Example A: Our Claude Deforest has a special report on patient abuse at such and such hospital. Claude does his 3 minutes and upon conclusion, anchor inserts automatic, Thanks Claude!
Thanks for what? Claude was working. Better yet, that's what Claude does. So, really, thanks is not only superficial, but dim-witted. This is nit-picky? No not really. It's calling out laziness.
Count the number of times anchors toss to the sportsguy and utter the ubiquitous thanks Denny after Denny is done. Thanks for what? Thanks for giving us the sports and now it's time to get to hell back to news, thanks though.
It's not just relegated to sports; weather is automatic thanks territory. Thanks Spence for that timely forecast. Gag me.
If anchors could learn a simple rule and simply stray back into news and refrain from thanks-mode, it would not only make for a more fluid newscast, thus, maintaining the pace and dissing the bullshit thanks and get on with it, it would also cut down on severe case of over thanksville. Most viewers with half a brain hate it and only further perpetuates the Ron Burgundy image of local TV News.
Thanks Bud, Thanks Mary, Thanks Gene is not only a local phenomenon--it is a national irritance. Even King Wolf Blitzer over at CNN is a thanks abuser. He should know better, maybe he should get out of the Situation Room every now and then, (thanks Rich, I'll work on it.)
Thanks all.
Have a nice day and thanks for reading.
*Follow me on Twitter.
On radio KGO's Michael Finney takes it to another level. Not only does he thank the newsperson, he throws in a "great job" too! Like he's their boss.
ReplyDeleteI AGREE WITH RICH & YOU ABOUT ALL THE "THANKS CRAP" AND SELF CONGRATULATIONS THAT GO ON, BUT THE ABSOLUTE WORST AND MOST ANNOYING TO ME IS: "PLEASE GO TO AND CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE","FOLLOW US ON TWITTER",AND THE KING OF THEM ALL "LIKE US ON FACEBOOK" IT ACTUALLY MAKES ME NOT WANT TO GO TO THEIR CHEAP,BORING,SLOW AND NOT UP TO DATE SITES,LOL...
DeleteI hate it, but a quick "thanks" might be the quickest transition/segue possible. I do loathe anchors acting like the weather people are wizards who are RESPONSIBLE for the weather we are experiencing.
ReplyDelete"Oh mighty meteorologist, what kind of weather do you have in store for us mere mortals?"
I dig when the anchor gives props to the weather reader for the great weather.
ReplyDelete"Thanks" is one thing. But listen to the local NFL team preseason telecasts done by the teams (not the networks). I'm glad Vern Glenn has gainful employment and with a station that has four legs to stand on (as opposed to that other station run by 'Kids from FAME'). But he was such a KA during Saturday's telecast as he was throwing rose pedals at the 49ers team doctors when one of the players got carted off the field.
ReplyDeleteDoctors IN GENERAL should always do their best for their patients. They've entrusted their health care to them. There are no exceptions. No broadcaster needs to be so KA towards them.
But this is just part of the atmosphere these days. Team broadcasters are such homers and brown nosers. They're catching heat from marketing people who guzzle Starbucks all day and then think they know it all. Or from general managers scared to lose their jobs when someone tonsil tells the truth.
Yuk.
I happened to catch the end of the ch2. news..how awkward is that "Thanks for trusting us"? and then the other guy says "And have a good evening from ch2 news"
ReplyDeleteSeeya later would be more then enough.
Agreed, that "Thanks for trusting us," is obnoxious ... they do it in the morning, too.
DeleteAlso, KGO morning news ends their broadcast by offering "FIVE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW," most/all of which are stories that have, already, been beaten to death, and will be forgotten by 7:15.
"Thanks for trusting us,"
DeleteI think it's funny that the stations think that. Maybe they don't, but say it anyway out of hope.
I'm sure in Cronkite's day people watched because they trusted what they were hearing.
Today, people watch because they don't trust what they're hearing, and want to see for themselves what's being pushed to them.
"Good nite, Chet ... Good nite, David." You hit it right on the head, Rich. I hate "Thank you," after a story. I also hate, "Back to you," "Back to you in studio", "Live from ... I'm so and so." Live? No shit! Better than being dead, fer gosh sakes. Lots of times, "Live" is such BS. It often is a pre-taped stand-up to appear "live".
ReplyDeleteI once took a stopwatch to the constant "thanks" and the "happy talk" with no purpose. Believe it or not, the average newscast could not only move faster, but two more stories could be included. Honest.
Thanks. And thanks to you Rich, and especially to you posters, and many thanks to our news servants, and don't forget to saying thanks to our technical crew and thanks to the news gathering team and special thanks to our producers and directors behind the glass. Oh, and special thanks to our ENG team who are so tireless in bring you these pictures. And thanks to our lighting director for making us look so damn good on the tee-wee. And thanks to all radio people who only wish they were were on the telly instead of the radio.
And thanks for being you. No, really, thanks. Be anything you want to be, as long as it doesn't hurt anybody. And, really, just thanks.
Nothing wrong with, "Thank you". I hate at the end of the broadcast, the anchors seemingly fall over each other to say, "Good Night". I guess the person on the left gets the last word but I remember watching a few nights when (I think KTVU weekend), there were like three or four good nights as if they were pining for the last word.
ReplyDeleteMeh. White people's problems.
ReplyDeleteYup, I guess white folks still prioritize manners, at least those over 40... so do many others.
DeleteI am amused when a PBP person is being interviewed on the radio before a game and the interviewer always ends by saying "Have a great call tonight!"
ReplyDeleteIt's just a show of appreciation and acknowledgement of the work the reporters do to investigate and speak on a particular story. It's not like the word "thanks" is being mentioned every 2-3 minutes.
ReplyDeleteNo it's not! It's a lazy, often scripted transition. And they say it every 2-3 minutes after every live shot.
Delete"THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING US"
ReplyDeleteI don't mind the thank yous when a reporter is on scene gathering breaking news. I do get annoyed at anchors who wave goodbye at the end of their newscasts. In Monterey County we have two 100 year weather guessers. Norm Hoffman and Jim Vanderzwaan. They do a cutesy wave of the hand with a fake smile at the end of the news. It probably placates the seniors in Carmel and Pebble Beach but drives me nuts!!! Save the fake warm and fuzzy feelings please!
ReplyDeleteall those news casters are a bunch of squares
ReplyDeleteMy my my, Rich and many responders. We sure have the Cranky Pants on today!
ReplyDeleteAs for me, there isn't enough appreciation and gratitude being expressed in the world today. I don't mind a bit to hear folks on TV or radio thanking each other. But then--I am a Mr. Rogers fan, so there you go!
I have been annoyed at the brusk and rude manner of some of our local talk show hosts: Ronn Owens and Len Tillum come to mind. I won't even mention many others who are very popular, but just nasty human beings.
And then there's the delightful Neal Conan, host of NPR's nationally syndicated "Talk of the Nation," who is very, very kind to callers and let's them have their say. I especially like when he ends each call with, "Thank you and bye bye!"
Hmmm...Conan's national. Could politeness be the mark of true success?
Thanks for reading and bye bye!
Did you also do a cutesy wave of the hand as you hit ”Enter”?
Delete8:08! How did you KNOW? I totally do!
DeleteThanks and bye bye!
Go fuck yourself San Diego!
ReplyDeleteThank you is a common courtesy. I don't mind.
ReplyDeleteI spent more than the best part of two decades as a sound mixer at the network news level. That's my background.
ReplyDeleteI hate the stupid, meaningless live shot introducing a package. Just because you have a truck doesn't mean you have to use it.
I just hate it.
What drives me nuts is when an anchor tosses to a reporter for a "live" shot--and the reporter starts by saying, "That's right, Bob..."
ReplyDeleteThe other thing that drives me REALLY nuts is when an anchor reads a "Tag" after the reporter does a "Live" tag after his/her PKG airs. It just drive me NUTS! To me, when an anchor tosses back to the studio, it means the reporter is FINISHED with the story--that he/she has told us EVERYTHING we need to know about the story.
I used to be a producer...a few years in the Bay Area, even--and during the morning meetings I would often put on the table "WHY do I have to add an anchor tag in my rundown AFTER the live toss-back? It was like that old Merrill Lynch commercial: All chatter stopped...and all eyes looked at me as if I had just cussed out Jesus Christ. Someone then replied, "Because that's our STYLE." Another producer said something to the effect about "...it makes the anchor look authoritative."
ARRGHHHH....
@Anon 9:10 pm
ReplyDelete"...it makes the anchor look authoritative."
Why? Some of them are just pricks, in real life. If you all know them, you all would realize it.
These people are just f--king news readers. They do not cure cancer or save people from tragedy. F--k, they bleed like everyone else.
Richie. You are the best. When are you going to have your own show?
I agree with 8:13 PM and I LOVE 11:41 AM! Those who are bothered by this trivia may be in danger of having their heads explode.
ReplyDeleteRich,
ReplyDeletewhat would you have the anchors say instead of thank you. If they move right along without acknowledging the reporter, it seems rude to the viewers-kgo tv tried that. If they say something like "oh, that's interesting" that seems inane.. who cares what they think of the story? Let the viewer make up his/her own mind.
As for the moron who suggersted reporters are doing taped standups and calling them "live".. no way.
Just move on to the next story!!! KTVU does it in the morning and it doesn't sound rude at all.
DeleteThanks, Rich, for your blog.
ReplyDeleteReally! Where would I be without you and www.drudgereport.com?
KRON is a perfect example of a no-toss newscast. It's awkward, to say the least. But saying 'Thanks' all the time is awkward too. Maybe we should just get really douchy and say "back-atcha!" :-D jk.
ReplyDeleteGoes along with the "faux" hugs that some parts of society demand that you bestow upon people at a party or social setting? Get off me? If you look like a decent, thinking person who utilizes more than a small segment of your brain, I'll shake your hand politely and maybe even nod my head a bit. But I'm NOT going to engage in oohing and aahing and goofy hugs all around.... Thanks Rich! Oh, and Thanks to your website IP provider, too, Rich! And extra special thanks to your caterer for those yummy treats and tasty hors d'oeuvres! Ooohh, and Thanks to Gary Radnich for requiring me to adjust the red tones on my TV! ...OMG: Thanks to Ronn Owens for being such a milquetoast Sleep Train tool?
ReplyDelete