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Posted on 10/07/2004 10:05:47 AM PDT by Cableguy
I have to admit: I didn't realize the Beltway Boys were so popular! The Fox News tag team of Mort Kondracke and Fred Barnes earned more viewers than any other cable news program on Saturday, October 2 -- 1,356,000 from 6 to 6:30pm. Other shows get more promotion, but two D.C. vets comparing notes pulls in the viewers...
I wish they would expand this show to a full hour. It feels rushed, and there is nothing else on all day Saturday worth watching on the news channels.
CNN handles Rush delivery with care
It was a moment right out of a Hollywood romantic comedy.
"Breaking news from Florida," CNN anchor Daryn Kagan announced yesterday from Atlanta, shortly after 11 a.m. "For more on that, let's go to my colleague, Kyra Phillips."
As Kagan tossed to Phillips, she looked admirably composed.
That's because a Florida appeals court had just added to the legal woes of Kagan's boyfriend, Rush Limbaugh - upholding law officers' seizure of his medical records in a prosecution investigation of whether he illegally obtained painkillers.
"Rush Limbaugh's nightmare," CNN correspondent Susan Candiotti called the situation in the taped package that followed.
A few minutes later, CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin opined: "Limbaugh isn't out of the woods. He's deeper in the woods."
Finally, Phillips tossed it back to Kagan. Understandably, she looked a little rattled.
CNN underwent scrutiny months ago when The Washington Post reported that married news exec Eason Jordan had been dating frequent on-air guest Mariane Pearl, widow of murdered journalist Daniel Pearl.
But yesterday's was an intriguing coincidence, not an ethical conflict, and CNN spokesman Matt Furman E-mailed me:
"CNN reported the story in a way that avoided even the appearance of a conflict of interest. Daryn Kagan handed off to another anchor, Kyra Phillips, who reported the story fully along with CNN's legal analyst Jeff Toobin and reporters John Zarrella and Susan Candiotti. When the Limbaugh report ended, Kyra tossed it back to Daryn.
"We value the trust our viewers place in us, and this was the right way to handle it, plain and simple."
Neither Kagan nor Limbaugh's publicist returned my phone calls yesterday.
I LOVE these guys!! and never miss their show, either first run or on the play back later...
Mort Kondracke is a democrat you can respect. Beltway Boys are my favorite Fox program.
Possibly because the other two cable news nets have npthing on..MSNBC shows reruns of something, and CNN has a science /tech show on... I usually tape the hour..the FOX media show is on after it...I can usually fast forward and warch the good stuuf in about 15 minutes..
She did not die of Alzheimer's,she was only in her 50's,and had MS or Parkinson's for many years. Mort lived in blissful hell,but can now go on with his life. I believe it was MS.
I agree, this is my favorite show and I love both of these guys on Brit Hume's show. Mort is so honest about politics.
TC
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my FoxFan list. *Warning: This can be a high-volume ping list at times.
I love Fred & Mort. Even though I think Mort is a democrat, he's always polite, and explains his logic to the audience very well.
Very fair and balanced program.
Cableguy, where did you get that ratings data? I often see weekday ratings data either at Cablenewser or on Drudge, but I've never before seen any weekend data. I just wonder how shows like the Fox business block (Saturday a.m.), Rita Cosby and Geraldo do in the ratings.
If you follow the link, you will see that it goes back to TVNewser aka Cablenewser. Ratings are only available to those who get rated and newspapers.
Weekend ratings are hard to get. The gap between Fox/CNN/MSNBC are similar for weekend as well, last time I saw the ratings.
Mort is a moderate/conservative Democrat. He is like Joe Lieberman. I bet he backs Bush over Kerry.
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