Gawker: The News

Newsrooms On Gay Men: They're Fun! To A Point

Richard — Wed, 07 May 2008 10:51:00 EDT

Out 'n proud former CNN anchor and current Insider (shudder) correspondent Thomas Roberts spoke to The Advocate this month about gay dudes doing the news. Apparently there are quite a few of them running around, the obvious silver fox in the room being just one of many. And, out or not, they tend to do OK, as long as they're not looking for an evening anchor gig. A talent agent named Mendes Napoli spoke with the magazine as well, saying: "You can be a morning anchor, a weekend anchor, an afternoon anchor, a reporter — they love gay reporters now because they're so animated, they're not stiff. But a primary male anchor who's gay? It's an issue." Huh. "Animated"? What does that mean?? Are there weathermen doing Gloria Estefan routines and picking out snappy outfits for ladies? I should be watching this! Or, is "animated" how one would describe watching nighttime newsman Anderson Cooper trying to button himself up? It's all kind of unclear, but it's good to know that the gays are providing some entertainment value in those dusty old newsrooms. After the jump, just for the heck of it, Roberts on those (NSFW) nude Manhunt photos.

"I never put inappropriate pictures of myself on a public website. For me it was really hurtful, for Patrick and I it was terribly painful, and I'm sure anyone reading this will realize that what happened was something that we needed to deal with on a personal level. And we've dealt with it — we've closed the book on that issue and moved on."

Amanda Congdon Would Like to Mutter At You

Richard — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:33:00 EDT

Remember Amanda "Rocketboom" Congdon, that thing with boobs that did stuff on the internet and parlayed her success into a job at ABC News? Yeah neither do I. Well, whoever she is she lost her job at ABC because nobody cared and she's now returned, sad little pink hat in hand, to the internet. She's launching a new blog news internet website called Sometimes Daily. And she would like to market it to you! Mostly via a completely nonsensical video featuring her brother (?), a strange park bench, and a dildo with little fans attached to it. If someone could please explain to me what is going on in the video, it would be greatly appreciated. I think it has something to do with Amanda Congdon? Maybe? Please watch, after the jump, and elucidate. [Thanks Jossip!]

Mike Wallace And Dan Rather Think T.V. News Is Really Important!

Joshua Stein — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:55:23 EDT

"I'm going braless," Huffpo's Rachel Sklar said in the cab on the way to the Sheraton. She was tucking herself into a sleek black dress. "Women sweat there!" When she had first invited me to the 28th News and Documentary Emmy Awards, this wasn't what I had in mind: learning the finer points of a lady's thermoregulation sitting in UN-caused traffic jam in Midtown. I was dreaming of Russert, Blitzer, Koppel, Wallace, Stewart, Soledad—Brian Williams! Christmas for the newscasters! Get behind me, Santa!

In the Sheraton's ballroom, the Napoleonic head of CNN, Jonathan Klein, was wearing a tux and chatting with some other old white dude. Bob Schieffer of CBS chatted with Ted Koppel, who was to receive a lifetime achievement award. An unusually and quite frankly scarily tan Mike Wallace spryly circulated from small circle to small circle. We looked for Wolf Blitzer and Brian Williams—they were both "working."

We were sitting at the press table. Because the press talk so much, we heard that it was probably someone from the Business desk that started yesterday's Times fire: "The fire was on the second floor. That's where business is. And Science and Escapes and Sports!"

Matea Gold from the LA Times was there in a smart pearl necklace. She sported a slim ivory shiny digital recorder and didn't eat dessert (chocolate mousse in a chocolate cup). Across the table, looking like a fairy godmother (because she is), was TV Week's Michelle Greppi. Onstage, Tim Russert was giving this "Lock arms, brothers and sisters" speech. He then introduced Dan Rather as "soon to be the star of his own reality TV show on Court TV with Les Moonves." So true!

Dan Rather's most notable quotable: "News matters."

We were right next to a huge television screen that flashed clips of Frontline documentaries (the series was honored) and other news reports—lots of footage of dead and dying people. How is one supposed to enjoy an already rubbery steak while having to watch Marines dying or starving Darfurians?

That said, PBS programs , which swept the awards, are totes replacing "The OC" seasons 1-4 on my Netflix queue.

Then Mike Wallace won an Emmy for his interview with Iran's President Ahmadinejad and took to the stage. He put the Emmy on the ground and rambled on for about 15 minutes, speaking almost exclusively in haiku. "Me. You. This Room/Ahmadinejad./We didn't know."

Huh? What now? Soon enough he was replaced by Soledad O'Brien. She looks and speaks like a Sarah Silverman caricature of herself, drawing out the ends of words like a rabbi.

It was surely time for more white wine. But when I asked for another, the old waiter asked whether I'd like to open a tab.