The news world is all abuzz (and generally horrified) by Anchorwoman, a reality show that premiered on Fox last night. The premise of Anchorwoman is that a station in Tyler, Texas brings in a former professional wrestler/swimsuit model to anchor in order to boost their pathetic ratings.The true tragedy of Anchorwoman is not Lauren Jones, a former WWE diva with no journalistic experience, but her coworkers who claim to be journalists. The News Director and the other anchor, Annalisa Petralia, are the ones who are making a mockery of local news which--let's face it--is really easy to do these days. Both people call themselves 'journalists' and talk a lot during the first two episodes about their journalistic integrity, yet they agreed to be on a reality show. There are a handful of people in that Tyler, TX newsroom who obviously did not want to be on a reality show because a whole bunch of faces are blurred out. They have what I like to call "self respect".
Anchorwoman attempts to make Lauren Jones look like a complete idiot, but she doesn't come off as bad as her coworkers. She is clueless about how to be a journalist, which is proven when she coaches a person to give her an answer on camera and she worries more about practicing her scripts than what is in them. Why should she be expected to know what she's doing? The woman has no training in television news or journalism in general. But, she's a quick learner. She trained with one reporter in the field for one day and, the next day, she went out with a photographer and got her own story. No, it wasn't a Pulitzer, but I'm guessing it was about on par with the other news stories that appear on air in Tyler. Thankfully, her photographer is the one person in the newsroom who is not out to sabotage her and he helped her ask questions and get the facts.
The person who came off the worst last night was Annalisa Petralia, the anchor/producer who thinks a little too much of herself for being an anchor in the world news Mecca of Tyler, TX. This is a woman who seems as though she wants to be on television as much as Jones does, but she can mask her vanity with her journalistic training. She has every right to be pissed off about Jones' position in the newsroom, but how about finding a new job instead of signing an agreement to be on a Fox reality show about it?
And, if Petralia and her boss had any journalistic integrity at all, why would they allow Jones to roam freely throughout Tyler, Texas and gather news? How can she be expected or even trusted to return to the newsroom with a fair and factual story when she doesn't know what the hell she's doing? These people know that, yet they send her out anyway to report the news. Obviously the priority of the newsroom is ratings and not to inform the public in an accurate manner of the news of the day, even if it is a stupid story about potholes.
IF I continue to watch this show, which I am tempted to do, I will be rooting for Lauren Jones. The 'journalists' who surround her in the newsroom seem to be ganging up on her and setting her up for failure, but already she is prevailing. No, she's not the coldest beer in the fridge, but she's not working with the smartest people either. If anything, this show is going to prove to the world that any pretty face can be a local television news reporter.
Mike Henry and Daryl Hall on a Cleveland Show Thanksgiving
The TV Squad Podcast: The Prisoner, '80s TV, soap news and more
Let's talk about spoilers ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-23-2007 @ 1:47PM
Eric said...
Perhaps Anchorwoman hits too close to Anchorman (the Will Ferrell Movie)
Reply
8-23-2007 @ 2:02PM
nate said...
An absolutely hilarious/atrocioius/delicious bite of a TV sandwich. Lauren Jones is truly amazing, and everyone in America is rooting for her. After that, its a tie between the dog and the sympathetic a-hole camareman. Annalisa Petralia would be smart to give Vince McMahon a call and take Lauren's vacated WWE diva spot.
Reply
8-23-2007 @ 2:02PM
RadioScott said...
I was amazed at how catty they staff was about each other ON CAMERA. They do know that those camera things record what they say, right? Since, you know, they work in TV and all.
I found myself rooting for Lauren, too. At first, I thought the show was going to be a Simple Life clone, where Lauren was going to be prompted off camera to do something outrageous, and then the straight-laced staff would react. But, it's the staff that's outrageous. Interesting spin.
Scott
http://www.sacksofwetcement.com
Reply
8-23-2007 @ 2:58PM
Steve said...
Did anyone else catch that bald guy say "have you seen this sh!t" while they were watching the replay of her screwing around. Fox bleeped out the other cuss words he said but not that one
Reply
8-23-2007 @ 3:39PM
Chester said...
When Laura did her little dance behind the newscaster, I was hooked. Sadly I won't watch this as it will just be the same again and again.
how can they be horrified when they have Stormy the weather dog??!!
Reply
8-23-2007 @ 5:01PM
Samuel McConnell said...
Wait, what? I hadn't read anything about Anchorwoman before it aired...I thought it was a mockumentary like The Office! It's actually real?? Wow...
Reply
8-23-2007 @ 5:18PM
Rufus Firefly said...
Reality TV is really humiliation TV. From Real World to Survivor and beyond it's all about taking pleasure in other people's embarassment and loss. Here, too, it sounds as though people are tuning in with the hope of seeing someone fall flat on her face. I'm glad to hear Lauren Jones is actually doing well.
Okay, I'll climb down off my soap box now. And try to shake off my holier-than-thou attitude.
Reply
8-23-2007 @ 5:26PM
CaliberSRT4 said...
I forgot about the show, but I figured the whole thing would be planned except "Anchorwoman".
Reply
8-23-2007 @ 6:50PM
Jon.B said...
The station is worried about it's journalistic integrity and they have a freaking weather dog named Stormy who they dress up in little outfits depending on the weather.
For crying out loud!
Reply
8-23-2007 @ 7:21PM
King Rob said...
Lauren Jones is clearly way too good to be doing the news in Tyler Texas. Someone throw nancy grace's old beat ass off the air, i d rather see Lauren on TV, she genuinely seemed like a nice person..... not bad on the eyes either. Who else thinks this girl has talent? Analis on the other hand clearly pole smoked her way up the corporate step stool (.. i mean ladder) that is Tyler texas tv.
Reply
8-24-2007 @ 10:49AM
David Allen said...
Fox was so unfair to cancel "Anchorwoman" from network airings only after just one episode. Fox should have given more time for the buzz to spread around about what a good show Lauren Jones was featured in. I was at least pleased to learn that unaired episodes will be added to the Fox On Demand area at Fox.com for Internet viewing.
Reply
8-24-2007 @ 1:58PM
nate said...
Don't worry folks. Lauren Jones (age 24) is light years ahead of peeps like Trish Stratus and Stacy Keibler (ex WWE divas). Vince McMahon (WWE head) would certainly welcome her back to his own brand of HUMILIATION TV, but I think she's way better than Vince-TV. If she's as bright as she seems she'll soak up some quality acting classes, take a few voice lessons (she's already better than Stacy or Trish at this stage). Hope they find a decent vehicle for her - not Barker Girl, Wheel of Fortune stand-in, Howie-girl, etc. Personally, I think she'd be great as a sideline girl for NFL football or Beckham soccer.
Reply