "hardballs" were closer to this audience e-mail: "What color do you use for your hair? I love your shade of blond."

At one point, co-host Robin Roberts wondered, "Okay, Jill from New Jersey wants to know what is your favorite quote and why?" She then proceeded to play a montage of Sawyer citing various sayings or poems during her GMA segments. One quote that somehow missed being repeated was when the anchor seemingly compared Senator Clinton to Jesus on June 4, 2008: "This woman, as we said, forged into determination and purpose her whole life. As someone said, 'no thorns, no throne. No gall, no glory. No cross, no crown.'"

On November 21, co-host Robin Roberts was grilled about what's on her iPod.

On November 20, news anchor Chris Cuomo received an embarrassing viewer question about his underwear habits.

On November 19, ABC meteorologist and global warming alarmist Sam Champion had to deal with hard hitting e-mails on whether or not he's a morning person.

Now, of course the segments were meant to have a humorous bent. But, considering that these ABC hosts take themselves quite seriously and often grill conservatives, wouldn't some tough questions be warranted? After all, the segment was entitled "The hot seat."

A partial transcript of the November 24 segment, which aired at 8:16am, follows

ROBIN ROBERTS: Okay, Jill from New Jersey wants to know what is your favorite quote and why? And I think this is why he's asking.

[Cut to video montage of Sawyer.]

DIANE SAWYER: It's been said that politics is the finest form of free entertainment. It's been said- Famous phrase in literature, there are no second acts in American life. It's been said- I love to quote that I pulled together- Her favorite quote, she always recites it by the way, it's Emily Dickinson. 'Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the songs without the words.'

CHRIS CUOMO: What's your favorite quote?

SAM CHAMPION: What's your favorite one?

SAWYER: I have a feeling there's mockery in this somewhere. What is it? I don't know. As you know, I collect them. I have a thousand of them.

CUOMO: Where's the bell?

SAWYER: 'Act as if the power you seek is already within you.'

ROBERTS: Who said that?

SAWYER: I have no idea.

8:19

SAM CHAMPION: We've got a video question from Crystal in Philadelphia.

CRYSTAL: Which of the seven deadly sins do you do most?

SAM CHAMPION: Deadly sins do you- Wow! First of all, I have to think of what they are.

SAWYER: Well, gluttony on this program. I'm the one always eating out the pan while the rest of you are nibbling on the edges there. See, I would say- I know you'll laugh, type A, I would say sloth.

CUOMO: No.

SAWYER: When I turn it off, I cannot turn it off. I'm bathrobe, pair of slippers. Don't call home, somebody will rat me out. I know he will.

Other questions:

"Diane, I cue you to the video here, do you remember when your skirt split on air? And what do you think Robin was doing when she covered you up with a pillow?

"When are you going to write your autobiography and I want to know what your going to call it?"

"Have you seen all your husband's- director Mike Nichols- films?"

"What color do you use for your hair? I love your shade of blond."