The Week’s Top 25 TV Pundits By Airtime
20. Gene Shalit – 79 On-Air Mentions
Shalit, like Andy Rooney before him, is only on TV once a week but also makes it to our list based on the power of the affiliates carrying that one appearance. Of course, Mr. Shalit had to watch the movie Date Night in order to get that appearance, so maybe it’s not worth it because he did not like the film one bit. See how jolly he looks in this picture? He looked the opposite in his segment this week. Since he’s on NBC though, he had to mention he still likes Tina Fey and Steve Carell!
19. Frank Rich – 86 On-Air Mentions
The New York Times columnist is a bit of an oddball here. While he hasn’t appeared that much on TV himself, people have certainly been talking about him. That’s what happens when you write two inflammatory pieces, one implying the Tea Party movement is entirely based in racism and the other comparing Obama after the Health Care win to Clark Kent after changing into Superman. Racism and superheroes: that’s how you capture the American zeitgeist, people.
18. Brit Hume – 101 On-Air Mentions
Fox News found plenty of reasons to bring the senior legal analyst on last week. He appeared about a couple of times a day discussing everything from unemployment rates to provocative statements from Iran president Ahmadinejad.
17. Mike Lupica – 102 On-Air Mentions
Lupica who normally makes his TV appearances on ESPN, stopped by the Today Show this week to discuss the golf of Mr. Tiger Woods. Of course, anytime a TV show says they’re discussing the topic of “the golf of Mr. Tiger Woods” these days, they’re really discussing the much more interesting topic “CAN YOU BELIEVE HOW MANY CHICKS TIGER WOODS BANGED?”
16. Sam Donaldson – 110 On-Air Mentions
TV veteran Donaldson got a lot of ABC screen time last week, but not for any fun reason. He was mostly reporting on the coal mine tragedy in West Virginia.
