Posted on 07/10/2006 6:40:34 PM PDT by keat
He may deny it, but Dan Rather is still hotter than a Laredo parking lot about CBS.
Sharp-eyed viewers may have noticed that Rather was not identified on screen with his network of 44 years when he appeared on Anderson Cooper's 360 Wednesday to discuss his recent trip to North Korea.
CNN didn't drop the ball, graphically speaking. Rather, ol' Dan didn't want CBS in the picture.
Literally.
In an in-house memo sent from a 360 staffer Thursday to CNN producers, they were told to "please feel free" to use taped snippets from Cooper's interview with Rather the previous night, but with one glaring caveat:
"Mr. Rather requests that his font not associate him with CBS News. So no 'Former CBS Anchor.' We thank you and Dan thanks you."
A CNN rep confirms the authenticity of the e-mail. Rather had no issue with being verbally identified on the show, she adds.
Rather was fishing in Upstate New York and couldn't be reached for comment Friday.
Rather, 74, left CBS in a rage June 20, saying the network had not lived up to its obligation to allow him to do "substantive work." His contract runs until late November.
Rather anchored CBS Evening News for an unprecedented 24 years before being forced to step down in March '05 due to the Memogate scandal. He became a full-time correspondent for 60 Minutes.
Look for Rather to crackle like a hickory fire Wednesday on Larry King's CNN confessional when he discusses his life after CBS and takes viewer calls. (Think Les Moonves will dial in?)
Rather will be on set with Father King in L.A. No word whether CBS will appear anywhere near his name on the screen this time.
Not to get too Oliver Stone-y, but could Rather be in L.A. for other reasons - like announcing that he's joining HDNet, Mark Cuban's high-definition TV network based in Dallas?
It's been rumored for weeks that Rather will develop and host a weekly documentary series for HDNet, which reaches an estimated three million homes.
HDNet is scheduled to present a Q & A session tomorrow to TV critics gathered in L.A. Thus far, the network has not confirmed the content of the session or who will be there.
From a publicity point of view, HDNet would get a major bang for its buck by announcing Rather to critics, followed the next day by an hour-long wet kiss on CNN's most popular show.
Dan Rather and HDNet. Turn the lights down, the party just got wilder.
They probably have one-tenth the viewership of MSNBC......
I hope you didn't miss these:
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The Osama Bear card was a hoot. If Hillary gets elected in 08, I believe you will be spending a lot of time at the local IRS office.
Dang, that looks good ;)
Wait until Hillary sees INDICTING HILLARY. I will end up like Jim McDougal.
These kinds of reports are a soothing balm to my mind. I love to see liberals at each other throat. It smells like......victory.
In any other business - the shenanigans pulled by Dan Rather at CBS would've made him unemployable, and probably would've landed him in jail.
Great synopsis of the Rather legacy.
Seems so. They did it for Saddam Hussein too.
bump
My thoughts, too.
Personally, I think he should be heretofore known as...The Former Dan Rather
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