Request from Janeane: SUGGESTIONS for her last two CROSSFIRE days? [View All]

[CaptainMidnight]

Hey gang,

I got a personal email from Janeane informing me she would be hosting CROSSFIRE this week.

She asked me if I had any suggestions or important information, and if so, to relay it to her, I'm assuming with the idea that she would use them on the show.

Now, I wanted to post this on Sunday night, but let's face it, Janeane's so bloody smart and up on the issues, I was flattered she even asked me in the first place. I thought I'd give it a day or two to see how she does.

Also, from experience, I took in to account how shows like CROSSFIRE are so freakin' brisk and heated, with Tucker screaming at you from across the table, you've got TV monitors to monitor, not-so-friendly guests popping up beside you, a producer or two buzzing in your earpiece and interrupting you for breaking news, the audience to be aware of, the big screen behind you to read off of, to say nothing of what I'm sure are several teleprompters. It's not like she's going to have time to "introduce" something that isn't already scripted or outlined of that day's show.

(in a side note, I know this from experience. I hosted a reality/game show for FOX last year. I had to work with six cameras, one of which was "floating" around me on a boom, a Steadi-Cam operator, and FOUR teleprompters. Add to that, the producers encouraged me to add in "zingers," and to really "go after" the contestants. It was nearly impossible for me to think on my feet!)

Anway, so I withheld from bombarding Janeane with "talking points," but I did make one suggestion. I felt that, on the first day, she "won" by not losing. Her composure, that is. It's Tucker's home turf, much like Boston Garden was the Celtics' home turf, and Larry Bird knowing exactly where all the "dead" dribble spots were on the parquet flooring, Tucker knows exactly which way to turn to which camera and when, and how to perfectly time a cheap shot or low brow, right before the bell goes off or they cut to commercial. I mean, think about what Janeane was walking into, here, and be more impressed with her than you already are! The stage was set for Tucker to eat her alive. She more than held her own.

The only "advice" I sent her way, after suggesting she allow herself to find her way on the first show, was to "go for the jugular," be "unfair," and like Tyson, "come out swinging and land a stunner on Tucker's jaw" right away. He's not used to it; knock him on his ass and he won't recover in time, especially since CNN's whittled the show to a half hour. Basically do what's been working for the Republicans all these years.

Janeane may have been planning on doing such anway, but did you just watch Wednesday's show? I mean, we're only 9 minutes into CROSSFIRE today, and, unlike day one and two, she has gone straight for Tucker's throat each time she opens her mouth! Has anyone else here noticed her demeanor today? I really think she "threw" him. If you observed his body language the rest of the show, you saw his shoulders were a bit more hunched, and he played to the camera more, as opposed to dealing with her.

I think she's gonna get flowers and chocolate from Karl Rove, either offering her a job to switch over to the dark side, or she's gonna get flowers and chocolate coated with Anthrax!

Sooooo, separating the wheat from the chaff in my rather windy post here, and keeping in mind that she's gotta work very quickly....

WHAT KIND OF "TALKING POINTS" WOULD ALL OF YOU SUGGEST FOR HER REMAINING TWO SHOWS?

Please respond ASAP, cuz I wanna make she gets these emailed and faxed to where she's staying by tonight, that way shes' got time to consider them, if she's got time to consider them at all.

I can't promise anything, but can guarantee that she will see them.

Thanx for your help!

Captain Mike