MMMMM …. Theraflu

Today's Buzz ...

** tonight on Anderson Cooper 360°:


Not that being “doped up” on it is any excuse for lapses in judgment of what constitutes a quality news program ...

I don’t think I can say much about last night’s program that hasn’t already been said (by myself or others) ... it had much more repetitive OJ coverage, with the same cast of shady characters, than a lot of people would have preferred ... but they are outweighed by those who tune in for it ... as was even mentioned at one point. Thank heavens for some perspective on this debacle from Jeanne Moos last night!!!

And there was a Jeffs trial update – which is, honestly, another story that got just a bit more air time than I would have preferred. Again - not that it shouldn’t be covered and exposed for what it is, but I keep coming back to the word “proportionally”. That said, it almost sounded like the case against Jeffs isn’t strong enough to produce a conviction, which would be astounding, but juries are completely unpredictable.

Which briefly reminds me – I should correct one portion of my entry from yesterday – the deadlocked Phil Spector jury won’t (yet) be allowed to consider a lesser charge of manslughter, but will be able to hear additional defense and prosecution arguments.

Did anyone watch the Cafferty Files special last night? It was just as enlightening as I anticipated ... good interviews with Senator Hagel (can he be drafted to run for President?) and Whoopi Goldberg – and a concise “reminder” from Candy Crowley’s segment about exactly how next-to-impossible the current two-party political system has made it for a third party to become viable in the United States. That’s just wrong ...

A quick “OT” program note for tonight – Bill Clinton is the guest on The Daily Show, and Jeff Toobin is the guest on The Colbert Report. If you watch TCR, you know that Jeff will be so flummoxed (or laughing so much) by the end of the five minute interview that he won’t know which way is up ...

Back to 360° for a moment – the screen cap below is a little ironic – Anderson is laughing while there’s a picture of OJ in the background ...


And the second news break was too funny – Erica just calls it like she see it - about Marcia Clark and about the thought of an "Anderson makeover" (you go, girl) ...


Update # 1

Anderson has joined the growing list of Benefit Committee members who are working on an event called "Stand Up For Heroes: A Benefit for The Bob Woodruff Family Fund", which will be held on November 7th during the New York Comedy Festival. The event will feature performances by Lewis Black, Bruce Springsteen and Robin Williams. As you probably remember, Bob was severely injured during a roadside bombing while covering the Iraq War in January 2006. The Bob Woodruff Family Fund assists service members injured while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Special emphasis is placed on the "hidden signature injuries" of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan – traumatic brain injury (TBI) and combat stress injuries including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). You can read more about the event, the BWFF and how to donate here.