Quick thought here on something that wasn’t a very big deal, but for what it’s worth, Bob Costas lambasted his production crew at the end of the NBC Olympics telecast last night for a video error, breaking the character of the effortless/flawless anchor we’ve known and loved. He had little barbs like “that had nothing to do with what we’re talking about” and “we’ll try to get our act together tomorrow” without so much as a wry smile.
Not a huge deal, but it occurred to me I’ve seen this many times in recent months where TV personalities feel like pointing out mistakes made in production on the show. Or making a big deal out of mispronunciations. Or whatever. We’ve certain come a long way from the day of anchors making a mistake and soldiering on, hoping the audience would just forget about it. Is this an effect of our more casual relationship with media these days? We see them make mistakes on YouTube, or misspell things on Twitter or cursing out a production assistant when the cameras aren’t rolling.
It’s still weird. Why dog your production crew? Any thoughts appreciated…
–Mike Hudson
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The current generation of anchors have not carried forward the Cronkite/ Jennings approach because times have changed. People don’t relate to the media is the direct transmission of The Truth because it never was – but now everyone is in on that reality.
The examples you cited are becoming more common as we coach our talent to be more human, which is subtly different from being “casual” about the media. If authenticity is one of the most important coins of the realm, it’s hard to simultaneously manage yourself as perfect. People are still confused about how to do this in a smart way because it’s a work in progress.
IMHO – Costas’ approach has always straddled the old/ new line pretty well, but he has his diva moments. No matter what, it’s never cool to trash the crew in front of the audience.
Off camera, Bob Costas is a MAJOR PRICK, that why he does it.
presumably the difference varies between a crew and a lamprey…connected at the hip or attached to be hip….with the shift in media plenty of stalwart components have drifted from journalism, yet, just as some become aware of the foibles in some (not all) pockets of the reporting of misinformation, it doesn’t mean that it was all bad. personally, if it’s a crew, breaking stride as such isn’t very cool considering technical glitches that occur. on the other hand, vis a vis lampries, who cares?? cauterize them.
This is a broadcaster whose name has been linked to being the next commissioner of Major League Baseball…diva moments can only follow.
Back in broadcasting school a teacher brought in a tape of Bob Costas while in front of a guest yelling at producers, talking to him via an IFP. I recall Bob yelling “I come down here every morning and use about 4% of my brain to do this.”