Tag Archives: Anderson Cooper

He he he

Posted on August 1, 2012 | 2 Comments

I guess you heard that Anderson Cooper’s daytime show Anderson has been renewed…

Emphasis on ‘new.’

The show’s second season has a new set. It has a new name — Anderson Live. It has a new home, moving from the Time Warner Center to the CBS Broadcast Center so they can have a live audience. And Anderson plans to utilize the guest host format that he tried out last year.  But of course, the biggest ‘new’ is in the title –

This season, the show’s gonna be LIVE.

Anderson says he enjoys live TV and all the surprises that come with it. He’ll be able to incorporate viewer feedback ‘as it happens’ on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr. And I’m sure all that’s true. But I think I know the real reason Anderson wants to go live….

He’s gonna milk that giggle of his for the ratings gold — or should I say, silver – that it is.

Laugh your way to first place, Anderson!

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Posted in Celebrities, Commentary, Entertainment, Humor, Life, Television, TV

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The gift

Posted on December 10, 2011 | Leave a comment

My good friend Caroline visited this past week, a gift from her husband for her birthday.

Nice one, Shaun.

During her four days in Manhattan, we saw two Broadway shows, a taping of Anderson, a movie on a rainy day, shopping, holiday lights, more shopping, and lots and lots of food, drink and wonderful conversation.

She was also able to reconnect with three other friends who call New York City home.

And while I know the chance to see Hugh Jackman perform live on stage was the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that spurred the last-minute trip, having so much time together to simply talk and catch up was an incredible luxury.

Would we have traded some of that time to meet Hugh in person?

Duh — of course.

We’re good friends.  We know what we really like!

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Posted in Broadway, Commentary, Entertainment, Friends, Humor, Life, Shopping, Travel

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There she is

Posted on December 8, 2011 | Leave a comment

So what does Anderson Cooper have on his mind as the holidays draw near?

Toddlers and tiaras.

Or, more specifically, what effect our princess, pageant and beauty-obsessed society might be having on young girls.

I attended the taping of Anderson today with my friend Caroline.  It was my third time to be a part of his studio audience.

The first time he discussed women who discovered their husbands were cheating online.

Snore.

The second was a special screening of the movie 50/50 followed by the show taping with interviews with the movie’s stars.

Score.

But today’s show, which featured tiny pageant contestants and their moms surrounded by an audience who pretty much all agreed these folks were whackadoodle doos?

Triple word score.

Thanks Anderson, for asking me back!

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Posted in Beauty, Celebrities, Children, Commentary, Entertainment, Humor, Television, TV

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Points to ponder

Posted on November 25, 2011 | 11 Comments

Anderson Cooper just tweeted that he ‘doesn’t see the point in waffles.’

He argues that they are just pancakes with holes in them. I like pancakes better myself.

I’m more interested in the idea of foods that ‘don’t have a point.’

I know I have a list.

  • Pâté
  • Veal
  • Anything that I have to ‘acquire’ a taste for

And on the day after Thanksgiving — when most people’s stomachs are stretched and sad from a day of overeating — more food and drink is bound to make that list.

What are your pointless foods?

Place them in the comments section…and we can rush to agree/argue!

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Posted in Commentary, Cooking, Food, Foods, Holiday, Humor, Life

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Laughing live

Posted on September 22, 2011 | Leave a comment

I was in the audience for last night’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Now, I’ve been lucky enough to see a lot of shows live here in New York City. Live with Regis and Kelly, Millionaire, Late Show with David Letterman, Conan (back in the day), Silent Library. Heck, I’ve already been to Anderson Cooper’s new daytime talk show.

I’m kinda spoiled.

But Jimmy Fallon has played hardball with me. You see, I had tickets to Late Night in March but had to cancel last minute due to work commitments.  When I called to let them know — and I did call — they thanked me profusely…and then placed me on a ‘no reservations list’ for two months.

Thanks, Jimmy.  Thanks, Mr. Nice Guy.

But last night’s Late Night was easily the most fun I have ever had as part of a live audience.  Jonah Hill killed in his interview.  I have never been so surprised or laughed so hard.  Plus, Jimmy featured Hashtags — who doesn’t love Hashtags? — and a new episode of the “Jersey Floor.”  I even liked the musical guest Elbow.  (Look them up; they’re really good.)

So, I forgive you, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, for your archaic cancelation policy.

You funnied the fume right out of me.

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Posted in Celebrities, Comedy, Commentary, Entertainment, Humor, Television, TV

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Live on

Posted on January 19, 2011 | 1 Comment

“Regis is here!” — Regis Philbin (anytime he walks into a room)

We all knew the day was coming.  But Regis Philbin’s announcement yesterday that he plans to leave Live with Regis & Kelly at the end of the summer was still a shocker.

David Letterman — who has poked fun at the man more than anyone on television — called Regis while taping last night’s Late Show to lament his decision.

Personally I applaud Rege for leaving before he ‘needs’ to… for retiring while he still loves the job and while the audience — and the industry — still loves him.  Now executive producer Michael Gelman must find not just a new co-host, but the right co-host, to join Kelly at the Live desk.

I think we know how I feel about this.

Way back in November 2009, when Regis had heart surgery and was out for six weeks, I made my preference known.

And still today, I will accept — without too much whining — only one of the following to sit by her side:  Neil Patrick Harris or Anderson Cooper.

Anderson just signed a deal to host his own daytime talk show, so I would think that takes him out of the running. Which can only mean one thing….

If Gelman has a brain in that yoga-toned body of his, America will soon be waking up to the next great morning show:

Live with Kelly and Neil Patrick

(I think she’s earned top billing by now.)

It will be legen — I’m still waiting for it — dary.

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Posted in Celebrities, Commentary, Entertainment, Family, Friends, Home, Humor, Life, News, Television, TV

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Hair story

Posted on October 3, 2010 | 1 Comment

I got my first gray hair at the tender age of 19.

At first, it was enough to pluck the one or two strays I spied.  But eventually, I had to trust a professional to cover the growing mobs.

Now?   They’ve won the war.

I don’t even like to think about how much money I have spent over the years hiding them from public view.  It’s not that I think gray hair is ugly; I’ve seen many women wear it beautifully.  I just don’t have the skin tone to pull it off.

If I went gray, I’d have to start spray tanning each week.  Fake color of some sort is my destiny.

So, I’m a bit jealous when I hear that celebs like Anderson Cooper and Bret Favre have been offered millions of dollars to cover their gray hair for the “Go Away Gray” company.

“Go Away Gray” is a dietary supplement created by Cathy Beggan.  Beggan says the pill’s secret is the enzyme Catalase, which breaks down the hydrogen peroxide in our bodies, keeping our hair from going gray.

I don’t know if it really works.  But if Beggan paid me $1 million, I’d sure as heck give it a try.   (Cathy — are ya listenin’?  My cellphone is on.)

Anderson Cooper turned her down.  Smart move.  His silver locks are his calling card.  I don’t know how Favre responded.

We’ll just have to wait and see.  And wait and see again.  And then, wait and see again.

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Posted in Advertising, Beauty, Celebrities, Health, Humor, Life, News, Sports, Television, TV

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Nothing but NPH

Posted on January 28, 2010 | Leave a comment

There’s talk swirling in the ‘hood again about Regis Philbin’s replacement.

(I say the ‘hood because the “Live with Regis and Kelly” studios are just a few blocks from my apartment. Yeah –  I’m that hip.)

The chatter first begain when Regis had heart bypass surgery a few years ago, and the parade of replacement hosts began.  I think we know who won that go-round:  the incomparable Neil Patrick Harris, with notable stand-outs Anderson Cooper, Bryant Gumbel and Pat Sajak.

But then Rege recovered nicely, and “Live” soldiered on.

In December of last year, Rege was out yet again for over a month, this time with hip replacement surgery, and the co-host dance was back in full swing.  Anderson Cooper was there — a lot — and some fresh faces, too.

But no Neil Patrick Harris, who I think we all agree is Kelly Ripa’s soulmate at the desk.

My take on it?  After triumphs at the “Tony Awards” and “Emmys” and “American Idol,” he may have outgrown the guest host role.

NPH is simply too H-O-T.

But I still believe, on the day that Rege retires, NPH would be the best choice for the longevity of “Live.”

If he’s not too big to fit in the chair.

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Shame on you

Posted on January 20, 2010 | 3 Comments

I can hardly believe my eyes.

As if the images and stories coming out of Haiti aren’t horrific enough, now some journalists working there are getting dinged for trying to help the victims.

CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta has been both treating the injured and reporting on the medical conditions in Haiti following the earthquake.  Anderson Cooper, also with CNN, recently abandoned his report on looting in Haiti to aide a young boy who had been hit in the head by a flying rock and move him to safer ground.

Journalism purists hold that reporters who get involved in the action become part of the story and lose their objectivity.

Perhaps that would matter more if these journalists were reporting from a war zone, where getting involved means taking sides in a civil dispute. In Haiti, it’s the people versus the elements.  Anyone standing idly by — reporter, doctor, teacher, minister — who does not come to the aide of someone in need in this increasingly desperate fight for survival, to me, is without conscience.

Gupta and Cooper are setting the example by putting people first and headlines second.  They should be applauded, not found suspect.

The reporters creating headlines based on these men’s behavior?  Perhaps they should examine their motives.

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Posted in Television, Travel

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Weak offense

Posted on January 1, 2010 | Leave a comment

Well, CNN, I hope it was worth it.

You knew it was coming, and you let it happen.  Probably hoped it would.  Thought the prospect of Kathy Griffin misbehaving would improve your ratings against the mega-tradition of “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” with Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest.  (I mean, they put J Lo in a see-through bodysuit, for goodness sakes.)

So, you let Kathy co-host with poor, defenseless Anderson Cooper, even after she all but promised to let the profanity fly during the broadcast.  I’ll admit I was interested in hearing the outcome, even though I didn’t end up watching.

She did use the F-word, as expected….but in a very pedestrian way.  And only once.  Anderson’s reply?  “You’re terrible.  Really terrible.”  And then he went on with the show.

Boring, Kathy.  Bor-ing.  And very beneath your usual spectacle.  In fact, it kinda looked like an A-lister pretending to be a D-lister.

Uh oh.  Looks like Kathy has gotten too big…to act small.

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