CNN's Brown plays through shuttle story ('What's all this styrofoam landing on my golf course?')

Los Angeles Times ^ | February 4, 2003 | Elizabeth Jensen

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TELEVISION

CNN's Brown plays through shuttle story

Anchor decides to stay on the links during disaster follow-up, a decision which infuriates executives.

By Elizabeth Jensen
Times Staff Writer

February 4 2003

NEW YORK -- Tom Brokaw was snorkeling off the Virgin Islands Saturday morning when he saw the boat's captain, 40 feet away, frantically waving. Two planes and less than nine hours later, just before 3 p.m. PST, he was on the air anchoring NBC's Columbia space shuttle coverage from Cape Canaveral, Fla.

The lead anchors for ABC and CBS made it on the air too, but not CNN's Aaron Brown, whose absence until Sunday night was the source of much speculation. Brown, it turns out, was playing golf in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic at La Quinta in Palm Desert, which was televised on CBS midday Saturday after the network ended several hours of shuttle coverage.

CNN sources said Brown, who was promoted as the network's lead anchor when he was hired away from ABC two years ago, told the network he wasn't available to come to work. The decision infuriated some executives as well as some on his staff, the CNN sources said.

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[Timesink]

"Hold Muh Bohrman" alert...

[Ciexyz]

Sheesh! What a jerk.

I don't normally listen to CNN since they're so biased against conservatives, but they're usually real good at disaster coverage, and I did tune in over the weekend.

[jlogajan]

Frankly, who cares? One anchor is as mindless as the next. I doubt he would have corrected CNN's "18 times faster than light" claim.

[over3Owithabrain]

Hey, it's only a job, he was playing GOLF, for God's sake! He apparently didn't break any contactual obligations, he simply was enjoying his scheduled time off.

Methinks Brown made the liberals mad when he went after their pedophiliac Bush-basher Scott Ritter. Hey Aaron, come on over to Fox!

[apackof2]

LOL!

[Ciexyz]

They had CNN on at work and people stood around watching the shuttle breaking up, broadcast over and over again. People share that moment, it gives them a chance to talk about their shock and sorrow. So the network should have their best anchors on during a time like that.

[Karsus]

I don't know. Those 'anchors' they had on Fox before they brought the weekday people in were less than intelligent.

[JmyBryan]

I can't believe someone actually took the time to investigate and report this work of such vital importance ... and, of course, I'm taking the time to respond! Sheesh ...

[LimitedPowers]

My brother was in the Coast Guard on Marthas Vinyard when Nixon resigned. He got the call to get to Walter Cronkite's yacht and let him know the Big Speech was on so Uncle Walter could be at the mic for it. I don't know why that was a Coast Guard responsibility, but....

[ConservativeMan55]

I'll partially agree with you. Alyson Camerota, Mike Jerrick, and Julian Phillips were reluctant to say much because when they were on they still were not sure what was going on.

Also these three who work on Saturday seem to voice their opinions less and it makes them seem flip-floppy and stupid.
I think they are just trying to have job security.

[Timesink]

I don't know. Those 'anchors' they had on Fox before they brought the weekday people in were less than intelligent.

On Saturday mornings, the cable channels - especially MSNBC and FNC - are on barebones staffing. Until they stop being so cheap, they're going to keep getting caught with their pants down like this. And Fox more desperately needs the extra staff; at least MSNBC can always grab people from the major-league NBC News bench in a pinch, but FNC is Fox News. If they all go home, the network's screwed.

[Timesink]

I'll partially agree with you. Alyson Camerota, Mike Jerrick, and Julian Phillips were reluctant to say much because when they were on they still were not sure what was going on.

But man, Alyson looked yummy Saturday morning. *swoon*

[ConservativeMan55]

Alyson did look really hot. One thing about Alyson that she has let the world know is that she is striving to look hot.

When Alyson saw the Bud Light commercial of the babes wrestling she said.

How do you make your boobs look that good?

[Timesink]

When Alyson saw the Bud Light commercial of the babes wrestling she said. How do you make your boobs look that good?

By wearing that exact same outfit every single day, Alyson!

[Brimack34]

I thought Tony Snow was on Weekend Morning's?

[Timesink]

No, Tony doesn't come on until noon on Satuday.

[Timesink]

heyy, why isn't my JPEG from post #1 showing up?

[Skybird]

Ol Aaron must have figured that if Rush can continue to play at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, he could to.

Wouldn't it be great to be a caddie and hear that conversation!!

[HAL9000]

This space shuttle incident is a big factor in Aaron Brown's firing today.