Stephanopoulos not up to snuff - Weaknesses keep 'This Week' adrift

USA Today ^ | November 18, 2002 | Robert Bianco

[Timesink]

Who would want to start this week with George Stephanopoulos?

Certainly, the latest version of the ABC Sunday morning show This Week can't be aimed at news junkies, who most likely see Stephanopoulos' ascension as the ultimate triumph of celebrity flash over journalistic fire. They can't consider it good news that a show long identified with broadcast icon David Brinkley, and briefly led by the respected if ill-cast Sam Donaldson and Cokie Roberts, is now in the hands of a relative newcomer who is chiefly famous for being disloyal to the president who made him famous.

[Timesink]

Another day, another Clintonoid failure.

[Nachum]

Hey man, he probably rolled one doobie too many this week.....

[B-bone]

Could you imagine the show with Will as host? It might not work, either, but at least it would give your week a jolt.

Sounds like a plan to me.

[Samizdat]

He's a little pipsqueak who looks like he's sitting on telephone books just to see over the desk. Add to that the fact that he most likely participated in just about every illegal thing the clintons did while in office...Vince Foster's murder or coverup thereof......and I can't stand the sight of him.

[kellynla]

"This Week" hasn't been the same since David Brinkley left. And the only reason I even tape it is to listen to what George Will has to say.

[elenchus]

Once the Louisiana election is over, the DemonRat gloves will be fully off--on Homeland Security and every other aspect of the Bush agenda. Do not let yourself be lulled:

Concerned about the assault on conservative values? Contribute to Terrell's campaign against Landrieu in Louisiana:

If the conservative agenda is to have a chance of succeeding and if conservative judges are to gain Senate approval, we must preserve a Republican Senate--which is in greater jeopardy than many realize.

For those who understand why the Louisiana election is crucial to retaining the Senate in the face of possible Republican defections by Chafee and McCain, please see the article just posted on:

"How Suzanne Terrell can Defeat Mary Landrieu"

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/791117/posts

The link provided to the COMPLETE NBC TRANSCRIPT is incorrect, and should be:

http://www.msnbc.com/news/836275.asp

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you need convincing, also see the post:

Columnist Broder Sees Potential Party Switches by Senators McCain and Chaffee

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/791096/posts

[bmwcyle]

Short person, short life on TV

[ChadGore]

Hey George! How's that Genifer Flowers slander case coming ?

[dead]

Sniveling elfish pansies lack gravitas.

[republicman]

The show is failing for the same reason CNN is. Its ultra liberal

Make George Will the host and the ratings will soar. But of course they would never even think of such a thing at ABC.

[Thebaddog]

You just describe the whole generation of X-ers.

[RAT Patrol]

I agree completely. I'm not even a Stephanopoulos hater (I hate that word), but I do not think he has the skills to lead This Week. He was a fine liberal member of the roundtable.

Regarding Michel, she's actually quite talented, though it is news to no one that she has big time liberal views.

George Will ROCKS!

[RAT Patrol]

I have always liked "This Week." They are the only broadcast news show that bothered to include a REAL conservative on their panel. Before Kristol turned weird they almost had two. I also liked Sam (a major personality, imo...and I love those silly eyebrows) and Cokie, though I thought one of them should have been a conservative. They were not so hard-left that they couldn't discuss both sides of issues, although they didn't always recognize that a conservative side existed.

Still, Stephanopoulos has a boring delivery. It just says to the audience "THIS GUY WAS PICKED BECAUSE HE'S A LIBERAL."

[Fintan]

The one function TV news performs very well is that when there is no news we give it to you with the same emphasis as if there were.
-- David Brinkley

[Tribune7]

They didn't even mention Fox News Sunday. Gee, wonder why.

[kellynla]

Well, we just disagree. I never liked Cokie or Donaldson. And like I said, had it not been for George Will I would have not even bothered to tape the program after David Brinkley left. I don't know what I would do without a VCR, because I tape them all and fast forward through 90% of the programs. Brit Hume & George Will are the only real "adults" it seems to me worth listening to.

[Tribune7]

Stephanopoulos hater (I hate that word),

What word? Stephanopoulos?

[RAT Patrol]

Politically, we are on the same page. Loading the political discussion table with liberals bugs me--BIG TIME. But, recognizing we must endure SOME liberals, I try to look at the bright side with one or two of them. If they're honest and have a decent personality, I just might like them in spite of their views. If they're all there is and my view isn't present, I"M GONNA BE MAD!

[GOPJ]

Think of what "This Week" would be like if it was conservatives and one REAL liberal?

ABC wants high numbers? They'll pick two conservatives as CO-hosts. It'll blow everyone out of the water...

I have always liked "This Week." They are the only broadcast news show that bothered to include a REAL conservative on their panel.

[RAT Patrol]

ROTFL!

I get so tired of the politicalization of the word "hate."