Have you ever watched a book-based TV segment in which the hosts never mentioned the book's title? Fox & Friends Weekend pulled off the feat this morning -- presumably because the title of the cookbook in question was a bit too spicy for Fox's taste.
With Valentine's Day looming, Martha Hopkins was in to suggest some sensual dishes to share with one's sweetie. Her claim to expertise? She is co-author of a book entitled . . . "Inter Courses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook." Hopkins treated the Fox hosts to two of her recipes: artichoke hearts and strawberries and whipped cream.
But while the camera flashed on her book sitting on the buffet, items were artfully arranged to obscure its full title. I'm providing a larger-than-normal screencap so readers can see the careful camouflaging. The book title once appeared briefly at the bottom of the screen, and a full image of the book was flashed at the end of the segment. But the two Fox hosts, Kelly Wright and Brigitte Quinn, managed to avoid ever mentioning its title. Even the story on the segment at FNC's website dared not speak the book's name.
At the end of the segment, Brigitte congratulated Hopkins "on the 10th anniversary of your cookbook." But rather than referring to it by its title, "Inter Courses," Quinn mentioned only its sub-title: "the Aphrodisiac Cookbook."
So, good "taste" by Fox . . . or a bit of pre-Valentine's prudery?
Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net
