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"What the Hell Was CNN Thinking?"

Written By mista sense on Sunday, November 16, 2008 | 11:24 AM


Pepper Miller asks that question in Advertising Age's blog, "The Big Tent." And the subhead was equally damning: "'D.L. Hughley Breaks the News' Sets Us Back 20 Years."

Her whole piece is worth reading, but here's the best stuff:

Seems to me that if this audience was already tuning in to CNN's real news, why did the network have to go to such extreme measures to keep them? Why does CNN believe that youth intellect -- and particularly Black youth intellect -- has to be couched in buffoonery and stereotypes to be relevant? Importantly, CNN has turned off a lot of its loyal Black (and White) boomer viewers -- many of whom appreciate and love D.L. as much as I do.

CNN: What were you thinking?

...

I'm not alone in my opinion. Boyce Watkins, one of the most highly sought-after African-American scholars and Black social commentators, wrote a rather scathing review and commentary about D.L.'s show. Wrote Watkins in D.L. Hughley's Def (and Dumb) Comedy Jam on CNN:

"D.L. Hughley Breaks the News" was something I simply cannot forgive. I am a loyal fan of Katt Williams, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Richard Pryor, Wanda Sykes, Eddie Murphy and other cutting-edge and incredibly talented comedians. I don't wear my "Black Panther hat" everywhere I go, and I have as many guilty pleasures as anyone when it comes to laughing about things that might be considered offensive. I also say this as a moderate fan of Def Comedy Jam. ... The truth of the matter is that there must be a point where the line is drawn, like realizing that you don't put a porn shop inside a church or bring a gun to a baby shower. It is amazing that CNN would sign off on this show right before such an historic and politically sacred event sending a clear message to African Americans that the only way to get their attention is to "be really black and make us laugh."

Additionally, I could not find one of my peers who connected with the show.

...

As it stands now, none of this works for D.L., the CNN brand or the Black community.

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