CNN Claims “Journalistic Quality,” While Turning To Stand-Up Comedy

by Steve Krakauer | 12:03 pm, August 11th, 2009

» 11 comments

griffin_8-10 It may be the summer slump, but most cable news networks are sticking with, you know, news, to get through it. But when health care isn’t drawing the ratings, the town hall protester loop gets boring and no one is drinking beers at the White House, one cabler decided to go a different route.

CNN decided not only to let Kathy Griffin take over Larry King Live at 9pmET (which she has in the past), but to conduct a full-on non-interview with Levi Johnston. It was Griffin doing a stand-up routine for more than 10 minutes, and it makes CNN’s claims of being the more ‘news-focused’ network that much more laughable.

“Our journalistic quality is higher than its ever been,” said CNN/U.S. President Jon Klein last month. And here’s what that translates to:

Describing her night with Johnston after the Teen Choice Awards, Griffin said, “I have a bruise in a naughty place.”

Later:

Griffin: How could you not shave, you’re on Larry King.

Johnston: You said you like me scruffy.

Griffin: You’re right I do like you scruffy, you dirty dog you.

This is really just the tip of the iceberg. Watch the full routine here.

Again, this is not Red Eye, Fox News’ comedy/news hybrid that airs at 3amET. It’s not MSNBC’s sarcastic Way Too Early at 5:30amET. It’s not even D.L. Hughley Breaks the News, CNN’s short-lived show fronted by a comedian that did, occasionally, break some news. This is Larry King, on CNN, at 9pmET. And it is a lot of things, but it certainly is not “journalistic.”

You could argue that CNN’s Michael Jackson-focused prime time coverage in early July could be justified as news coverage, even if it leaned toward infotainment. Now, that facade has evaporated.

For what its worth, at least no one really seemed to give a crap about the segment. Here’s the way it was teased on CNN.com (notice – misspelling that was up all night):
cnn_8-10

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CNN, Kathy Griffin, Levi Johnston, Sarah Palin

http://www.abramsresearch.com/ Dan Abrams

Steve,

I don’t know that the folks at Larry King would even claim that they have “journalists” and “journalism” on that show every night. It’s a talk show on a news network. Larry can handle breaking news when need be, but are you setting a standard that is too high for a show that much of the time interviews celebrities? Are you going to blast them every time Don Rickles or Sid Caesar is on the show “for the ow-ah?”
libra blue

I don’t think I would characterize what Larry King does as journalism, it is a celebrity talk show. You can’t expect much “journalism” from that. However, I do have to admit that Griffin filling in was even below those standards. Viewers will be relieved to see Larry back after last night’s fiasco.

It is a little strange that CNN uses a celebrity talk show as the lead in for AC360, which is heavily touted as a news program, but then again they do promote Anderson as a celebrity. LKL really does belong on weekends competing with Geraldo.
http://mediaite.com Steve Krakauer

Dan-

I have no problem with Griffin hosting, or having Levi as a guest. But she can’t ask a couple real questions?

No one will argue Larry is the toughest interviewer, but he at least asks the basic important questions.
TfT

CNN has lost its way. TVNewser is reporting that “Jon Klein asked his show producers to avoid booking talk radio hosts. “Complex issues require world class reporting,” ” Yeah right, having Griffin host is really dealing with “complex issues”! Like I said, CNN is lost.
http://www.twitter.com/kgotkin Kevin Gotkin

Yeah, this was ridiculous. No, Larry King never purported to cover the hardest of news, but his tougher-than-tough interviewing techniques match the kind of good reporting CNN stands for. I love me some Kathy Griffin, but watching her do this was even more annoying than listening to the Intern Edition on NPR – at least those interns were trying to emulate their “real” counterparts.
ashb

“…CNN’s Michael Jackson-focused prime time coverage in early July…”

Larry is still milking that. Jermaine was his guest on Friday, August.
StewartIII

ChickaBOOMer — CNN: Corpse to Cougar News Network
http://chickaboomer.blogspot.com/2009/08/cnn-corpse-to-cougar-news-network.html
http://www.abramsresearch.com/ Dan Abrams

Wait. . . Kevin did you just describe Larry King’s interviewing “techniques” as “tougher than tough?” Have you ever watched Larry King? I like the show and enjoy watching him but “tougher than tough,” he is not.
StewartIII

Comedienne Kathy Griffin Draws More Viewers Than Chris Matthews
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/08/12/comedienne-kathy-griffin-draws-more-viewers-chris-matthews