Would You Like Some Cheese to go With Your Whine?
After the above audio clip was posted by Johnny Dollar, TVNewser was forwarded the email Brian Kilmeade sent out demanding more segment face time to just about everyone connected to FNC…except the production staff at Countdown. The obvious reaction that people are going to have is to mock Kilmeade for whining. But the truth is this is not that unusual in a multi-talent hosted program where not everyone gets face time all the time. Hell, it’s not that unusual at any news network for turf wars to break out. So my reaction to Kilmeade’s “whine” is ho-hum.
I was more interested in what came after the whine as a rough rundown for a particular episode was included. What leapt out was the repeated reference to “Talking Points”. Obviously this refers to the point in time in the program where the three hosts “banter” about subjects of the day. But the use of the term “talking points” suggests something more scripted than a free flow of conversation. Which begs the question who comes up with the talking points and what are the criteria?
Update: An emailer writes in noting this is much ado about nothing…
I don’t know who picks out the TP segment topics, but the existence of the segment, or the fact that it’s called that, is nothing new. They have repeatedly referred to it as the “talking points” on air.
July 18, 2008 at 5:41 pm
It’s obvious that the banter on F&F is not completely spontaneous (there are numerous examples of prompter tongue slips, precognitive chryons, etc). I would bet money that 75% of what we hear in those segments was already discussed in story meetings overnight, and some points are refined or even eliminated. That doesn’t exactly mean that we aren’t hearing the actual thoughts or words of the personalities, only that what we actually see and hear more a product of revision than passion. The show is seriously overproduced for it’s format, which is why other gaffes, technical and otherwise, stick out like a sore thumb. And of course Kilmeade’s a dumbass.
July 18, 2008 at 8:34 pm
No he’s not, sivart.
As Brian mentioned, why should he get up and come into work that early if he’s not being used? (I know, he’s getting paid regardless). But seriously, none of the three main “Friends” have any particular expertise (except Brian, ironically, with sports), so why shouldn’t they all have an equal amount of “face time”.
July 19, 2008 at 6:21 am
If Brian is not there, I am not really interested in the show, though I do watch it. (Except when they get that dull Johnson lawyer to host) I can’t think of his full name.
Brian plays the buffoon very well, but it obviously part of his schtick.
I like this threesome, just as it is.
July 22, 2008 at 8:56 pm
[...] Yes, this was covered last week. Sort of. Indirectly. It was originally posted for the Kilmeade email and not the Obama snub. I’m really distracted tonight (I’m [...]