October 7, 2009, - 4:40 pm
“Feuds I Love” of the Day: Glenn Beck Whips Desperate Vannity in FOX Ratings, May Move to FNC Prime Time Vannity Slot
You heard it here first. Last week, I told you that Glenn Beck–a lightweight whose research (like Sean Vannity’s) is, um “borrowed” (the whole Van Jones story was stolen from the Gateway Pundit blog)–was gaining on Sean Hannity because Beck’s dumb statements, phony drama, and annoying antics have a lot of gullible takers. (It’s sickening that he repeatedly promotes repeat criminal and Hezbollah-supporter Darrell Issa on his show.) I said that Vannity was desperate because he knew he’d soon be toppled from his reign as #2 conservative talking figure (after Rush). That’s why Vannity brought anti-Semite Jim Traficant on his show on Yom Kippur, knowing he’d be anti-Semitic, pretending he didn’t, and prompting him by asking about Israel at the beginning of the interview.
Beck Killing Vannity in Ratings Contest
But it’s not enough. The anti-Semites won’t buoy him. Glenn Beck whipped Vannity in the TV ratings for the week. (And, even more heartening news, Nickelodeon beat them both. Not that I like liberal claptrap Nick, but I like that kids TV beat these two phonies. Kids like watching kids’ TV more than adults like watching adult kids on TV.)
In fact, Beck’s ratings are so good (he got just under 300,000 more viewers in daytime when far less are watching TV than Vannity got in primetime), that I hear the brass at FOX News are looking at moving him from early evening/afternoon in some markets to prime time. The problem is, they’ll have to move someone. Vannity is lucky in that he’s a major kiss-ass of FOX News Senior VP of programming Bill Shine and got him the job. And the relationship is mutual: Shine is a major kiss-ass of Vannity, right back. Sometimes, they drive into New York together from Long Island. Still, Roger Ailes is the boss, and he wouldn’t hesitate to move Beck into Vannity’s valuable night-time slot if Beck continues to cream Vannity. Beck’s higher ratings are more valuable in advertising rate revenue in primetime than they are in his current day part. And they won’t move Bill O’Reilly, who still averages well over three million viewers and remains the top-rated cable news host. That leaves Vannity or Greta Van Plastic Surgeryen.
Vannity is worried. Big-time.
He’s jealous. And he’s upset. Unlike Limbaugh, Vannity isn’t smart and doesn’t say things that get mainstream media coverage. Unlike Beck, he isn’t a drama queen and doesn’t say things that get mainstream media coverage. Yup, Vannity is just a talking points chump who is good at ripping–off and presenting as his own–other people’s work. And that’s it. The quality of those who listen to and like Vannity’s show is low and they’re gullible and naive. But even that isn’t enough to hold on to his reign.
And Vannity’s attempt at stunts isn’t helping him. Last night, he flubbed a much-hyped interview with flabulous filmmaker Michael Moore, whose movie, “Capitalism: A Love Story” (read my review), is already almost in rigor mortis. Moore walked all over Vannity. This was one of the few definite cases where I know Vannity didn’t read and rip off my work. The interview was terrible and Moore had the better of it by far. It looked like a Vannity love-fest.
Other stunts, like trying to get his female radio producer–all but two of his employees are young women (hint, hint)–to call off her wedding, haven’t helped him. People are wondering if, off the air, Vannity has pulled his much-rumored Letterman-esque attempts on her.
Don’t sob for the intellectually-challenged multi-millionaire ranter. He’s doing quite well for himself. But I have to say, I’m happy he’s getting beaten by Glenn Beck. It’s like watching the Iran-Iraq war. You wish the fighting would never end.
Alien v. Predator–Feuds I Wish Would Never End:
Palestinian Authority/Fatah v. Al-Jazeera . . .
Charles Barkley v. President Barack Hussein Obama Barry Soetoro Idi Amin Dada . . .
William Shatner/”Capt. Kirk” v. George Takei/”Sulu” . . .
Aretha Franklin v. Tina Turner . . .
Baba Wawa v. Star Jones . . .
Dr. Death, Baba Wawa & Star Jones Swimsuit Edition
HAMAS v. Fatah . . .
Donald v. Rosie . . .
Tags: Beck Beats Hannity in Ratings, Bill O'Reilly, Bill Shine, Fox News Channel, Glenn Beck, Ratings War, Roger Ailes, Sean Hannity, Sean Vannity
Glen Beck obviously has his problems, but he is far more watchable than Sean Hannity. His ratings warrant a better placement than he presently has. Hannity’s show should be kicked back to the afternoons or into the weekends, if it is retained at all. I have a suspicion that something is in the works here. Bill O’Reilly’s recent interview of Lou Dobbs is suggestive. Why give airtime to a competitor, even if he relatively weak? CNN is no longer promoting Lou’s show to any great extent, and that is usually a sign that there is trouble. I have a feeling that Hannity’s Trafficant interview will have long term repercussions that will gradually become more apparent.
sorrow01 on October 7, 2009 at 4:58 pm