There are live on-air gaffes that news anchors wish they could erase, like the common Obama/Osama mix-up.
But when Jesse Jackson whispered that he wanted to "cut [Obama's] nuts off" before a Fox & Friends interview on Sunday was set to begin, it was a reminder that public figures often have a hard time keeping their private conversations to themselves when they've got a hot mic pack clipped to their hip.
It should be a simple life lesson: When you have a media outlet's microphone attached to you , by default you should expect other people are listening to your conversation, and very likely recording it. Herewith, some famous examples of people who should know better, but obviously didn't.
Jesse Jackson: "I wanna cut [Obama's] nuts off"
To get started, of course, is the Rev. Jesse Jackson's comments before a Fox & Friends interview, where he's overheard saying he wants to do bad things to the presidential hopeful's nether region.
George Bush: "Major-league asshole from the New York Times"
There was President George W. Bush's contribution to the trend when, back in 2000, when he was just a Republican nominee hoping to land in the White House, he pointed out "Adam Clymer, major-league asshole fromt the New York Times" to Dick Cheney, who responded, "Oh yeah, big time." Their mics were on. (Bush never did apologize.)
Larry King: Complaining about Anderson Cooper
Before a Democratic debate in June 2007, Larry King is oblivious to the camera directly in front of him that records his complaining about Anderson Cooper getting more airtime than he does. Not overheard by the mics: "Because he's prettier than you."
Katie Couric: "Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit"
On January 8, Katie Couric was in New Hampshire anchoring election night coverage as results start coming in. She's upset with the state of the microphones. She jokes about Rudy Giuliani dying. She screams for "one interesting exit poll, please." She critiques Cindy McCain's eye color and fashion choices. She curses. Classic Katie.
Sue Simmons: "What The Fuck Are You Doing?"
WNBC anchor Sue Simmons supposedly didn't know she was recording a live promo spot — and she certainly didn't think her comment to co-anchor Chuck Scarborough would make it to air. But the promo was live, and the producer hadn't cut away yet.
Bill O'Reilly: "Fuck it! Do it live!"
Before Deborah Norville, a man named Bill O'Reilly anchored Inside Edition. And he was not too adept at rehearsing with the teleprompter. Or controlling his temper while the cameras were recording what was never supposed to see daylight.
Katie Couric: "I'm gonna be like Dan Rather on YouTube"
This clip surfaced in November and featured Katie's obsession with making sure her coat — open? or closed? — looked just perfect for the camera. Just like Dan Rather was caught doing! Not a terribly damaging clip, but another portrait of Katie as obnoxious.
Kyra Phillips: A trip to the bathroom
And, easily our favorite, is this 2006 incident where CNN anchor Kyra Phillips takes viewers into the bathroom with her, when a producer failed to un-link her mic from the live broadcast, which just so happened to be President Bush giving a speech. Just be thankful she wasn't dropping the kids off.
I just love Katie Couric even more!
Katie Couric, I can take or leave. But she distinctly did not "scream" for an interesting exit poll. That's crap.
O'Reilly… now there's a screamer.
Got to love public faux pas that you can't do anything about if they don't delete it. This makes our media look silly but then that is what they want.
i love katie couric…
Yeah, I'd say Katie comes off really well. She's polite to her co-workers and is clearly just having some fun while doing her job.
I think the video clip of Katie makes her seem more endearing and down to earth…no big issues with anything she had to say…I may even give her a chance next time I tune into the network news…
If I just read the little blurb I would have thought Katie was another prima donna. She did not "scream", she was very repsectful of her co-workers, good humored and not malicious with her comments.
when you say "kill" in the news biz, it means, the piece is not going to be done… so when she said Guiliani is dead, she meant, the piece is dead… People please…educate yourselves. I don't see anything in here that is offensive. Give Kati a break already.