The Pathetic Rick Sanchezation of America

North Star Writers Group ^ | December 23, 2008 | Lawrence J. Haas

[Invisigoth]

“This is an unbelievable day,” says a breathless Rick Sanchez, CNN’s mid-day anchor – he of the jet-black hair, earnest face, furrowed brow and frequent hand gestures and, on this day, of the pin-striped suit, powder blue shirt and print tie.

For the next hour, starting at 3 p.m. last Friday, Sanchez led coverage of three stories – Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s defiant news conference, confirmation of Caylee Anthony’s remains in Florida and a traffic mishap in Seattle that left a bus dangerously close to falling over a busy highway.

Even more than usual for the hour Sanchez holds court, this one was loud, fast-paced, disjointed, colorful and banal – replete with on-camera commentary by CNN’s Roland Martin, Mike Brooks and Ashley Banfield and a bevy of outside “experts,” as well as on-line public participation – and it reflected much that’s increasingly wrong with America’s media.

[WayneS]

I agree. The era of “carnival barker on speed” as news announcer needs to come to an end.

[RabidBartender]

I find it amazing how Rick Sanchez can go from a deep, rich Hispanic accent when doing the news on Channel 7 in Miami back in the late 1990s, to sounding positively Caucasian on CNN.

Just another hack fraud (although still bearable compared to the hag they normally have on middays).

[poobear]

I lived in Miami for 15 years and left with a Spanish accent. ;D!

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

It always cracks me up to see a Hispanic news reporter on TV who speaks perfect English right up to the point they tell you their name, at which point they suddenly sound like they were just fished out of the Rio Grande.

[Dr. Ursus]

Roll those R’s Geraldo,I mean Rick!

[jagusafr]

“It always cracks me up to see a Hispanic news reporter on TV who speaks perfect English right up to the point they tell you their name, at which point they suddenly sound like they were just fished out of the Rio Grande.”

Hey, man, I resemble that remark...except I’m caucasian. I pronounce Spanish names as the people who made ‘em up pronounce them because it shows respect and is no skin off my nose. Same reason I pronounce Pakistan “Pah-kee-stahn” and Iraq “Ee-rock”.

Colonel, USAFR

[Spirochete]

It always cracks me up to see a Hispanic news reporter on TV who speaks perfect English right up to the point they tell you their name, at which point they suddenly sound like they were just fished out of the Rio Grande.

Everyone needs to pronounce the reporter's name in the same ridiculous accent for emphasis.

Also, we should pronounce our own names in the accent of whatever country our ancestors came form for further emphasis. I pronounce mine with an Irish brogue, even though I normally have a slight Texas accent.

Here in Houston, 740 AM recently hired a new female voice calling herself "Niko Weta". I think there were enough complaints that the management told her to tone in down, so she now calls herself "Nicole Huerta". If I ever meet her in person, I'm calling her "Niko Weta".