Saturday, December 25, 2004
Friday, December 24, 2004
'Twas The Night Before Christmas-Redneck Style
'Twas the Night before Christmas, and all through the shack Not a creature was stirrin', cept the lice on muh back. The skoal cans wuz nailed to the screen door with care, With hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there
The children were sleepin', all snug in their beds, While visions of tractor pulls danced in their heads. And Ma in her nightgown all stained with pound cake. Had just settled down to watch Ricki Lake.
When out in the driveway, a loud noise I heard, I opened the winder to check muh T-bird. I ran to the door, like I's on a mission, But I tripped on some parts from muh granny's transmission.
The moon shone outside, the hound dog wuz barkin'. Muh daughter weren't home yet, she wuz still out parkin'.
When what to muh whiskey blind eyes should I see But a Chevy S-10, pulled by eight flyin' sheep. With a fat nasty driver, so disgustin' and sick I said "Shoot Fire!" That must be St. Nick!
More rapid than X-lax his wooly sheep came And he belched and he hollered, and he called 'em by name.
Now CLIFFORD! Now VERNON! Now LESTER and ENUS! On FESTUS! On ELMER! On ROSCOE and CLETUS!
From the top of the shack to them there garbage bins Now Dash Away! Dash Away! Dash Away youins!
I heard a loud sound on the roof of muh shack. Pud down muh beer and went fer muh gun rack. He fell through the roof, plum killed my dog, I swear that ole' Santa looked just like Boss Hog.
He wore a T-shirt, rebel flag on the front, And his jeans were all bloody from that morning's hunt. A big nekkid lady tattooed on his arm, And he wore black boots that he'd picked up in 'Nam.
His eyes, how they glazed from too much Wild Turkey. From the side of his mouth hung a stick of beef jerky. A scar on his cheek from a fight with the cops. The veins on his face looked ready to pop.
The butt of a Marlboro clung to his lip He wore a hip pack full of B-B-Q chips. He had a fat face and a hairy beer belly. I ain't seen one that big since muh ex-wife Shelly.
He was gap-toothed and dumb with an I.Q. of three And I laughed cause that redneck was smarter than me. A wink of his eye, a fierce shake of his head, From his hair came a rat that ran under the bed.
He reached in his sack, sipped his gin and tonic, Then filled the kid's stockings with Hooked on Phonics. His toys came from Big Lots and they weren't very nice But he had lots of them and yuh can't beat the price.
He gave us a tape of them hound dogs that sing Jingle Bells. Some Crisco, some Spam, some Oatmeal Cream pies, And a Nascar T-shirt in Double X size.
When the presents were gone and he had no more, He staggered and stumbled right through muh screen door.
He hopped in his truck, to his sheep gave an order "Hurry up youins! To the Tennessee border!"
And I heard him cry out, with a strong southern drawl,
"Merry Christmas You Rednecks! Merry Christmas Y'all!"
YEE HAWWWW!
# posted by ATN @ 3:48 PM 
Where Are They Now
As we continue our focus on some of the great talent that has come and gone through the doors at CNN, lets put the spotlight on Stephanie Oswald. While at CNN Oswald served as a travel correspondent and host of Travel Now. But like so many other long running programs it was put on the chopping block in 2001. So what's Oswald doing now? Well she founded and serves as Editor-in-Chief of Travel Girl magazine. A couple of other former CNN journalists work at the magazine, they include Crissy Poorman, travelgirl’s Food & Hospitality Correspondent; and Kathy Kuczka, travelgirl’s Arts & Spirituality Editor.
# posted by ATN @ 12:01 AM
Thursday, December 23, 2004
CNN To Rock In The New Year
Source: CNN Pressroom While CNN's competition will be bringing in the new year doing the Two-Step, CNN will rock into the new year with a great line-up. CNN’s Anderson Cooper will host live coverage of the New Year’s Eve celebration at New York City’s Times Square from 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. (ET). Guests at CNN’s Times Square location will include New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Grammy-nominated rock band Green Day.
The show also will offer live satellite feeds to a Celine Dion concert at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, a Jerry Jeff Walker performance at Gilley’s in Dallas and a Roots’ performance at Electric Factory in Philadelphia. The special will feature live uplinks to parties around the country including one in Key West, Fla.
# posted by ATN @ 5:29 PM
Fredricka Makes It Official
Okay what has been a rumor on the message boards for the past couple of months is true. A CNN insider tells CNN Blog Fredricka Whitfield recently announced on the air she is expecting a baby! Congrats!
# posted by ATN @ 12:05 PM
Where Are They Now
Today we feature a former HLN anchor Vickie Newton. Vickie didn't hang around long at HLN before packed uped and moved on. Newton Joined HLN in late 2001and by early 2002 she was gone. What's she doing now? Vickie joined KMOV Channel 4 in January 2002 as an Anchor/Reporter for "News 4 St. Louis"
# posted by ATN @ 12:10 AM
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Tucker Carlson To Get Trial Run In Prime-time Next Week
Source: Variety (subscription required) Can CNN's Tucker Carlson make the jump from political pundit to primetime host? CNN executives will soon find out. Carlson was tapped by CNN prexy Jon Klein to sub for Aaron Brown on "NewsNight" next week in a high-stakes tryout designed to see of the "Crossfire" co-host can make the leap to a full hour of non-partisan news. Carlson, whose contract expires with CNN at the end of the year, is being courted by NBC prexy Jeff Zucker to replace Deborah Norville weeknights at 9 p.m. on MSNBC.
But CNN is also considering him for primetime duty and is weighing whether to make a bid to retain him. CNN's Klein, who took the reins of the net just last month, will watch Carlson's performance and decide before the end of the year whether the network will make a bid.
Carlson move to Prime-time trouble for Present lineup?
But guaranteeing Carlson a primetime slot raises questions about the fate of CNN's current primetime lineup. CNN declined to comment on who Carlson might replace, but Klein said that fixing the network's primetime is his first priority coming into the job.
"Paula Zahn Now" and "Anderson Cooper 360" are CNN's weakest links in primetime, averaging 489,000 and 463,000 viewers in December, respectively. At 10 p.m., "NewsNight With Aaron Brown" does better, with 602,000 viewers, helped by a lead-in from "Larry King Live" in the 9 p.m. timeslot.
# posted by ATN @ 7:49 PM
Young Journalist Award Winners Announced
Source: Pakistan Daily Times After months of intense competition, two winners and two runners-up have been chosen in the Television and Print/Online categories for the CNN Young Journalist Award 2004.
The award was introduced in Pakistan for the first time this year to recognise and encourage quality journalism among young media professionals. Rahul Agarwal from Zee News (India) won in the Television category, while Vikas Dhoot from Business World (India) won in the Print/Online category. They will be sent on a week’s trip to Atlanta, CNN’s global headquarters.
Wajid Ali Syed, a former Daily Times reporter, and Amna Khanna from Tehelka – The People’s Paper were the Runners up in the Television and Print/Online categories respectively. They will spend one week working closely with CNN’s Islamabad and New Delhi bureaus respectively.
The awards were presented to the winners and runners up by Paul Cutler, managing editor of CNN International Asia Pacific, and Satinder Bindra, CNN’s senior international correspondent and New Delhi bureau chief.
# posted by ATN @ 6:29 PM
New CNN Anchor Makes Debut
New CNN anchor Randi Kaye made her CNN on air debut this morning. Kaye co-anchored CNN Live Today with Daryn Kagan. Kaye comes to CNN from WCCO Channel 4 in Minneapolis. Pic is from TV Heads.com
# posted by ATN @ 2:20 PM
Where Are They Now
As I write these "Where Are They Now" features I can't help but wonder why in the heck CNN let so many talented and respected veterans go. Today we feature Denise Dillon. From the information I can gather Denise(c0) anchored the first News Night back in the 90's then pulled duty at CNN-HLN. Dillon spent some six years at CNN and like so many others was told to go home in late 2001. What's she doing now? From what I can gather she worked for WAGA in Atlanta for a time, she's a contributer to the Atlanta Sports and Fitness Magazine and moderates seminars and workshops.
# posted by ATN @ 12:03 AM
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Ring In 2005 With Anderson Cooper
Source: CNN.com "Anderson Cooper 360°" is live from Times Square and other exciting spots around the country to ring in 2005. Spend New Year's Eve with Anderson Cooper and the winners of the Anderson Cooper 360° Challenge. Plus, special visits from Celine Dion, Green Day, The Roots and others. Tune New Year's Eve at 11 p.m. ET.
# posted by ATN @ 3:44 PM
We've Got a New Attitude
Are the attitudes of staffers at CNN a'changin? Tv Newser says at least one CNN correspondent thinks so. Tv Newser writes:
One month after Jonathan Klein was named president of CNN, at least one CNN correspondent is hopeful that the appointment is serving as a "kick in the butt."
"CNN has for a long time now needed someone who'll jump up on the desk and shout 'this is what we're doing' -- basic leadership I guess," the correspondent, who requested anonymity, tells TVNewser. "I think Klein is going to kick us in the butt in a good way. We'll hopefully spend less time complaining and more time reporting under him.
"Klein has a "much greater appetite" for packages than Princell Hair did. Great reporting seems to be "valued by the network again," the insider says. "He wants more and better packages, less talking heads and B.S. debates.
"Klein is making his presence felt in the newsrooms of CNN: "He is offering clear and precise direction," the correspondent says. "Klein seems like a genuinely good guy," another CNN insider says ths week.
# posted by ATN @ 2:08 PM
Mosul Chow Hall Attack: News OR "Just Another Day in Iraq?"
As I type this the attack on an US Military chow hall is history BUT the web is alive with how the cable news outlets covered the attack. TV Newser says "During the 9am hour, CNN went wall-to-wall with coverage of the Mosul attacks, while FNC and MSNBC seemed to ignore it. CNN's coverage, anchored by Bill Hemmer and Carol Costello, welcomed international viewers around 9:30am. Fox mentioned the attack, then reported on a study about shopping mall parking. Meanwhile, MSNBC was interviewing the founder of the Committee to Save Merry Christmas."
Wonkette says: "On the day of the worst violence in Iraq in months, with American service personnel killed in their own dining hall, it's nice to see that Fox News is keeping things in perspective. Rather than go wall-to-wall, as CNN has done, they're delivering the real hard news: "Shopping and politics may have more in common than you think."
I guess the attack in Mosul wasn't the type of thing FNC wanted to report just days before Christmas, BUT good or bad, it's news. And for the past few hours FNC has done a good job of dodging covering the attack, instead they are focusing on how attacks like this can be avoided. Is that something folks at home want to know. Something tells me kin-folk of troops in Iraq want to know EXACTLY what chow hall was hit and if their loved one is injured.
# posted by ATN @ 12:21 PM
Where Are They Now
Today we feature former Los Angeles based correspondent Paul Vercammen. While at CNN Vercammen contributed reports to CNN's Entertainment News program Showbiz Today. Like so many other talented journalists at CNN, Vercammen got canned in late 2001. SO what's he doing now? Well at last check he was News Director at KEYT in Santa Barbara, California.
# posted by ATN @ 12:03 AM
Monday, December 20, 2004
CNN: We Want Tucker Carlson For Primetime
Source: Variety MSNBC is making a play for Tucker Carlson to replace Deborah Norville when she leaves her show in January, but CNN is also weighing a primetime show for the "Crossfire"co-host. Carlson is signed on with CNN until the end of December, though sources said he will leave the political talker whether he stays with the network or not.
Sources close to the matter said Carlson is the only serious candidate to replace Norville and that a contract could be finalized in the first week in January. BUT new CNN prexy Jonathan Klein is weighing a counter offer for Carlson, who is weary of the "Crossfire" format and eager to do more general-interest programming.
Klein, a former CBS executive who replaced Princell Hair as president of the CNN News Group last month, is considering how the channel could use Carlson in primetime and justify making an offer sweet enough to retain him.
But when he was appointed to the job in November, Klein targeted CNN's primetime as most in need of fixing and said the network needed to do a better job of developing distinctive personalities.
Klein is discussing a number of ideas for new shows featuring the CNN political analyst.
Carlson and execs at both CNN and MSNBC declined to comment.
# posted by ATN @ 9:49 PM
Where Are They Now
Today we feature former CNN correspondent and veteran anchor Brian Nelson. During an 18-year career with CNN, Nelson hosted the CNN Computer Connection and was a correspondent for CNN's Future Watch. He conceived, produced and hosted a documentary on Florida's endangered Everglades. During 1989-1990, he was the executive producer and anchor/host of CNN's weekly Asian-focused news magazines based in Tokyo. He joined CNN in 1984 as a correspondent based in Miami covering NASA's space shuttle program. In the days following the 9/11 tragedy he reported from Ground Zero in New York City, and then covered the military preparations from the Pentagon and U.S. Army, Marine and Air Force bases in North Carolina and Missouri. In addition, he broadcast live during B-52 and B-2 Stealth bomber missions. Prior to joining CNN, Nelson was a correspondent for several Canadian television and radio outlets, including Canada's CTV Television Network, Standard Broadcast News and Montreal's CFCF television. So what's Brian doing now? Well he is the director of communications for The Boeing Company Florida operations based at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
# posted by ATN @ 12:10 AM
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Kagan and Limbaugh Spotted At White House Christmas Party
Source: Washington Post Rush Limbaugh and CNN anchor Daryn Kagan are still going strong. The media power couple were spotted together at the massive Christmas party that the White House threw Thursday evening for press, TV and radio types. Some 1,400 journos and their family members availed themselves of eggnog, shrimp, lamb chops and opportunities to pose for photos with President Bush and his wife.
# posted by ATN @ 4:08 PM
Vote For The Top CNN Related Story Of The Year
The end of another year is a couple of weeks away and CNNFan.com wants to hear from you on what the top CNN story of the year is. Just click on over to CNNFan.com and vote.
# posted by ATN @ 3:32 PM
Tucker Carlson to MSNBC?
Source: TV Newser TvNewser is reporting MSNBC is close to signing a deal with Crossfire co-host Tucker Carlson. If you do not know, this comes after Deborah Norville announced last week she would be leaving her 9pm spot on MSNBC to focus all her time on the syndicated network program Inside Edition. After that announcement MSNBC said they were in talks with a "hard news personality" to hopefully take over the slot being vacated by Norville. Well it seems Tucker Carlson is unhappy at CNN and is currently working without a contract and MSNBC is close to signing him on to fill the 9pm vacancy.
I have one question: Is Tucker Carlson a "hard news personality?" If anything positive comes out of this, it will mean the cancellation of Crossfire and REAL NEWS put in it's place.
I have one question: Is Tucker Carlson a "hard news personality?" If anything positive comes out of this, it will mean the cancellation of Crossfire and REAL NEWS put in it's place.
# posted by ATN @ 1:51 PM
No More Broadcast Network News Stars For LKL
Source: TV Week It looks like CNN management has put it's foot down on the appearance's of "News Stars" from the broadcast networks on Larry King Live. Here's the article from TV Week.
Frequent logrolling booking of broadcast network news stars, a longtime staple of CNN's "Larry King Live," has been removed from the bookers' playbook at "Larry King" by edict of CNN News Group President Jim Walton.
Yes, Andy Rooney can visit to flog his book "Years of `Minutes," as he did Dec. 9, on the same show with former President Jimmy Carter, promoting his first novel, "The Hornet's Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War," and failed Democratic VP candidate John Edwards and wife Elizabeth, talking about her battle with breast cancer.
But no, Dan Rather, Peter Jennings, Barbara Walters or the entire ensembles of CBS's "60 Minutes" or ABC's "primetime>live" cannot spend an hour on CNN promoting their news shows that compete with CNN's own news franchises.
Mr. Walton's edict, which some suggest was intended to apply across the board at CNN, went out before Jonathan Klein's hiring in November as CNN/U.S. president. The question must be asked: If "Larry King" could have booked non-CNN news stars at its usual fast clip, might there have been a happier ending to the November sweeps, when "King" dropped out of the top 5 cable news programs to No. 11?
# posted by ATN @ 11:43 AM
Take B and C's 2004 News Quiz
Do you think you remember everything that was news concerning the broadcast news industry? Broadcasting and Cable has come up with the "2004 News Quiz" to test your knowledge. Take it, it's FREE.
# posted by ATN @ 11:22 AM
