On AC-360, Anderson Cooper mentioned the Saturday Night Live skit where they made fun of Governor David Patterson. Cooper then played a clip where Governor David Patterson brought attention to the potential negative impact the skit might have on the rights of people with a physical impairment.
Patterson suggested that making fun of him just because of his blindness might have the undesirable effect of communicating to the mass audience that it is allright to poke fun at people with a handicap. The way the skit presented a blind person was as an awkward and clumsy individual. Patterson made his statement clearly and without any sign of immaturity or "sour grapes."
I feel that his statement was honest and meaningful. He started by saying that he has a sense of humor himself and that he enjoys a joke. Then he went on to make his socially responsible comment on behalf of himself, but referring to all individuals with any physical impairment. I think his comment was a necessary accompaniment to the repeated playing of the SNL skit which made fun of his physical characteristics.
However, as dissappointing as it is for this viewer, Anderson Cooper stated that he would take no sides on this issue. Then he said that the comedian on SNL was very funny. This, of course, implies that he is taking sides with SNL and he is discounting the seriousness of Governor Patterson's statement. With all that Anderson Cooper has done, from "Planet in Peril" to his coverage of New Orleans, it is dissappointing that he would not support Patterson's concern for a minority group in our society.
It is at times like this that a reporter gets an opportunity to say something meaningful which may effect others and get them to be aware of others who are not as fortunate as themselves. Supporting Patterson would not discount Anderson Cooper's appreciation of the humor. But it would have possibly got many young adults to think twice about the humor in the SNL skit and to think twice before laughing at the less fortunate.
I am dissappointed in Anderson Cooper for the way he handled this story. He had a chance to say something meaningful and helpful in a subtle and effective way. Like many other media, AC-360 squandered an opportunity to say something nice, good, positive, educational and humane.
The Inflation of Followers
1 year ago
3 comments:
Tommy, I was pleasantly surprised to come across your blog post about Anderson and the SNL Paterson skit since I wrote a similar commentary on it yesterday morning on my blog. I am glad I am not alone.
I have followed Anderson’s career for quite some time and I am an admirer of his (most of the time), but I have noticed that he has become less sensitive and caring and a bit arrogant since he attained “celebrity” status.
I agree that he has done some wonderfully caring reporting in the past, exposing the same type of insensitivity that he seemed to condone during the discussion of this offensive skit, but in this case he squandered an opportunity to make a difference.
Unfortunately, the viewer blogs dedicated to discussing Anderson and his work do not generally criticize him nor do they allow negative comments about him or his work. CNN “protects” him by blocking many critical comments sent in to the 360 Blogs as I have found out on many occasions. I tried to post a criticism of Anderson’s attitude about the skit on the Live Blog from the Anchor Desk that night and to the 360 Blog the following morning, but both were deleted.
Hello Libra Blue,
Thank you for the comment. It is important that we critique those in the media that we admire. I believe that Anderson's heart is in the right place but like all humans maybe he needs to be kept in check.
I think he needs to draw the line clearly between his Magazine Shows and when he is doing serious news. Confusing the two is letting himself down.
And his co-hosting with Kathy Griffin is a whole other kettle of fish.
I hope he finds the early AC all over again, and soon.
Tommy, Hi! Unfortunately,few of Anderson’s viewers are willing to “keep him honest.”
I think you are right, most of the time Anderson’s heart is still in the right place, but sometimes he screws up big time. I started to see a change when he became more interested in his wardrobe than the stories he was covering. Also, if you look back at his Channel One days, his 20/20 reports, and even right up to “Hollenbeck,” he was never the center of the story like he is today. For instance even in his “60 Minutes” interview with Michael Phelps the Internet buzz was more about Anderson being in swim trunks than it was about Phelps.
You are right about him not drawing the lines between his celebrity shows and his serious news stories. Although he likes doing the TV talk show circuit it seems to demean his professional side. The worst are his appearances on “Regis & Kelly.”
I am glad that you mentioned Griffin; I think that maybe Anderson’s SNL comments are a result of paling around with this obnoxious and offensive kook. CNN ran the ad for NYE ad nauseam during 360 tonight!
I am not so sure we will ever see the old AC again; the only time I get a glimpse of “him” seems to be when he is doing reports on Africa or animals.
If you are interested in reading my post on Anderson and the SNL skit you can find it on Word Press, I can no longer get my Blogger account to cooperate:
http://librablue.wordpress.com/
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