AC 45°

The show's mission statement reads: "ANDERSON COOPER 360°" is a fast-moving, surprising and provocative alternative to the typical network evening newscast. Backed by the global resources of CNN, Anderson's anchor desk is Central Command for a 360-degree look at world events -- covering not only the day's top stories, but the fascinating, the unexpected and the underreported. Also, Dr. Sanjay Gupta appears regularly on the show with the latest medical and health news. "ANDERSON COOPER 360°" -- where your world comes full circle."

Well, unless my world only involves hunts for polygamist bastards on the run and mega-preachers with perfect hair and blonde wives with perfect boobs, AC 360° could hardly claim a full circle. More like 45°, actually: lots of tabloid factoids on subjects that have mega drama factors but little else in terms of substance or relevance - that's probably why they are underreported in the first place! Throw in a little Da Vinci Code, a little more of the Duke rape case and the nun-murder, and VOILA! The perfect theta! Popcorn for the brain: yummy but low in calories.

I really don't watch AC, I just fast-forward through him in case Her Hotness shows up, so its relative insignificance shouldn't really matter to me. But the whole show last night was just a damn waste of time and if this format follows Jonathan Klein's model, then I cringe at what CNN is turning into. Forget about Fox - that is already a lost cause, a propaganda machine, a training ground for future GOP WH speakers. But CNN? Ted Turner must be turning in his grave - and he ain't even dead yet!

And if Delia is being molded into the Jon Klein prototype, then I cringe even more. She is already a blonde (and getting blonder) - fits right into the CNN blondie shelf. (Nothing against blondes: my GF is one!) She has reported on mostly fluffy stuff: Christmas displays and a movie with bad lion CGI (i.e., Aslan's perfect mane looking like he was doing a shampoo commercial!), Aunt Harriett and creationist tours, a package on one of the worst books of 2005 (I read the book, I totally agree on how bad and insipid it was)... and now she's working on freaking free masonry? Give me a bleeping break! Where's the "respected independent journalist worldwide, with hard nose media experience" that Anonymous *cough - I know who you are - cough* Poster posted about?

Okay, Shep is still very cranky: I had to mow my tiny yard yesterday, which wasn't exactly good for my allergies. So my head is filled with Allegra and Benadryl and mondo Advair... But Jack Cafferty gets paid for being cranky, right? With crankiness comes bad wit, afterall.


Delia Gallagher