"Morning Joe" Jealousy? CNN's "American Morning" To Try To Become "Looser," "More Accessible"

TVGuide.com recently interviewed CNN "American Morning" host John Roberts, who defined his show's target audience as "people who wake up in the morning and want to know what's going on in the world of economy and the international scene." But in spite of this, Roberts promises a "looser," "more accessible" format when the show's new executive producer takes the helm. "I think what we're going to do going forward we'll try to pare back the amount of scripting that we've got and introduce a little more of an ad lib aspect to it," Roberts said.

What Roberts has in mind sounds an awful lot like MSNBC's "Morning Joe," which takes a less-scripted approach to capitalize on its hosts' personalities and has been called "the loosest yet most comprehensive three hours in morning television today."

Read the entire TVGuide.com interview here.

Comments

[mellene]

11:14 AM on 04/03/2008

Unfortunately, neither of these co-hosts are worth watching wether they're looser or not. I hate the way CNN treated Aaron Brown, them the two O'Briens. I've come to realize that CNN is not the holder moral compass that they once tried to get us to espouse.

[GeoNorth]

10:33 AM on 04/02/2008

Once again, broadcasters must play follow the leader. This is just another round of more channels, less choice. MSNBC shows some success and CNN feels compelled to duplicate what they see as Joe's edge. joe does have a good show. AM used to be good with Solidad and Miles, but some jerks at CNN are always in a panic and change things for the sake of change.

By the way, dosn't Steve Doosy of Fox look natural in brown?

[Buzz Daly]

02:05 PM on 04/01/2008

May I suggest folks utilize their remotes and not become simple robots to one network or the other, because they "like" a newscaster. It's rather simple to flip around and sample all views. Simply agreeing with a celeb announcer or another is a waste of time and limits access to differing viewpoints. I can't imagine watching Imus for more than 5 minutes at a sitting. I do wonder what he's hiding under that hat, though. On air personalities are irrelevant, and can all be annoying at times. Nothing can compare to a Sean Hannity mindless rant about , something or other. It is great for entertainment, but has little to do with the news.

[JinnRikki]

12:34 PM on 04/01/2008

Joe Scarborough is now the gold standard for morning teevee? Say it ain't so, urp...I just threw up in my mouth at the thought.

[ultramagnetic]

12:31 PM on 04/01/2008

Bring Back Miles and Soledad. Roberts and Chetrey are about as personable as a couple of IRS auditors. Never understood why they replaced them anyway.

[stillonline]

12:35 PM on 04/01/2008

Dumb IRS agents. Yes! Yes! Bring back Miles and Soledad.

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

09:17 PM on 04/02/2008

Soledad? YES. Miles? Not so much. He's as much a putz as Roberts. Opinionated, smartass, condescending and just plain DULL.

[muffinmix]

01:35 AM on 04/01/2008

I dont see CNN holding a clinton bias at all? Just see them as shitty, sensationalist, corporate democrats who have the Best Political Team on Television. Wolf is horrible, and that guy on most mornings ( I forget his name), but I cant stand him.
Cafferty is the best!

[kroses98]

03:41 AM on 04/01/2008

CNN is definitely the Clinton News Network, and unwatchable anymore! John Roberts is a stiff, dead man, and has always been biased toward the Right. But Joe Scarborough is not any better, and "Little Mika" is most definitely a "masochistic partner" to his sadist. It is hard to watch. So I often watch C-SPAN's "Washington Journal" in the morning, which although often biased, is less so than the other morning shows. Actually, I'd take Imus in a minute, if I had the opportunity!!! At least he railed against Bush, Cheney, and the war every day of his TV career. Oops!!!! Why did they REALLY take him off the air, again?

[BlindNoMore]

05:44 PM on 04/02/2008

Imus is back -- on (believe it or not) RFD-TV.

RFD-TV's slogan is "Rural America's Most Important Network", and it broadcasts programming of interest mostly to country folk (e.g., farming, horses, country music, etc.).

The channel is available on Dish Network and Directv, and is offered by some cable providers.

Check the website at http://www.rfdtv.com to see if it's available in your area.

[huffhuffpass]

09:48 AM on 04/01/2008

I agree, give Cafferty his own show or allow him to go elsewhere. Wolf is just horrible and Lou is bias and appears to have racists agenda's. They're trying to duplicate what MSNBC produces and steal some of their staff and guests!

[sheperdess]

10:24 PM on 03/31/2008

CNN is really in trouble. They have become Clinton News Network. I stopped watching them after the New Hampshire Primary. I could find little positive about Obama, even the shots of him...poorly lit, Clinton lit so as to make her look 20 years younger. The banter between Blitzer and Cafferty at Obama's expense. Blitzer running for Clinton's press secretary. Lou talke about Obama in the most condesending manner. I hope he never grants them an interview as President.I started watching MSNBC, found it more bearable, I respect, Russertt , Fineman, Mitchell and Chuck Todd.I have completely abanoned CNN. I don't care what they do in the Morning I'm working!

[justwaitandsee]

11:06 PM on 03/31/2008

I completely understand where you are coming from but if we can have a switch in the Morning and if CNN was smart by reading some of these posts and seeing how unhappy many of us are in the Morning with Morning Joe they will try to make it work in their and our favor.... As they can see were are looking for a home

......But I like Majority of my political coverage on MSNBC....with the exception the Morning Joe Crew, the Bigot Pat Buchannan and at time the pompous Dan Abrams, I pretty much like everyone you listed above plus a few others....CNN is so Senior Citizen the remaining NEWS HOURS……

[Blackshifter]

02:06 AM on 04/01/2008

Personally, I don't think CNN is that biased towards Clinton but I just wished they had some intelligent people working at CNN. CNN has the worst interviewers out of any cable news network. Roberts, Blitzer just doesn't have a clue about what's going on. Dobbs is an arrogant self promoting idiot. Have any of you ever seen Josh Levs on the weekends on CNN? He makes Willie Geist on "News you can't use" seem relevent. And John King is the master of the obvious.

The quality of CNN programming has really gone down, I only watch Anderson Cooper and Larry King (eventhough he's so old, he's starting to become absent minded. I like their correspondants and their election day coverage but I just can't stand to watch any of their shows. CNN in the morning is good if you are in hurry in the morning, catching bits and pieces. But Morning Joe is a show I like watching on my elliptical in the morning, despite the fact I want to punch the screen at Joe, its entertaining.

CNN please get some new hosts! They are just aweful!

[Obamaalltheway]

09:51 PM on 03/31/2008

I just wanted to say that I HATE MORNING JOE - HE REMINDS ME OF A REAL A$$H*&^

[kroses98]

03:45 AM on 04/01/2008

He is!!! He is!!!

[huffhuffpass]

09:51 AM on 04/01/2008

True, The Verdict is pretty bad as well, but compared to CNN I'd rather be annoyed by "Joe" than Wolf or Lou or any other anchor at CNN excluding Cafferty!

[butchie65]

09:19 PM on 03/31/2008

I think C-Span is fair too. They tick me off when people are in the middle of a sentence though, especially that younger girl. I think her name is Greta. They at least listen to both sides.

[kroses98]

03:46 AM on 04/01/2008

Yes, you are right about that! I watch the Washington Journal a lot.

[Beckyjo]

03:00 PM on 04/01/2008

I go back and forth between C-span and MSNBC. I can only tolerate Joe Scarborough for a few minutes at a time, so thankfully I can go to C-span. Joe Scarborough is too cute by half...he thinks he is just too clever and he MUST have the last word! Also, he is defending Clinton all the time, and thinks we can't see that he is so republican, and that he can fool us into believing he is really for her. It is so obvious that he wants her to win the Primary because he believes she will be the easier to beat of the Democratic candidates. His talking all the time gets boring and tiresome, so its good to go to another channel where there is none of this foolishness.

[justwaitandsee]

09:01 PM on 03/31/2008

Okay CNN we are calling on you....As you can see many of us are not satisfied with what we are getting in the morning....

I record Morning Joe and have resulting in watching about 5 minutes of 3 hour show (THANK GOD for DVR).....This was a show that I use to really enjoy watching and then I watched Joe become more of a bully and Mika more of a weakling.....

There have only been two people who were able to shut him down and that's Rachel Maddox (She doesn't back down from anyone)

And David Shuster (He has since disappeared since his suspension) hopefully they will bring him back into the fold once Hillary leaves the race...

But overall we are some unhappy campers.....We are calling on CNN to get it together and bring us some more relaxing news....It is our own personal mission to bring down the Rating of this Race Baiting show…..Since MSNBC can not control this idiot we must let him know that this type of ignorance will not be tolerated or supported.

And hopefully once Morning Joe’s ratings collapse he can finally go fulfill his lifelong dream of working at Fox News.....

[Obamaalltheway]

09:37 PM on 03/31/2008

I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH JUSTWAITANDSEE - well said...

[JDWPS]

12:41 AM on 04/01/2008

justwaitandsee I agree 100% with all you wrote. It is very frustrating because I want the information and love the format and hate Joe. I think Willie would be good. They don't even have to replace Joe. Just delete him. It is so great when he is not there unless they ruin that by dragging in Buchanan. For me most viewpoints would be tolerable if the personality was tolerable, He is so ignorant and arrogant and full of himself (?? he is an ugly creep) that I constantly hit fast forward. It is hard to expect much from CNN though.

[kroses98]

03:48 AM on 04/01/2008

Write to their bosses, Steve Capus and Phil Griffin:

[e-mail] and [e-mail]

[jakie]

07:37 PM on 03/31/2008

C-SPAN IS THE BEST IN THE MORNING THEY ARE PRETTY FAIR

[ann1]

07:49 PM on 03/31/2008

You're right about that. Besides John Roberts and his co-host are very stiff and boring. They bring about as much excitement as a root canal. Morning Joe should be changed to "Morning Joke".

[Rose52]

08:34 PM on 03/31/2008

Morning Joe would be better if it wasn't for Joe.

[justwaitandsee]

08:48 PM on 03/31/2008

Boring as Hell....What happen to the O'Briens

[beright]

07:27 PM on 03/31/2008

I think CNN is making a good decision. People want to be engaged in a conversation, at least I do. I can't stand Joe, but I watch every morning because it's exciting ... no matter what a jug head he is and no matter how far Buchanon's horns are sticking out. Mika is a smart cookie, she plays Joe just right. Hell, she's just trying to keep her job. Leave her alone. I like Mika. You go Mika girl!!!

[JuniorBug]

07:23 PM on 03/31/2008

If you really want to replicate Scarborough's success, John, here's the secret: stop tanning your eye bags.

[kroses98]

03:49 AM on 04/01/2008

And take off your toupee!

[mponti]

07:14 PM on 03/31/2008

American Morning should try to fill the void left my Imus, not duplicate Morning Joe. Imus was grumpy, vulgar and petulant, but he did his homework and was well-prepared to ask probing questions of his guests. Morning Joe is a bore. Scarborough is an intellectually weak political hack whose interview style mimics Sean Hannity -- asking questions and then interrupting to inject his lightweight opinions. Mika has flashes of intelligence, but has been brow-beaten into the flirtatious, blond bimbo role. Buchanan is a tired relic who needs to retire to a gated community in Florida.

CNN needs someone like MSNBC's Rachael Maddox. She's smart, engaging, provocative and barely conceals her contempt for Scarborough (on Race for the White House). Resurrect Aaron Brown to team up with Maddox and throw in Jack Cafferty and you'll have a show worth watching.

[justwaitandsee]

09:15 PM on 03/31/2008

Okay now you might be own to something....I love all three...but you are going to have to throw in a republican….

I don’t mind controversial conversation but what I do have a problem with is when they put one person on to debate another whom they know is a weak debater….Joe could never out debate David Shuster Period….or Rachel Maddox

Mika…. (Use to really like her but she doesn’t stand up and fight) The only time she showed her contempt towards what Joe was doing was at the end of one shows when she just walked off with out saying a word and he looked puzzled…And then right after that he took a Easter Vacation…( Chris Matthew filled in for him (THANK GOD)

Lets continue on with the selection process

[kroses98]

03:51 AM on 04/01/2008

I agree! Mika is a victim to Joe's abuse!!!

[Opus007]

09:20 PM on 03/31/2008

Totally agree! Come on CNN - rescue us from Morning Joe.....please!!!!

[Zhonni]

07:03 PM on 03/31/2008

I look forward to the new format.