Posted on 06/22/2006 12:47:35 PM PDT by gopwinsin04
Connie Chung Swan Song: What’s The Frequency, Connie? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Christopher J. Stephens Jun 22, 2006
Connie Chung’s bizarre attempt at what we can only hope was a comic farewell during the final broadcast of her MSNBC program “Weekends With Maury and Connie” might have stayed where it should have stayed- barely seen- were it not for the mighty warrior watchdogs of the internet. We love to watch public meltdowns, especially of they involve newscasters who might have been relevant twenty years ago. Walter Cronkite’s exit was dignified. Tom Brokaw’s was suitably stalwart, and Peter Jennings lung cancer death was a necessary cautionary tale for all of them. Even the most debonair foreign correspondent falls to cancer in the end.
What’s The Frequency, Connie? (Image Credit: MSNBC)
For Chung, and most television anchors in 2006, the issue is no longer dignity or trustworthiness. The talking heads that populate local and national television newscasts have as much importance or integrity now as they did in the seventies, celebrated most recently [and brilliantly] in the 2005 Will Ferrell movie “Anchorman.” Ferrell’s Ron Burgundy, a pillar of mid-seventies self-centeredness, was all moustache, wide shirt collars and fat striped ties. The wardrobe of today’s news reader might have changed, and the hair styles are much less severe, but they remain empty ciphers who read to us, who want to be trusted by the viewing public.
The graceless exit Chung made last June 17th, during the final broadcast of the clumsy chat show she co-anchored with her husband Maury Povich, king of the paternity tests, is indicative of deeper problems than just an embarrassing performance. There she was, in white cocktail tutu dress and gloves, seated atop an unnecessary piano. She warbled acapella a painfully off-key rendition of “Thanks for the Memories,” with lyrics re-written to reflect the six month run of the program. This was the end of the news anchor warhorses, and not a moment too soon.
Several days after the Chung performance made its way around the world via Viral Video, You Tube and other outlets, her former colleague Dan Rather was given the definitive push out the door by his CBS bosses. The extremely controversial Rather had been in a holding pattern at his network for at least a year since his exit from the “CBS Evening News” anchor chair. He was stained by tangible evidence of plagiarism, a short fuse, and some more than obvious left-wing partisanship. Eliminate the strangeness and love of a southern simile turn of phrase during election and hurricane coverage, and Dan Rather was an anchor whose ship should have sailed at least a decade ago.
Chung’s swan song will soon take a place among the most wrong-headed performances from a person who should have known better. It’s just unfortunate wiser heads did not prevail. The state of news is fine in mid-2006, thank you very much. There are better choices out there, more reasonable outlets. Long gone are the days when a single man can shape the opinion of an entire nation. Watch everything, read whatever you can find, and get involved. Otherwise, Connie might come back.
Christopher J. Stephens is an adjunct college English instructor for Northeastern University
OK is it just me? or did Connie look HOT in that dress, at least *wink*
They've been running this on MSNBC. Chung is a joke and not even a funny one.
Laura Ingraham and her producers were killing themsleves laughing at this.
Ouch...that was painful....
The piano playing was special.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7IcNiLvv_Q&search=connie%20chung
When Katie goes out, I'm hoping she puts together a Cheerleading routine as her own swan song. And I hope she doesn't practice it very much. And I hope she falls. And hurts herself. And needs to be carried off screen.
So, how do I watch the video once I get there?
The best part is when she tries to leap off the piano.
And grunts.
And lies down on the ground!
I didn't even know they had a show much less a farewell.
Its like a real life SNL sketch unfolding before your eyes, lol!
Coincidence?
You decide.
Yes, it's just you.
It was you.
Just kidding...couldn't resist.
I first met Ms. Chong on the south lawn of the White House the day President Reagan welcomed home the so-called hostages back to America. She leaped over the rope and began taping after pushing her way through a gaggle of press that had been waiting there for more than an hour in 30-degree weather.
She was a in pain in the ass then, and she's only gotten better at it.
It just started playing when I clicked on the link (my link is direct or you can cut and paste the one in gopwins04's original post)
I think Connie knew, that if MSNBC fires you, there is no place left to go but local news and public television.
So she decided to go down in a blaze, the type of act one puts on when they know that they will never work in television again. Kind of like Bruce Nolan's signoff from the Maid of the Mist in "Bruce Almighty."
post #6 is my direct link or #1. I don't think the Ledger article actually has the link.
This was written by a Professor at Northeastern University?
I was embarrassed for her. I thought she seemed drunk or at least hope she was! At least that way there is an excuse for this sad exit!
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