Tuesday, November 5, 2024

MSNBC Throws Ronan Farrow into the Deep End, And He Drowns

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Ronan Farrow’s debut on MSNBC on Monday was a ratings disaster, but that’s not all. Farrow, despite his show business lineage, came off today– his second day– like the host of a show on UHF or closed circuit TV in a community college. Physically, he comes off as small. The set doesn’t help him. His voice his high and uncertain. He reminded me (this is an old reference) of the high school stringer hired by Lou Grant who phones in a scoop. Watch this clip below. Does this seem like a show that should be on a network connected to NBC?

Really? This is enough to make me turn to Fox News.

Today Farrow put up Arizona Governor Jan Brewer’s phone number. He urged the audience to call her if they don’t agree with her position on gay rights. (Later, he will call Justin Bieber and egg her house.) I think we did this in 11th grade to our high school principal.

Meanwhile, Farrow, one day on the job, is hitting the lecture circuit. He’s already booked Fairfield (CT) University for March 18th on the topic “A New Generation of Protest: How Technology Is Changing the Art of Uprising.” His official bio says he’s the son of Mia Farrow and Woody Allen. So much for Frank Sinatra!

If only Farrow had started out as a contributor on some show first. You think of all the talented people who could host that hour and do a great job. This is going to end in tears, I’m afraid.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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