For TV news watchers, the most interesting Super Bowl ads were CBS promoting itself. Not the ads for its sleazy sitcoms like "Two and a Half Men," or its dark, gory dramas like "Criminal Minds," but more incessant ads for Katie's Evening News. Earth to CBS: the last $10 million didn't work either. I didn't see a single plug for Super Bowl coverage on "The Early Show,' but lots of Katie talking about what's great about America: "We hear a lot about what’s wrong with America. But there are so many examples of America’s can-do spirit. Good people doing great things on the CBS Evening News."
Katie's promoting the newest ratings gambit for the Katie-cast: a segment on "The American Spirit." This could be flagged as false advertising. They might try a feel-good story pandering to patriotism in a sweeps period, but on most nights, CBS will tell you America is ruining Iraq and hurtling the planet toward a global-warming catastrophe. And they'll consider anyone with an opposing opinion as hopelessly delusional or certainly bribed.
The slogan should be: "CBS Evening News. Because you need to be told what to think."
(Anyone remember Scott Pelley telling the CBS site Public Eye that it would be "irresponsible" to air skeptical voices, who are unquestionably on the payroll of energy barons, on global warming?)
That attitude and booking procedure hasn’t stopped Katie from demanding more bipartisanship in Washington, even if CBS doesn’t believe in bipartisanship during their newscasts. (Unless you count the Even Republicans like Chuck Hagel as reporters intone: "Even Republicans think Iraq is Bush’s Vietnam."). In one of her online commentaries, Couric dipped into the Mother Jones file (just Google it) to whack at conservative activist Grover Norquist:
I disagree with the political activist Grover Norquist, who famously said that "bipartisanship is just another word for date-rape." Working with the other party doesn’t have to mean surrendering your principles. Actually, compromise is a fundamental American principle. That’s a big reason the Constitution makes it so hard to get anything done without broad support.
Maybe next time politicians ask for our vote, our first question shouldn’t be: where do ou stand on the issues? It should be: where can you compromise on the issues—work with the other side—and deliver?
An anchor should spare the Ross Perot git-under-the-hood lecture on bipartisan compromise and achievement until when (and if) he or she actually produces a balanced news product on their network. If they're going to make one-sided news, why shouldn't Washington make one-sided policy?
TV Newser also noted that in the early hours of CBS's pregame coverage, Katie Couric contributed a very stale segment on Steelers star Hines Ward -- who was in LAST year's Super Bowl. The other issue there wasn't her timing, but her hairdo.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center
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I saw the ad. I laughed.
February 5, 2007 - 16:12 ET by Six String SpiffI saw the ad. I laughed. Loudly.
Katie, stop trying to look and act like a man. You have a wonderful figure. SHARE IT.
Sorry BT and Blonde :-)
Sure, I watch the MSM... Through a pair of crosshairs.
Now don't be apologizing to y
February 5, 2007 - 16:19 ET by bigtimerNow don't be apologizing to yourself there B...er SS...er B.......lol!
Didn't offend me... Nothing is gonna help Katie out....except the door.
Hey BT!
February 5, 2007 - 16:26 ET by Six String SpiffSeriously... Nobody watches her tripe anyway. CBS must be really scraping the bottom of the barrel if they have "discovered" positive reporting. What a bunch of tards. The notion that reporting something positive is seen as something radical, proves there is something horribly, horribly wrong with the MSM.
Good seeing you on again, BT. I have been tremendously busy. preparing for wedding and the honeymoon.. I can't wait for April.. 7th.. to be exact. $-)
PS. I sent you a PM a while ago.
Sure, I watch the MSM... Through a pair of crosshairs.
Getting married, Spaceman?
February 5, 2007 - 21:53 ET by MikeBGetting married, Spaceman? My favorite line from "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" was when the father was talking to his son who was engaged, "My son, if you are as happy as your Mother and I have been...my heart bleeds for you."
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
Those Couric spots offended
February 5, 2007 - 16:17 ET by Hero SquadThose Couric spots offended me, as they made the assumption that there's so much wrong with America that you have to dig really hard to come up with something positive. Once again, she managed to get in her little dig about how much she despises George Bush.
You know what I like... I like the $2,000 tax credit I got for my two children. Someone please remind me... who was responsible for that wonderful decision to let me keep more of the money I earned?
Katie... want to play rock, paper, scissors for the last Bud?
*****
"I thought you might say something stupid... or liberal." - Frank Barone
heh heh heh...Sure, I watch t
February 5, 2007 - 16:20 ET by Six String Spiffheh heh heh...
Sure, I watch the MSM... Through a pair of crosshairs.
Hey Katie,You want to talk ab
February 5, 2007 - 17:30 ET by midnight cowboyHey Katie,
You want to talk about what's good about America? Let's start with your ratings.
CBS
February 5, 2007 - 17:57 ET by rbosqueCBS is among the MSM who have been shoving negativity up everyone's backside and down their throats for years and now they are complaining about those who do it ????
I laughed my ass off when I saw those ads. The only positive news that I can get from the MSM is when I hear them file for bankruptcy!!!
Couric
February 5, 2007 - 18:07 ET by Shrillary ClintonIf they did go bankrupt, it would undoubtedly be the fault of George W. and those intolerant, narrow-minded, bigoted homophobic evangelicals and "right wingers." After all, George W. supposedly had the power to cause hurricanes and tsunamis because of the Kyoto protocol, right???
http://medienkritik.typepad.com/blog/2005/08/german_minister.html
I suspect the "good news
February 5, 2007 - 18:07 ET by Steve L.I suspect the "good news" will always be some left-winger doing something to counter "evil Republican policies." I doubt we'll see any conservative organizations featured.
Classic Post
February 5, 2007 - 19:09 ET by Carl KolchakSteve, what a great post!
I was going to start watching CBS Evening News after watching those promos yesterday, but one of my local channels will be showing "Charles in Charge" reruns at the same time, and that show is much more enthralling.
"Charles in charge of our days and our nights" 'Charles in Charge' theme song
Fortunately, I missed the pre
February 5, 2007 - 18:21 ET by Dave RFortunately, I missed the pregame stuff as I was busy grilling, but I did catch that hideous commercial a couple of times during the game. Like most of you, I was astounded at what I was seeing. The amazing part was that The Perky One was able to get through it with a straight face.
If there are any positive stories forthcoming from See BS, I am guessing they will have something to do with some do-gooder outfit out there finding some way to seperate those of us who work for a living from our money.
As for that compromising with the other side garbage, well, that is a huge reason why this country is in the shape it is in today, as too many politicians have compromised their illeged beliefs on far too many issues.
Dave,As you were busy grillin
February 5, 2007 - 19:24 ET by BlondeDave,
As you were busy grilling...you missed the insipid Katie C. doing a bit on the pregame show. Actually I missed it too...took one look and kept on walking. What was the point of putting her on the pregame show? She looked as dumb as ever, actually.
BTW....you left out the most important part, Mr. Chef-de-BBQ....What did you grill?
Blonde,I always do ribs for t
February 5, 2007 - 19:33 ET by Dave RBlonde,
I always do ribs for the Super Bowl, as it kind of keeps me away from all the chips and dips. I did baby-backs. I cooked them for about five hours.
They fell apart when I took them off the grill. Didn't even have to use a knife. :-)
Dave,That sounds soooo good.M
February 5, 2007 - 19:36 ET by BlondeDave,
That sounds soooo good.
Maybe we need to start a NB Food Forum.
I can contribute authentic Key Lime Pie!
What we need is a first annua
February 5, 2007 - 19:44 ET by mandrakeWhat we need is a first annual NB barbecue. We can all wear name tags...who knows, we might even find out we like each other. There can be a raffle and the proceeds can go to buying NB a faster server!
mandrake.Fine idea. Maybe i
February 5, 2007 - 19:50 ET by Blondemandrake.
Fine idea. Maybe it would be even more fun to NOT wear nametags.
I'm flat out there on the server.
Blonde,Mmmmmm, I LOVE Key Lim
February 6, 2007 - 11:26 ET by Dave RBlonde,
Mmmmmm, I LOVE Key Lime pie, particularly when it isn't green.
I'll bring along some of my most excellent red potato salad. Good stuff, that is.
:-)
"where can you compromis
February 5, 2007 - 18:49 ET by sanskritg"where can you compromise on the issues—work with the other side—and deliver?"
I actually kind of like this idea.
Couric remains...clueless
February 5, 2007 - 21:47 ET by Guy Arthur Thomas"The Clueless Wonder" Katie Couric remains quite without any means or measure to accurately determine why she is last and how to remedy the situation. Now it is obvious there are many people who know why she is last but Couric, of all people ought to at least have a hint. But she doesn't and the SB ad demonstrates this.
Instead of heavy advertising on chick channels or the other channels where the alternatives to the Super Bowl were being broadcast Couric should have beat her feel good drum and sang her song of jollies to come where the girls were. That is her core audience and that is where she is going to pick up demographically.
Those watching the Super Bowl are far and away traditionalists...something Couric mocks and echews. Secondly, the demograhics clearly point to a male dominated audience (no offense to the ladies who enjoy viewing all the way to those who surpass many armchair duderbacks with their knowledge of the game, this is a quantitative comment not qualitative). They aren't interested in Couric's stupid sales job. They can and do spot a phony and don't need nanny diaper changer Couric telling them she has news candy to make them feel dandy.
So Couric will remain just where she is, never understanding that the truth is, even recruiting more women viewers is only going to go so far and that the problem is with Katie herself. She is fundamentally antagonistic to traditional America and has regularly displayed the bigotry of misandry during her career at The Today Show. Just because the night time male news viewer wasn't watching Katie in the morning she arrogantly assumed they didn't spot it on the rare occasions they did have to listen to her. Yes, they did and they aren't interested Katie.
If you claim to be a conservative, please don't disgrace yourself and conservatism by thinking and arguing like a liberal. Go Rudy!
GAT,Whom do you imagine watch
February 5, 2007 - 21:55 ET by BlondeGAT,
Whom do you imagine watches the "chick channels?"
Chick Channels
February 6, 2007 - 08:16 ET by Guy Arthur ThomasThe viewers, in the context to which I was referring, who watch the "chick channels" or "chick shows" during events such as the Super Bowl or view them habitually and favorably, tend to be highly undiscriminating and non-political types who are easily persuaded by the very mentaility that attracts them to such networks or programs...that being a great deal of imagery and drama and little or no substance (someone needs to take a survey of the average Lifetime Channel fan, my guess I would be on target).
Understand I am using the term "viewers" as synonymous with fans of such networks and programs, not casual or intermitent audiences. We all ride rollercoasters or have some parallel form of entertainment for a diversion in life. However, there are those that want to stay on the rollercoaster and want to escape far too often and imagine that is reality. And generally fans of such networks and programs, as I qualify them, are often dominated by, but not excluse to, apolitical women who have a misandric bent and who are not aware of their underlying antagnoism toward the realities of life and constantly seek a "dramacoaster", hence very good candidates for the news candy and disposition of Clueless Katie.
If you claim to be a conservative, please don't disgrace yourself and conservatism by thinking and arguing like a liberal. Go Rudy!
Good point. Had they shown
February 5, 2007 - 22:19 ET by Hero SquadGood point. Had they shown SB promos promising a closer look into the awesome weapons our military uses to root out the insurgents, I'll bet their ratings would go up.
*****
"I thought you might say something stupid... or liberal." - Frank Barone