The fact is that CNN, in the interest of diversity, has an unprecedented number of black faces on the air. This is good. But too many of these anchors and pundits are Boring. Have they been coached to tone down their personalities, in order to seem newsy? Perhaps. But they do so at their own risk:
My sources tell me that over 20 contracts are up the day after Barack Obama's inauguration. (Expect unemployment figures to soar when the Election Center's army of pundits is decommissioned.) So jobs really are at stake.
With that in mind, this post is meant not as an attack -- but as constructive advice to those less than scintillating personalities on how they can stay on payroll during these trying economic times.
First, those African-Americans at CNN who have it going on. They don't need any advice:
DONNA BRAZILE
She puts the Cajun in CNN. Raised in Louisiana, this saucy Earth Mother became involved in local politics at the age of nine and has been "Cooking with Grease" (the title of her memoir) ever since. She can be funny. She can be ferocious. And of course she occupies a permanent seat in the Election Center's front row, thank you very much.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX
CNN's stunning and icy cold White House Correspondent hearkens back to Hollywood's greatest Noir Bad Girls. A black Bacall. A sexier Stanwyck. Rhonda Fleming with a reporter's notebook. But as great looking as she is, her sex appeal comes from her smarts. A warning to any male interviewee who thinks he can play Malveaux: she will play you. Every time. (The title of her inevitable biopic? Basic Cable Instinct.)
T.J. HOLMES
The studly Razorback with the shaved head used to report from the street. Now he's brought street to the anchor desk: "I'm gonna throw it over to my man Ed Henry at the White House. Ed, buddy, what's up? ... (and after the report) ... Aight, we'll check back with you later on." Unorthodox? Yes. And thank goodness.
ROLAND MARTIN
CNN's most operatic pundit is never afraid to chew the scenery. But his aria on the night of Barack Obama's victory was pitch perfect. Like any great diva, he is either loved or hated -- but never ignored!
(SOLEDAD O'BRIEN is not included in the list above since she is half-Cuban. She will be included in my upcoming list of "CNN's Best and Brightest Blatinas.")
OKAY, now for those anchors and personalities who need help:
DON LEMON
He's an Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award winning journalist, the latter for his coverage of the D.C. Sniper. (As someone with family in the area, I thank him!) But as a daytime co-anchor alongside peppy gal-pal Kyra Phillips (the network's Gidget), he seems overly restrained. Come on, Don, let that personality shine. Let's turn a Lemon into Lemonade!
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD
I remember the Fredericka Whitfield of NBC. A hard news version of Jayne Kennedy, she reported fearlessly from the field - throwing to anchor Tom Brokaw ... and leaving him breathless. Now she's CNN's Saturday morning anchor/babysitter -- and as bored as a Real Housewife of Atlanta. Phylicia Rashad without the fire. And her wardrobe? As edgy as Murphy Brown's. My advice: get out of the weekend morning ghetto, girl -- and back on the street. Bring back "Fred"!
AMY HOLMES
With her corkscrew curls and megawatt smile, this conservative commentator should be riding the goodship lollipop to her own show. But perhaps in a bid to seem like the "nice" conservative, she all too often comes off as bland. (It doesn't help that she worked for Bill Frist, the blandest Majority Leader ever.) Amy is smart - and her background is fascinating. For heaven's sake, she was born in Zambia, though you'd never know it from her performance. C'mon, Amy, give us some zip, some zing. Show us some Zambia!
TONY HARRIS
Harris began his career as a radio disc jockey -- and you hear that in every story he reads. He's the only anchor who can report on a genocide and make it sound like a Barenaked Ladies concert ticket giveaway. He's likable and goodness knows he's got energy. So no, he's not boring. He just needs to lower his voice once in a while.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 14)
1. Okay, Mo, I'll bite.
Why "more black people"? I contend that if you replaced "black" with any other race (especially white), the comment would be downright offensive.
CNN has a diverse pool of talent. Good for them. But are you now suggesting some kind of "blacks-only" focused affirmative action at CNN?
Perhaps you should clarify what you mean when you say "black": are we talking strictly in terms of having African descent, (a la Obama) or African-American descent (descendents of those brought to America as slaves)? Arguably those who self-identify as blacks will experience varying degrees of difficulties due to prejudice. (Think of the discussions whether Obama was "black enough" -- now THERE's some interesting rhetoric.)
BTW, Suzanne Malveaux self-identifies as black, despite all that Creaole/French and Spanish heritage (thank you, Wikipedia), European features, long straight hair and a complexion no deeper than mine when I've got a suntan? No doubt she's intelligent, sharp-witted (yes, and beautiful) and well deserving of her post at CNN. How do you think her life experiences as a self-identifying black woman compares to others?
Let the haters come at me... just speaking my mind.
Kozz at 12:13PM on Dec 1st 2008
2. Is CNN color struck?* Do anchors have to be light...bright...and d@mn near white? The only person that's darker than a "brown paper bag" is Donna Brazile and she's not an anchor.
*Zora Neale Hurston "Color Struck"
Noire at 1:39PM on Dec 1st 2008
3. Why more BLAND people?
What I'd give to see someone with heart and brains; a Shirley Chisholm, a Barbara Jordan.
I know they weren't newscasters; they were politicians. Maybe if someone of their caliber were in the management of these news organizations, the news would actually be newsworthy.
We need more salt mixed in.
JillJG at 3:59PM on Dec 1st 2008
4. Didn't anyone else notice that Soledad O'Brien was left out?!
giftedgirl at 4:09PM on Dec 1st 2008
5. Great catch, giftedgirl. I'm going to include Soledad (with whom I've judged Iron Chef) when I do my piece on CNN's blatina babes. ¡Ella es una Cubana!
Mo Rocca at 4:28PM on Dec 1st 2008
6. I noticed Soledad. However, if we're going to name everyone, how about Stephanie Elam, Sara Sidner, Alphonso Van Marsh, Jammal Simmons, Lisa Sylvester, Kareen Wynter, etc...
Noire at 4:45PM on Dec 1st 2008
7. Oops...that should be Jamal, Joe Johns, Dan Lothian...
Noire at 4:49PM on Dec 1st 2008
8. And the answer to the lack of authenticity-what you call interesting, I call authenticity/soul-is not the caricature D.L. Hughley.
Noire at 4:59PM on Dec 1st 2008
9. (SOLEDAD O'BRIEN is not included in the list above since she is half-Cuban. She will be included in my upcoming list of "CNN's Best and Brightest Blatinas.")
Yes, because there are so many "Blatinas" on CNN.
Rebecca at 6:40PM on Dec 1st 2008
10. How come there are not journalist from either Fox News or elsewhere?
Fred at 8:04PM on Dec 1st 2008
11. give it up. the left has done very well . i cant remember when in 09 it starts, but the real challenge is going to be how to stop the new "black news channel" that is republican based from getting the true message out and have the FOLLOWERS realize who really is for change. what will the American (black, or do you prefer to be called african american?) people do? Cant wait to see some REAL talent!!!!!!!!
cameron at 8:15PM on Dec 1st 2008
12. Bring back Lynn Russell..........now there is SEX appeal....she used to melt the camera she was so hot.
Dick at 8:17PM on Dec 1st 2008
13. So you are suggesting Jeremia Wright be hired as a news anchor. Why not, that would certainly underscore the fact that CNN is extremely biased in its new coverage.
John McGinness at 8:18PM on Dec 1st 2008
14. I see your points, Mo, but aren't you in a way implying that black anchors should all act a certain way? Maybe these people you're earmarked as boring are concerned with being respected journalists, not appealing to people who think that black people all ought to have "flava". Let's not fence these people in. Let's allow them to be the on-air personalities they choose to be, instead of pressuring them to live up to others' expectations about how black people "ought" to represent themselves. There are many types of diversity. I enjoy the diversity of individual personalities, as well!
Kerrie at 8:20PM on Dec 1st 2008
15. Mo Rocca is Mo stupid
hs at 8:20PM on Dec 1st 2008