At sometimes in our lives we all find ourselves doing things we thought we would never do. For instance I never thought I would be growing tomatoes this summer. I don't even eat the silly things. They are a vegetable after all. Or are they a fruit? I seem to remember a trick question in 8th grade science about this one. So I never thought that I would find a time when I wanted to stop watching Matt Lauer in the morning. Some people need caffeine to get going, I need a mini Hershey bar and Matt.
It had nothing to do with that unfortunate Ann Curry fiasco. The fiasco was giving the inappropriately attired Ann the job in the first place. Still I was sorry to see the way they let her go. But the trouble with Today was not just Ann. The content of the show was so predictable. I grew to loathe Fridays when they spent so much time with pop stars on the plaza. (unless it was Adam Levine)I got to the point that I didn't want NBC deciding what stories I started my day with. Anytime they ran a story on education I started seething at their incompetence. I started to wonder if they knew anything about politics, hurricanes or missing children either. I finally stopped watching morning television altogether. After a few weeks I decided to try CBS This Morning. This took a lot of soul searching knowing Gayle King was involved. I admit it. I was prejudiced against her. I found her guilty by her association with Oprah.
It didn't take me long to really enjoy this low key program. I actually feel smarter after I watch it. Their Eye Opener segment (your world in ninety seconds) is the best thing on morning television. I like the fact that there are two people at the table asking guests about the important issues of the day and the fact that some of the reporters they bring on to cover stories look like they spend more time doing research than applying hair product.
When Charlie Rose asks a question you get the sense he knows what he is talking about. He seems genuinely interested in learning more about the issue his guest is discussing. I wouldn't want to try to pull anything over on Charlie though. He seems to know a lot! Erica Hill is the perfect complement to Charlie during the hard news segments. She is equaly adept at the entertaining content of the second hour and the woman knows how to dress appropriately. I do miss her on Anderson Copper 360 however.
They don't have those irritating best bargains or cooking segments. I cook just fine thank you thanks to Marie Callender and the Schwann's man.
Now CBS This Morning doesn't have the ratings to draw in the hottest actors and pop stars of the day hawking their latest summer blockbuster or newest album. Thank goodness! Instead they feature artists with real talent. people whose talent is proven by their longevity. When they do talk to artists they talk in depth about their creative process and their next question seems to be based on their guets previous answer. This morning they were talking to Alan Cumming about his One Man Macbeth at Lincoln Center.
Now I must admit there are times when Gayle and Charlie are interviewing someone together that Charlie seems to have to restrain himself from chastising Gayle for asking one of her questions that are embarassingly honest. But I grudgingly have to admit that this is why the woman is growing on me. I have finally figured out her appeal. She's unfiltered! If she wants to ask an insipid question she asks it. I can relate. I realize that this is probably Oprah's appeal as well but I will give the state of IL back my pension before I admit that!
