CNN's American Morning's ratings might be up 11 percent this year, but it's not exactly the breakout success story Jon Klein would like. Maybe that's because there's so little celebrity gossip? Or even a summer fashion special? While the morning show may not veer too far in that direction anytime soon, John Roberts, the Kenny Chesney fan and Dick Cheney hater who's about to celebrate one year on the program, insists the format will get "little looser, a little more accessible, and allow Kiran and I to draw on the experiences we've had as journalists, and convey that information to viewers."
And whenever American Morning does get its new executive producer, maybe that means Roberts will tell us all about his post-9/11 experience transferring from Canadian to U.S. citizenship, since his network's most vocal critic on that little subject of immigration seems to only care when it's Mexicans crossing the border.
Don't you just hate it when you're injured in a Thanksgiving weekend bicycle accident, rushed to the hospital, and discharged after receiving stitches in your right hand only to subsequently discover that you actually broke your neck?
Well, that's apparently what happened to CNN morning anchor John Roberts, who recently learned that the stiffness and difficulty moving his neck was caused by an (undiagnosed) shattered facet bone.
"I've been walking around with it for 11 days and didn't die…so, probably no biggie" said a less-than-distraught Roberts. Good thing he's feeling so grateful to be alive these days! Perhaps that will prevent him from taking legal action against the hospital, who reportedly informed him of the injury nearly two weeks after the fact due to a "clerical error."
Forget that Portfolio launch — today is a bigger day in television. With Kiran Chetry and John Roberts taking over at CNN's American Morning and Tiki Barber making his Today show debut, it's a bit hard to get us to focus on some glossy new book when John is donning suspenders in honor of Larry King Day and that beautiful bald man is dotting NBC's broadcast.
And also, lower third scrolls are a much better distraction for all things Don Imus than a new table of contents.
• PRWeek is not a fan of the RTCA Dinner. Possibly because they failed to properly appreciate MC Rove. Probably because they think it's a conflict of interest for journalists and politicians sing, dance and jump in bed together.
• Is the Today show squandering its once massive lead over Good Morning America? 'Yes!" says Page Six. 'No!" says last week's ratings.
• CNN's American Morning will continue to be a "no glitz, no glamour" (and, presumably, "no viewer) operation.
• Meanwhile, Miles O'Brien looks forward to life outside "an air-conditioned studio" while his replacement, John Roberts insists, "I don't think [AM] has to be hard news like you're taking Robitussin."
• NBC renews 30 Rock for another season, gives Tracy Morgan something to do in between binge-drinking and hitting the strip joints.
After being shrugged off by CBS and Les Moonves, John Roberts left his 10 year plus post as CBS Evening News anchor to join CNN.
As a senior national correspondent based in Washington, Roberts will report for various CNN newscasts throughout the day, said Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S., on Wednesday. He starts on Feb. 20.
Poor Roberts. Not only are his ratings low, and his own network doesn't find him "high profile" enough to replace Dan Rather, but Reuters can't even get his name right. Not to mention the whole rest of the article is gossip-y media stuff about Katie Couric's prospect of landing the anchor slot.
Well, CNN has done wonders for Anderson Cooper … maybe John Roberta will get his moment in the sun, too. Our advice: go for the all over silvery/white/grey hair look. Very hot on the anchor front right now.
CBS' John Roberta Jumps to CNN [David Bauder, Reuters] — And yes, the Reuters headline reads "John Roberta."
