good morning, everybody! a little bit about the genre of television morning news programs
TRANSCRIPT
Good morning, everybody!A little bit about the genre of
television morning news programs
What is it?
If you have ever turned on the T.V. before 9am anywhere in America, you have
probably seen a morning news show. Not sure? Do these sound familiar?
• Good Morning, America (ABC)
• Today Show (NBC)
• The Early Show (CBS)
• American Morning (CNN)
Common Features
Most of the national morning news shows have several common features.
The funny weatherman
• Shown outside with a crowd
• Talks with audience members
• Often has a slogan– “Here’s what’s
happening in your neck of the woods…” ~Al Roker, The Today Show, NBC
The trustworthy male host• Handsome• Older than the females• Funny, but serious• Wears a suit & tie
everyday• Common, “American”
names:– Harry Smith
– John Roberts
– Charles Gibson
– Tom Butler
– Matt LauerJohn Roberts,
American Morning, CNN
Harry Smith, The Early Show, CBS
The likeable female host
• Katie Couric—need I say more?
• Younger than male host
• Attractive but not sexy• Clothing is bright,
fashionable, yet professional
• Always happy
Katie Couric, former host of The Today
Show, NBC
THE EXCEPTION: Diane Sawyer, Good Morning
America, ABC
Kiran Chetry, Kiran Chetry, American American MorningMorning, CNN, CNN
The news update person
• Usually female• Gives snippits of
current news events• Appears in other
segments but is not a main anchor
• Chronicles feature stories
• Often a minority (race or ethnicity)
• Serious
Robin Roberts, Good Morning America, ABC
Ann Curry, The Today Show, NBC
Celebrity guests
• On-set interviews with celebrities in current headlines
• Tries to make the celebs look credible but this can backfire– Britney Spears looked like “white trash”– Tom Cruise seemed whacky & cult-ish
• Celebs promote current film, album, TV show
• Celebs defend themselves against tabloids
Morning concerts
Why anyone would want to go to (or watch) a concert at 7am is beyond me…
Health & wellness features
There are often full features or interviews devoted to specific health issues, such as:
• Colonoscopies (thanks, Katie)• Breast cancer• Overweight children• Food allergies• Autism• Healthy cooking
Family values
There are often stories that offer advice or support for family values, such as:
• Parenting tips for toddlers• Coping with divorce• Hosting a holiday party• Planning a wedding
Audience
People with the T.V.on in the morning
Getting readyfor work
Making lunchesfor the kids
Middle-classAmerica
Local T.V. morning news
Most network channels have some morning news shows but often they are snippits within the national shows or spots before they begin. There are a few stand-alone local news shows.
In Minneapolis, we have exactly one.
(My Shameless Plug)
FOX 9 MORNING NEWSFOX 9 MORNING NEWSWeekdays 5-9amWeekdays 5-9am
Top Tenreasons you should watch
Fox 9 Morning News10. Convenient, local channel9. Catchy theme music8. More local news7. No annoying celebrity interviews6. Julie Jay’s frequent, colorful traffic
reports5. M.A. Roscoe’s unexpected feature
stories (like the Summit Brewery & a workout class for brides-to-be)
4. Weather on the 9s3. Tom Butler’s lame jokes2. Alix Kendall’s perky personality….and the number one reason is….
Alix
Tom
Keith Marler = greatest meterologist alive
Funny beyond belief
Always accurate
Makes his cohosts look
good (and funny)
Did I mention funny?
Brief BioLives in Maple
Grove
Married to Susan (a teacher)
Has a bulldog named Mel
2 kids: Gracie & Jack
T.V. Morning News Genre Recap
• Network shows (some local)• Funny weatherman• Trustworthy male host• Likeable female host• Celebrity interviews• Concerts• Health features• Family values• Middle-class audience• Twin Cities’ FOX 9 MORNING NEWS ROCKS!