CNN's Anderson Cooper found himself the target of a prank by his coworkers on Monday's AC360. During his regular light-hearted 'Ridiculist' segment, Cooper introduced video footage that he hadn't previously seen – which turned out to be of his own office and the scented candle burning on his desk. The anchor explained the reason for its presence: "Somebody told me that I smelled...or my jeans smell, because I don't wash them. So, that's why I got the candle, people."
The journalist ended up being likened to the fictional character Brian Fantana from the movie Anchorman, who sickened his coworkers with a strong, foul-smelling cologne. His colleagues also came up with a list of descriptions of what his "fancy, basil-scented candle" smelled like: [video below]
ANDERSON COOPER: Time now for 'The Ridiculist.' And tonight, we're talking about co-worker crimes. You know what I mean: when people leave the breakroom a mess; won't stop talking when you're trying to work – that sort of thing. One of the most egregious offenses in a shared office space is best illustrated by this video, which I actually haven't seen before now. Oh, okay – that is actually my office. I did not know that. All right. I get it – it's the candle. I have a candle burning in my office. Oh, really? This is what 'The Ridiculist' is about tonight? I didn't – I should have read it ahead of time.
Apparently, some like – really? Because some of my co-workers do not like the way my candle smells? (laughs) Oh, man, this is cold! And you don't tell me? You let me read it on a teleprompter. Wow! This is news to me. This is completely news to me. Here's another video – oh okay, extreme close-up – isn't that fun? These videos all were apparently by our executive producer – who's apparently also the Fellini of surreptitious office filmmaking. I guess this one has the white background to show how strong the smoke is that wafts from the candle into the newsroom – very clever.
Listen, first of all, somebody told me that I smelled. It was Kirk, my researcher – told me that I smelled – or my jeans smell, because I don't wash them. So, that's why I got the candle, people. Anyway, it's a fancy, basil-scented candle, I will have you know. It cost a lot – it seemed like an obscene amount of money, to me, for a candle as well. I don't know if you know about candles: they seem to cost a lot of money. I think the smell is lovely.
Here now is an abbreviated list of what my co-workers say my basil candle smells like. (laughs) Wow, this is just – you're all – you're all in trouble. Some people say it smells like 'grandma's house.' Some people say it smells like 'old mall;' 'Italian salad;' (Cooper and people off camera laugh) 'Woodstock vomit' – I don't even know what that means – and 'garden gnome's underwear drawer.' What?
Listen, I've been reading a lot about meditation lately – mindfulness – and I've been trying. I'm attempting to create a serene space in my office. I thought it would be a pleasant change for my co-workers – better than the smell of the rotted cheese that's sitting out on the break table.
I get a candle, and this is what happens. The staff treats me like I'm – I'm Brian Fantana in 'Anchorman' with the cologne.
PAUL RUDD, ACTOR (from the movie "Anchorman") : Its called sex panther by Odeon, it's illegal in nine countries. Yup – it's made with bits of real panther, so you know it's good.
WILL FERRELL, ACTOR: It's quite pungent.
RUDD: Oh, yeah.
FERRELL: It's a formidable scent. It stings the nostrils.
CHRISTINA APPLEGATE, ACTRESS: God! No, it smells like – like a used diaper filled with Indian food. Oh!
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR 1: What is that? It smells like a turd covered in burnt hair.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS 1: Smells like Bigfoot's (audio censored).
COOPER: (laughs) All right, people, just ponder this: what's the name of this program again? Oh yeah, that's right – its AC 360 – right? What does the 'AC' stand for? Oh, right, it stands for Anderson Cooper – that's me. I don't like to say my name out loud, because that sounds like I'm a politician talking about himself in the third person. Until this program is renamed 'anti-candle' 360, I will do whatever I want to try to create a serene freaking office environment for my coworkers and myself to enjoy. I really don't know what they had against the scent of basil, by the way.
Here now are some more descriptions (laughs) – oh – some more staff descriptions of my candle: 'Dumpster ravioli;' 'Mario Batali's Crocs.' Okay, that I draw the line at! I mean, those Crocs must reek and – because he just needs to change his look. But there's no way my candle smells like Mario Batali's Crocs! Someone else said it smells like a 'herb garden growing in a landfill.' Someone said a 'brothel in Tuscany' – I think that was Jack Gray. And lastly, 'better than the jeans Anderson insists on never washing.'
All right, fine. That's what I call a burn on 'The Ridiculist.' That's it. I'm going to get rid of my candle, and you can go back to the smell of rotted cheese. That does it for us. Thanks for watching. Ungrateful employees. 'CNN Tonight' starts now. (people laughing off-camera)
