Jeff Zucker's CNN Already Has a New Star
After reports surfaced earlier this week, CNN Jeff Zucker finally announced Jeff Zucker as its new president on Thursday, which means everyone can officially start backseat driving and telling him their opinions on how to fix things. We have three words: Soledad O'Brien. Here are just a few recent examples of why she might deserve a primetime promotion — or at least a lot more air time:
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Starting Point Is Doing Well (relatively): "Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien had its best month since launching in January, growing double digits from a year ago. In total viewers the morning program was up +36% (393k vs. 290k) and increased 44% in the key demo 25-54 (164k vs. 114k)," reports CNN on CNN's own ratings. Even if those numbers aren't nearly as impressive as Today or the kinds of ratings Zucker is used to, a positive jump is a decidedly a good thing.
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She's Does a Little Thing Called Journalism: Soledad spearing various members of the GOP has turned into a meme. Like, remember when she took apart John Sununu on Obamacare vs. Romney's health plan?
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And she did it again to a Rep. Michael Burgess, who didn't see it coming at all:
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...and that's made her Think Progress's Wonder Woman:
Here's a tweet from TP's Deputy Editor Igor Volsky:
RT @mediadecodernyt: CNN Makes It Official: Zucker to Be New President nyti.ms/UdS1Lg // First move: @soledad_obrien 2 host every show
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) November 29, 2012
and TP reporter Aviva Shen:
This RT is an endorsement MT @igorvolsky: MT @mediadecodernyt: CNN: Zucker to Be New President. First move: @soledad_obrien hosts every show
— Aviva Shen (@avivash) November 29, 2012
...but Also Has Gotten on Conservatives' Nerves:
With a voice similar to chalk on a blackboard@soledad_obrien is just one of reasons CNN is impossible to watch. Zucker can't change that
— Kenny K (@WellyWorld) November 28, 2012
And one more:
Oh look, Jeff Zucker may lead @cnn - who's viewership consists of people stuck in airports shar.es/6rlFV #Soledad&PiersSuck
— WTF? (@stevenferre) November 28, 2012
This, too, is decidedly a good thing. If there's anything to glean from Fox News's and MSNBC's dominance it's that viewers are gravitating toward partisan commentary. Getting hated on by at least one side is good!
At the Very Least, She Makes for a Good Friends Joke:
First move at CNN: Jeff Zucker creates show where Anderson, Wolf, Piers, Erin, Soledad and Christiane hang out in coffee shop & talk news
— Ian Evans (@digitalhit) November 29, 2012
