I’ll write about last night’s AC360° later, but there’s so much else to cover, I’ll take care of the ‘odds & ends’ now ...
- Anderson’s appearance on The Colbert Report last night:
Let's see ... it was MUCH too short ... I was hoping that he'd be the last interview for a full 5 minutes, but it turned out to be only a little more than 3 minutes at the beginning of the show! :-(
Did you notice that right off the bat - Anderson was trying not to laugh as he walked out towards the desk?
And did you also catch the "unbutton, lean-in" move from Stephen?? The one that Anderson demonstrated so 'smoothly' during his first appearance? I'm not sure that even he (AC) caught it ...
Anyway - the 'Planet America' reference was good, and the overall PIP discussion was good - with Stephen not being quite as 'bombastic' as he can sometimes get(!!) A very FUN (albeit short) three minutes ... :-)
If you missed it (shame on you!), the video is available here – enjoy the screen caps too!
Side note: Stephen will be on “Meet The Press” this Sunday ... yes, you read that correctly ... this I have got to see ...
- From E! Online:
Anderson Cooper isn't the outdoorsy type.
Just ask the silver fox anchorman what it was like shooting Planet in Peril, the new four-hour environmental-issues series he did with Animal Planet host Jeff Corwin. The two, along with CNN’s chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, crossed four continents and 13 countries for the series, which debuts on CNN Tues., Oct. 23.
“What I really learned is you actually have to go into nature to report on the environment, which is sort of annoying because I really don’t like nature very much,” Cooper said last night at a Netflix-hosted preview of the series at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood. “And to be with Jeff Corwin, who really does seem to enjoy it, was a little disconcerting.”
The 40-year-old anchor tried to share Corwin's enthusiasm. “He would literally go off at 2 a.m. in the middle of the Brazillian rainforest with nothing more than a flashlight on his head, and I would trudge after him with a little video camera and also a much weaker flashlight,” Cooper said. “But after about three nights, I realized that was my idea of hell, because there are things you have never seen before flying around and hitting me in the face. Jeff would be like, ‘Oh my god, look, it’s the pygmy tree frog!' and, literally, the frog would jump onto his face. That is my idea of hell…I did about three nights of it, but then I was like, ‘No more!’”
Corwin cracked, “Anderson was acting like the first person who gets killed in a horror movie.”
When CNN producer David Doss announced that Planet in Peril would probably become a regular feature on Anderson Cooper 360º, Cooper groaned, “Jesus Christ! We really need to solve this whole environmental thing quickly, because I really don’t want to do it again.”
All kidding aside, one of the topics hit upon in the series is China's impact upon the environment, especially when it comes to illegal poaching of exotic animals. Gupta said there is a market in China for these animals, many which are on the brink of extinction. They’re not only used for traditional Chinese medicine, they’re also consumed as delicacies.
Gupta’s first shoot for Planet in Peril was in Beijing. “They took me straight from the airport to a restaurant that was literally called the Penis Emporium,” Gupta said.
He also saw tiger paw for sale. “I saw them selling it for consumption,” he said. “People actually eat this. I saw them selling bear bile…They sell that for thousands for dollars!”
- And on to the continuing Herculean schedule for Mr. Cooper:
Tomorrow (Saturday, 10/20/07): Anderson will be giving a speech in Jacksonville as part of the Florida Forum’s Speakers Series to benefit Wolfson’s Children Hospital. The speech will be at 7:00 PM at the Florida Theatre. Some additional information about The Florida Forum: “Started in 1992, Florida Forum is an annual speaker series that features high-profile personalities and is produced by The Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital. It is a benefit which funds select areas and programs, such as the Newborn Intensive Care Unit or the Children’s Emergency Center, to enhance Wolfson Children’s Hospital, the only in-patient, pediatric hospital in the Northeast Florida region. The Forums have enriched the intellectual and cultural life of Jacksonville for more than 16 years, while contributing more than $4.5 million to Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Prior to each Florida Forum speech, Forum notables greet hospitalized children and their families while touring Wolfson.”
And to end the weekend (Sunday, 10/21/07): Anderson will be hosting a special Planet in Peril preview at the Apple Store in Soho – here’s the announcement:
Advance Screening — iTunes Presents: CNN’s Planet in Peril with Anderson Cooper
Join AC 360° host Anderson Cooper for an exclusive, advance screening of a 40-minute excerpt from the new CNN documentary, Planet in Peril. Anderson will be on hand to discuss the making of this four-hour documentary filmed across four continents and 13 countries. Bringing viewers the facts, this important film addresses four main issues that threaten the planet and its inhabitants: climate change, deforestation, species loss, and overpopulation. Planet in Peril will be available for download on the iTunes Store on October 25. Date & Time: October 21, 7:00 p.m.
More later ... :-)
2 comments:
Newsblooz: I too was a little disappointed that Anderson wasn’t the last interview on “The Colbert Report” last night, but I totally enjoyed it nonetheless! It was short, but sweet!
Anderson never stops smiling when he is around Stephen, I can’t blame him! Yes, I caught the ”unbutton, lean-in” that Stephen so flawlessly delivered! Actually, I always think of Anderson when Stephen does that on the show. Stephen is always “kinder and gentler” with Anderson. I think he has great respect and admiration for Anderson.
Thanks for the great caps! It is always wonderful to see Anderson with a big smile!
I can’t believe Tim Russert is going to have Stephen on “Meet the Press!” I don’t know what to expect! I wonder if he will mention the pumpkin head reference to him? LOL
I love Jeff’s description of Anderson “acting like the first person who gets killed in a horror movie.” After watching Anderson’s encounter with the giant spider I don’t doubt it for one minute! Something tells me Jeff will never let Anderson live that down.
Seriously, I was outraged by Sanjay’s restaurant experience! The need or desire for this cuisine seems based on cultural superstitions and the curiosity of the West. As far as TCM is concerned, I don’t know how anyone will be able to change the attitude of the Chinese people because it is a part of their culture. It is difficult to educate people enough to get them to step into the 21st Century and abandon traditions that they have practiced for so long no matter how outrageous they may seem.
Something tells me there might be a vacation in the near future for our Mr. Cooper after this hectic “Planet in Peril” schedule of events is over. He certainly deserves it!
Gosh - I hope that there's a vacation in store - like the week after next - and that it's a REAL one as opposed to a "working" one, right?
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