Frankly Speaking

Barney Frank, Democrat, Massachusetts

Call it "Frankly Speaking," or "Frank Talk," -- either will do.  It's time for morning cable news to have an alternative to the abysmal "Morning Joe" on MSNBC.

Three hours of Joe Scarborough is hard to take.  Now that he is also doing "Way Too Early" at 5:30 a.m., MSNBC subjects its viewers to 3 and 1/2 hours of perhaps one of the most annoying personalities on cable TV.  And that is saying something since MSNBC is also home to Chris Matthews!


Barney is retiring after this term in Congress.  His voice has been one for progressive Democrats in the House.

This would be excellent timing.  CNN has been losing viewers, and they are seeking a new direction.  Toward that end, they have just hired Jeff Zucker as its new president.  Zucker needs desperately to repair his image as a savvy producer.

"CNN has lost its luster," said Christopher Harper, a former News correspondent and journalism professor at Temple University. "It hasn't adapted to what the audience wants, which is more fireworks."  

Zucker too lost his luster and created plenty of fireworks both as head of entertainment for NBC and later as chief executive of NBCUniversal. Under his watch, ratings for NBC declined sharply and his efforts to rejuvenate its prime-time lineup with a show hosted by Jay Leno blew up and embarrassed the network. He was pushed out after NBCUniversal was taken over by cable company Comcast Corp last year.  

"There is no doubt I made mistakes in the entertainment world, and I own those," Zucker said, adding that "you only become a better executive and manager if you learn from your mistakes."  Flint, J. (2012, November 29). Jeff zucker named president of cnn. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-fi-ct-zucker-cnn-20121130,0,924399.story

So, C'mon, Barney, Zucker, and CNN.  Time to blow "Morning Joe" right out of the water. And give us all an alternative.  And a break!


© 2012