Al's on the "Black Celeb Gastric Bypass" Beat.
Posted on 06/30/2006 6:30:52 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
June 30, 2006
Should we look for Matt Lauer to close his next interview of Condi Rice by clasping her hands? Perhaps a verklempt Dick Cheney thanking Campbell Brown for being with him "every step of the way"? Could be, judging by Al Roker's interview of Star Jones this morning.
OK. Star isn't Secretary of State. She's someone who got bounced as co-host of a televised coffee klatsch. Even so, some of the journalistic values on display were eye-brow raising. For openers, what does it say about Today's news values that the interview, stretching across two half-hours and three segments, was the longest this veteran Today watcher can remember?
And then there was the personal relationship between Al and Star. The flag first went up when Star thanked Al for having phoned her with information: "I actually remember a phone call when you saw something in the paper that I had not even seen that was pretty nasty."
Later, in discussing Star's reluctance to publicly acknowledge that her dramatic weight loss was the result of bariatric surgery, Jones made clear just how friendly she and Al are:
"You've been holding my hand, recommending my doctors, standing by me throughout every single health crisis that I've had."
And speaking of holding hands, as you'll see, that's just how the interview ended.
In fairness, Al did ask a number of probing questions on a range of issues. And again, this is more soap opera than shooting war. Even so, as the story involves the reputations and careers of a variety of individuals, and the corporate interests of some major players, should we expect the same journalistic standards to be observed that we would demand - if not always receive - in the treatment of 'hard' news?
Today Show/NewsBusters ping.
Good Al/Star screen grab at the NewsBusters link.
Heck, I always thought they were the same person.
This IS news!
I was certain that Star was Al in drag.
Al's on the "Black Celeb Gastric Bypass" Beat.
When are you taking a vacation? I am beginning to worry about your IQ being depleted if you watch too much more of this junk!
It is too far past her 15 minutes.
Never heard of either of 'em.
Thanks for worrying about my mental health! To quote Star, 'you've been with me every step of the way' ;-)
I'll be spending an enjoyable couple days celebrating the Fourth with very good friends. Although to be honest I might not be able to keep away from FR/NB. Stop me before I post again!
Regardless of what you think of this lovey-dovey interview or the flap about Star Jones' firing, the whole episode succeeded in revealing Barbara Walters' duplicity.
Star ping!
Sort of sickening.
A couple of Soul brothers and sisters enabling low class behavior.
America has seen that Barbara W is a bold faced liar.
Barbara in April 2006: "Star is welcome to stay on the show as long as she wants."
Barbara in June 2006: "We decided in April not to renew her contract."
Sort of reminds me of "I did not have sex with that woman...."
The MSM has no journalistic values. All they do is gossip and sling mud.
Well, in this case, it isn't hard news, it's just a personality profile. And Star had the same operation Al did, and she was horribly overweight and now has her life back thanks to the surgery.
So it's not surprising that Al and Star have a "connection". I liked the interview, and I NEVER watch the Today show.
I expect most of the media to be against Star since Rosie O'Donnell is on the other side (Barbara Walters as well, but it's Rosie that is driving this hatred).
In fact, that is the real story here -- how the left once again was not content to just have their way with someone they no longer liked, but instead had to destroy them. We saw it in the recent Webb/Miller primary where by the time it was done Webb himself was calling his DEMOCRAT opponent, a long-time democrat supporter and money source, "The anti-christ of outsourcing".
The left has lost all perspective, and seems h*ll-bent on crushing all who stand in its way -- or even who bother them.
I hear what you're saying. You'll note I did give credit to Al for asking probing questions on a variety of issues, and in fact found myself coming away with increased respect for Roker. I had never seen Star speak at length before, and thought she handled herself generally well.
Al Roker had the surgery so it would make sense for Star to contact Roker about what to expect regarding the surgical procedure, doctors to choose. IOW they are buddies.
Knowing that the TODAY SHOW's audience is primarily women...as is The View...well, you know what I mean.
Clear as mud, right?
The extent of my knowledge of Star Jones or Barbara Walters or "The View" is what I happen to read from Drudge headlines. Someone please correct me if I'm missing something: Star Jones is a formerly obese black TV personality. She subsequently lost alot of weight, apparantly because of surgery. She recently has been informed that because her personal popularity ratings are going downhill, she's getting sacked from "The View".
My question is this: Is there a connection between her dramatic weight loss and her declining popularity? In other words, do the mindless masses who actually watch crap like "The View" prefer Star Jones as the obese celebrity they've come to know over the years? Is this new slimmed-down model actually perceived by the audience as some strange interloper who has displaced their lovable, cuddly Star?
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