Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2008 > October > 27 > Entry
10/27: D.L. Hughley debuts comedy show on CNN, photo of Robin Meade & Regular Guys
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
D.L. Hughley is attempting to inject humor into the normally staid and serious CNN mold with his show “Breaking the News,” which debuted Saturday. Naturally, the opener was a mixed bag, lacking the timing and precision of Jon Stewart, the smoothness of Leno, the archness of Letterman. Then again, Hughley is new at this and it will take time for him to find his place. (CNN has committed to a year’s worth of shows.)
Hughley opened with a monologue, riffing off the news. His first stab was not nearly as good as his better peers but then again, this was his first stab. One note: he has a bad habit of laughing at his own jokes, even if the small audience didn’t.
Typical joke: “Barack Obama has raised $710 million. Wow! A brother with that type of money and he doesn’t even have a shoe deal!”
Hughley was supplemented by various CNN on-air personalities. Josh Levs, part of the “truth squad,” pretended to take Hughley’s jokes seriously. At one point, when Hughley says a joke was a joke, Levs said, “Here at CNN Center in Atlanta, we call that lying.” “Wait a minute, I’m a comedian!” “Liar,” Levs said.
Other moments: a guy dressed as a pimp pretending to be “Freddie Mac,” which is not actually a person but the federal home loan operation that has been bailed out for problem mortgages. “The politicians are the pimps and the voters are their ho’s,” “Freedie Mack” said, which got a rise out of the small audience.
He also interviewed Ali Velshi, the CNN business correspondent, and Maryline Blackburn, who beat Sarah Palin in the MIss Alaska pageant in 1984. “Black person in Alaska. Were you in the witness protection program?” Hughley said. She’s an Obama supporter but said she recalls Palin as a tough cookie who speaks well, but criticized her for lack of substance.
He shows a review of black presidents through the years in film including “President Sammy Davis Jr.” from a film decades ago. He includes Morgan Freeman presiding over the destruction of the U.S. thanks to a comet (“Deep Impact”) Hughley segued this by talking to Neil deGrasse Tyson, the director of the Hayden Planetarium, who says an asteroid might be on its way to Earth in 2029. Hughley did like to make black jokes a lot. The Hayden Planetarium guy says black folks won’t suffer as much when a supernova fries everybody. “Black skin protects you from a nova,” Hughley cracks. “Black skin does not protect you from the police!”
He also got Scott McClellan, former Bush spokesman, to say he’s endorsing Barack Obama. “If I only get 60 million more people,” Hughley said.
And he took advantage of the reach of CNN by talking to correspondents in Russia, China and India. The Indian correspondent, when asked about our presidential race, said, “90 percent of Indians polled said they don’t care. We have too much going on here.”
- And here’s a shot I took of a couple of Regular Guys (Eric Von Haessler and “Southside” Steve Rickman) and CNN morning host Robin Meade before the NASCAR race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway Sunday. My observation: Dagmar Midcap — you have competition!
Comments
By JTD
October 27, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
wow…more regular guys news. what a shock.
no mention of project961’s relaunch of the Giant Show?
ugh….
By Tarryl
October 27, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
I was appalled and disgusted about D.L. Hughley’s show. I am appalled at CNN for putting something like that on a channel where people go to be informed on current events. A show like that should be on Comedy Central, not CNN. D.L. Hughley should be ashamed of displaying that kind of behavior, antics, and stereotyope during the season of a very important election. Shame on you D.L. Hugley and shame on you CNN.
By Uncle Fester
October 27, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this
Watch FOX News instead. They have better looking news babes.
CNN = Chicken Noodle News
By Mark R
October 27, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this
Wow!! DL Hugley should be ashamed of himself as a human being!!! Most of the people that I know are make intelligent decisions based on facts not on race. Hugley mentioned Black President more than 10 times which leads me to believe that Obama’s race is an issue to him. CNN and DL Hugley needs to become a part of the CHANGE that Obama/ Bidden stands for. DL STOP BRINGING UP RACE AND TRY TO USE ANY TALENT YOU MAY HAVE WITHOUT PLAYING THE RACE CARD….. THIS IS HORRIBLE!!!
By Mark R
October 27, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this
Wow!! DL Hugley should be ashamed of himself as a human being!!! Most of the people that I know are make intelligent decisions based on facts not on race. Hugley mentioned Black President more than 10 times which leads me to believe that Obama’s race is an issue to him. CNN and DL Hugley needs to become a part of the CHANGE that Obama/ Bidden stands for. DL STOP BRINGING UP RACE AND TRY TO USE ANY TALENT YOU MAY HAVE WITHOUT PLAYING THE RACE CARD….. THIS IS HORRIBLE!!!
By Doofy
October 27, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this
Fester is right! Why do you think it’s called FOX News? Foxy news babes! Just look at the skanks on CNN and MSNBC.
By Be Nice
October 27, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this
Ummm did you guys not see the picture of Robin Meade? She’s on CNN.
By Tony
October 27, 2008 6:26 PM | Link to this
Eric looks something that just crawled out of a HOLE….MoleMAN
By Eastside
October 27, 2008 9:26 PM | Link to this
I thought about watching DL’s new show, but, after listening to his “comedic political commentaries” which are heard periodically on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, I decided to do something more productive, like watch the blades of grass grow in my yard. It amazes me that people talk about how biased Fox News is (which cannot be disputed), but there are also unashamed, biased people with liberal views in the media like DL who are employed by ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, BET and TV One (which surprise, surprise covered the Democratic National Convention but did not cover the Republican National Convention).
By northside
October 27, 2008 11:30 PM | Link to this
Never has a repeatedly failing morning team gotten as much press as the Two Share Twins get here. If history is any indicator, they’ll get even more coverage after Cumulus fires them.
By NiceUns
October 28, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this
Looks like ole Robin has some tig bitties.
By David A.
October 28, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this
Are you kidding me? Robin Meade is 10 million times hotter than Dagmar Midcap. No competition at all.
By Sarah
October 28, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this
Does the AJC have some kind of secret deal with Cumulus? TRG are dropping like a stone in the ratings, and Rodney the Ho keeps trying to build them up. These guys were has-beens five years ago.
By Tre
October 28, 2008 9:03 PM | Link to this
What about Red Eye on Fox News?
By zest
October 28, 2008 9:59 PM | Link to this
Holy sh*t! Look at those cans!!!
By dale
October 29, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this
No Sarah, Rodney was trying to build the Regular Stffs they were sucking at Clear Channel, when they were unemployed, when they’d been arrested…it’s apparantley his mission in life to get them above a two share for more than one book. Good luck.
By Juan Powers
October 30, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this
Fox News have better looking women but most of them are blonde and white with the exception of Julie Banderas. At least with the other channels you get some diversity. As for DL…. how did he get on CNN in the first place anyway?