The friend, who worked in the movie biz as a publicist made a point about why I was seeing Nicole Kidman so much.
"When you're an actress in Hollywood nearing 40, you do as many movies as you can because after that, they, (movie people), regard a lot of women past 40 as 'donno.'" "Are you kidding me?", I asked incredulously. He wasn't. Yes, even the stunning Nicole Kidman is subject to the law of time and body. Dang!
Which brings me to my point. On a less grander scale, but essentially the same idea. TV women reporters, anchors, the like, past 40 and 50 are becoming rarities. It's the new rule. It's especially evident in local TV. They like 'em young, blond, (usually), eager, and mostly the willingness to work on the dime. Can you just fathom all of that for a moment.
Katie Couric and Diane Sawyer are some of the exceptions because they're Katie Couric and Diane Sawyer. Inez Sainz, (pictured above), is also Inez Sainz, (30ish, hot, Latina, bingo!)
Just go to any market and the majority of air talent are late-20/30ish-something women reporters, (and a few anchors too), who have become the new business model. Men are not as affected, but they too are under the microscope. Isn't a lovely business?
It's getting to the point that anybody over 50, advertisers regard as dirt. Pass 54 you might as well go to the Nevada desert and fade away. Bye bye. The same is applied to TV news people.
This is nothing new just as it's not a huge surprise that younger women in the TV biz are by and large making it difficult for the rest, or have you seen Fox News staple of air talent? Erin Burnett on CNN. A fine business reporter--it doesn't hurt she's about 33 too. For every Christianne Amanpour and Candy Crowley, and Rita Williams, for that matter, there's a Dana Bash. Which is not to bash Dash, but I think you get my point. Dana Bash? OK, she was the first I thought of, excuse me, there's more.
Pardon me while I go watch my Susan Sarrandon and Julia Roberts movie.
**Tips/E-Mail: Rich.Lieberman@Gmail.com
*Follow me on Twitter
