They Just Do What They Are Told
Lately I’ve got some extra gumption and am getting up early to work out at my nearby 24 Hour Fitness–(you help keep me accountable by following me on foursquare.) Thus, I’ve just been able to watch the morning shows, well, actually the only one on at my gym is CBS’ The Early Show. So this week, I’ve been watching. I’ve never been a viewer before, due to the fact that I was always driving to work when then these shows air.
But, man, I can barely stand to watch the thing. It’s so programmed – down to the second – that the viewer can barely grasp what the segment is about and then it’s time to segue to another heavy and hearty subject. Here’s what I mean.
Funny, but a serious morning show subject
Last Tuesday, Sarah Silverman was a guest on The Early Show basically to promote her new autobiography called The Bedwetter. It was one of the most uncomfortable interviews I have seen in a long time. The Early Show has this thing where they have to fill like 90 seconds before they go to a commercial – and these little pods are worthless and the hosts look uncomfortable. On this particular morning, there was an awkward moment between Silverman and the weather guy Dave Price when both pretended that they were infatuated with each other. It didn’t play well. And these small pods don’t play well – for they are too short to get into the subject of why the guest is there. After they go to a commercial, then the four hosts next go outside for some more worthless chit chat and then the weather and then they come back inside and talk to the guest whom you almost forget is still patiently there.
Well, on this day, Harry Smith conducted a mediocre interview with Silverman. And, it wasn’t until the final question that we really got to the heart of the matter – Sarah revealed that she had a bed wetting problem well into her teens which I found fascinating. I loved her transparency and honestly.
I really wanted to learn more about what causes this issue in later aged kids. And wouldn’t it have made sense if The Early Show’s medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton talked about bed wetting. It would have been a perfect tie in. But, no – she had to talk about how 1 out of 4 couples are just too tired to have sex! That’s interesting, but they missed a great opportunity to discuss another serious subject.
This all leads me to this point — wouldn’t it be wonderful if morning show producers had the ability to stay with a subject for maybe two segments if the topic warrants it. So what if you have to bump a guest from time to time. The programs are just too fast paced. Let us breathe and take in what you’re telling us and stop rushing. I hate watching a segment on makeup or fashion and I can hear the guest talking so fast because they have too much to fit into a two minute segment. It’s exhausting to watch and at times, embarrassing.
If I want to know what’s going on at this very moment in the world in bite-size tidbits – I’d just rely on twitter. Let’s update the morning show format and relax it a bit to truly feature guests, story lines and interesting information in the proper lengths of time. Allow producers to get off the programming wheel and cover stories fully.
And speaking of awkward moments, poor David Price. He got a fat lip on Wednesday when a NFL draftee threw a blistering football at him. It came so fast and hard, that he fumbled it a bit and it smacked him in the face. You could instantly tell he was in pain – but as a true showman – his weather went on – fat lip and all. That’s live TV for you. Here is the segment.
What’s your take on the mornings news?
Best,
Cindy