Another talking bobblehead: According to Variety, CNN’s Headline News division has hired conservative radio talk-show host Glenn Beck to host an hour-long primetime program beginning in April.
While the network is counting on Beck to lure tube drones from Bill O’Reilly and Joe Scarborough, his style is supposed to be less rabid than those two dogs.
“Glenn’s style is self-deprecating, cordial; he says he’d like to be able to disagree with guests and part as friends. It’s conversational, not confrontational,” said HLN’s Ken Jautz.
Beck apparently already has a huge following. Variety noted he is tied for eighth with a national radio audience of 2.75 million, according to “Talkers” magazine. More importantly, however, Beck is third in the 25-54 demo (advertisers’ fave demo), according to Arbitron, behind Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.
“We didn’t look for a conservative, a liberal or anyone of a particular ideology. It was about getting the best talent that would resonate with the most viewers,” Jautz said.
“‘…We didn’t look for a conservative, a liberal or anyone of a particular ideology….'”
Yeah — if you believe that then you probably spend most of your time in the cabbage patch looking for your new son or daughter.
I love what WTF Is It Now had to say about this: CNN Headline News has signed conservative radio host Glenn Beck for an hourlong talk show. The same Glenn Beck who uttered these heartwarming statements:
“And that’s all we’re hearing about, are the people in New Orleans. Those are the only ones that we’re seeing on television are the scumbags.”
“Hang on, let me just tell you what I’m thinking. I’m thinking about killing Michael Moore, and I’m wondering if I could kill him myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it. No, I think I could. I think he could be looking me in the eye, you know, and I could just be choking the life out — is this wrong?”
“[T]his is horrible to say, and I wonder if I’m alone in this — you know, it took me about a year to start hating the 9-11 victims’ families? Took me about a year.”
“I’ve got to tell you, I appreciate your service. … Good for you. Good for — I mean, good for you. Is it because you did it for the country? … I have to tell you, when all is said and done, I’m glad people like you are on our side.” People who tortured prisoners in US custody.
This comes right on the heels of a recent report that CNN hired chronic gambler and repuke “values” hypocrite Bill Bennett, who said in September, “[Y]ou could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down.” Sigh.
They wouls have signed Randi Rhodes if ratings were the only thing they cared about. She beat up Sean H in the recent ratings and used to kick Rushs ass so badly that Clearchannel had to buy Randis station and move her show to a diff. time slot so she wouldnt further humiliate the liying pill popper.