Prime-time defector takes shots at CNN (Greta Van Bigwoman says CNN is a 'disgrace')

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 8.27.03 | CAROLINE WILBERT

[mhking]

Nearly two years after Greta Van Susteren defected from CNN to archrival Fox News, she has plenty to say about her former employer -- and not much good.

"What happened to CNN is a disgrace," Van Susteren said in an interview to promote her new book, "My Turn at the Bully Pulpit."

The problems at CNN, she said, started when parent company Time Warner merged with AOL and laid off employees. But she also criticized recent moves by Jim Walton, named president of Atlanta-based CNN early this year.

Van Susteren thinks Walton made a mistake by downsizing boisterous debate show "Crossfire" from an hour at 7 p.m. to a half-hour in the afternoon.

The show, she said, is one of CNN's "brands" and would play particularly well during the upcoming presidential election season.

"I don't know what Jim Walton is thinking," Van Susteren said.

CNN's prime-time moves also include bringing former Fox-er Paula Zahn to the evening anchor desk, but it still trails Fox by a wide margin.

CNN spokesman Matt Furman declined to comment.

It's not just Van Susteren's words that sting her old employer.

With an average of 1.8 million viewers so far this year, her 10 p.m. show leads the cable ratings race at that hour. CNN's Aaron Brown gets 1.2 million viewers, and MSNBC claims 499,000.

Van Susteren, a trial attorney, started her television career as a legal analyst for CNN in 1991. Her breakthrough moment came with the 1995 O.J. Simpson trial.

Van Susteren gave up her nightly news show on CNN for a gig at Fox in December 2001 -- just as upstart Fox drew ahead of CNN in ratings.

Van Sustern's book tackles a range of issues, from the death penalty to coverage of the Simpson case. And, yes, she writes about having plastic surgery when she moved to Fox, insisting that she just wanted to look younger and didn't expect all the publicity her makeover got.

Van Susteren said she left CNN even after being offered more money.

"I told CNN, 'Don't you get it? This is not about money. Don't you understand? I am not having fun here anymore. I can't stand what AOL is doing to CNN and its people, and I can't stand the atmosphere there.' "

Unlike Bill O'Reilly or other commentators on Fox, Van Susteren doesn't espouse strong conservative views on air. In her book, she says she got grief from people on both sides of the political fence when she switched networks.

"Everybody went nuts," she writes. "The conservatives hated me before they even knew me, and the liberals felt betrayed."

She added that her opinions don't match up with either network.

"I didn't agree with everything said at CNN," she writes. "I don't agree with everything said at Fox. I don't agree with everything my husband thinks, either, but I still love him."

Van Susteren admits to poring over ratings information daily, and she derides CNN executives' claims that they don't focus on the numbers.

"It's as transparent as a kid who can't dribble a basketball and pouts, 'Basketball is dumb!' " Van Susteren writes. "The folks at CNN may deny they're concerned about ratings, that they're above competition and focused solely on great journalism, but that's hard to believe when they spend $15 million to build Paula Zahn a new set!"

CNN has good journalists, she said, but Fox has better morale and it shows in the product. She gives credit to Roger Ailes, the well-known chairman of Fox News, for clear direction. "I know who the boss is," she said.

Asked if Fox has any vulnerabilities in the ratings battle with CNN, she added, "If Roger Ailes left, that would be disturbing to the company."

[mhking]

[dirtboy]

Nearly two years after Greta Van Susteren defected from CNN to archrival Fox News, she has plenty to say about her former employer -- and not much good.

I guess the fact that they're a bunch of america-hating Clintonian throne-sniffers never registered on her radar screen.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

I've always liked Greta even when she worked for CNN. I'm glad she went to FOX.

[PlutoPlatter]

Poor Greta, I have a hard time watching her for more than 5 minutes at a time with her talking out of the side of her face.

People need to be happy with the face God gave them and not mess with it.

[El Laton Caliente]

Are you kidding?

I saw her with "Her Generals" last night. Everytime they tried to say anything positive about Iraq, she interupted. She belongs with the sour at heart, America-Hating pudnits at the Commie News Network.

[Mr. Mojo]

The problems at CNN, she said, started when parent company Time Warner merged with AOL and laid off employees

That was about the time AOL stock began its descent from 90 to 10.

[NewHampshireDuo]

She was interviewed this morning on the WRKO (Boston) morning show and she related the story of her phone call from OJ right after he was acquitted. She was on the phone with him for an hour when she realized that she was going to be late picking up her husband at the airport. She told OJ that she had to interrupt the conversation to give her husband a call, otherwise he'd kill her. As the words were passing her lips she realized that she'd made a bit of a gaff. Apparently no real comment from OJ.

[Bob]

Poor Greta, I have a hard time watching her for more than 5 minutes at a time with her talking out of the side of her face.

People need to be happy with the face God gave them and not mess with it.

She has always talked out of the side of her mouth. I don't think her plastic surgery affected that at all.

[Jumpmaster]

"Poor Greta, I have a hard time watching her for more than 5 minutes at a time with her talking out of the side of her face. "

I always think of the cartoon charachter Clutch Cargo.

[Bob]

She told OJ that she had to interrupt the conversation to give her husband a call, otherwise he'd kill her. As the words were passing her lips she realized that she'd made a bit of a gaff. Apparently no real comment from OJ.

He probably thought that killing her would be a perfectly reasonable option for her husband.

[martin_fierro]

Heard Laurie Dhue take a subtle swipe at former employer CNN the other day, too.

That woman could make me write bad checks.

[Petronski]

"The folks at CNN may deny they're concerned about ratings, that they're above competition and focused solely on great journalism, but that's hard to believe when they spend $15 million to build Paula Zahn a new set!"

Pretty sound logic there, for a Scientologist.

[xzins]

I thought she had botox and not a facelift.

It's why she has a limited range of facial expressions, if you listen to her pal, Bill O'Reilley, who tried to get some botox babe to frown the other day, and she was unable to do so. (One for Bill.)

All I can say about Greta is "Stay tuned if you're a fan of the court cases."

She does a decent interview when she gets her nose out of the court cases.

[GulliverSwift]

You are correct. Greta has always favored one side of her mouth over the other. I don't know why her producers haven't got her to kick this bad habit.

[Republic]

Oh hogwash....what shallow criticism of a very astute human being. So you're disgruntled that she speaks out of the side of her mouth (perhaps bells palsy (sp) syndrome) and that she has had some facial surgery. Whoopi doo dah.

[NewHampshireDuo]

It's why she has a limited range of facial expressions, if you listen to her pal, Bill O'Reilley, who tried to get some botox babe to frown the other day, and she was unable to do so. (One for Bill.)

I saw that, it was a riot. Bill asked her to frown and smile and the expression remained neutral. Then the plastic surgeon guy that was on tried to explain that it's the wrinkles that provide expression and has nothing to do with botox.

[cars for sale]

I don't care if he has toe itch and dandruf,I loathe Greta.

[Charlie OK]

Van Susteren admits to poring over ratings information daily, and she derides CNN executives' claims that they don't focus on the numbers.

"It's as transparent as a kid who can't dribble a basketball and pouts, 'Basketball is dumb!' " Van Susteren writes.

*snicker*

[Orangedog]

Poor Greta, I have a hard time watching her for more than 5 minutes at a time with her talking out of the side of her face.

What is up with that? Did she have a stroke or something?

[dljordan]

My wife hates Laurie but all I can say is G*d what lips!