Powered by i.TV
February 9, 2012
 
CONNECT    

Why did 60 Minutes say that Andre Agassi was "only" talking to them?

by Bob Sassone, posted Nov 10th 2009 8:03AM
Open, andre agassiWhen CBS promoted the 60 Minutes interview with Andre Agassi that aired this past Sunday, they said that he was only talking to one person, Katie Couric, as if this was the only place you'd be able to hear Agassi talk about his new book (Open) and the revelations that have surfaced (especially his crystal meth use in the late 90s).

So what exactly was so "only talking to one person" about this interview? KVBC did an interview with him about the book, he's on Live with Regis & Kelly tomorrow morning, on The Late Show tomorrow night, and he's on Jimmy Kimmel Live on November 23. He also did an interview with People.

This is something that has irritated me for the past several years (and something we've talked about many times here): the words "exclusive" and "only" and even "first" are really overused (and misused) when it comes to TV news stories nowadays.

Whenever someone says they have an "exclusive" with someone, my first reaction is to not believe it. It's almost as if they justify calling it an exclusive because it's the only time you'll see the story in that way on this channel by this person. That's really stretching the meaning of the word. I'm curious to see if Oprah will use the word when it comes to her interview with Sarah Palin next week.

Oh, one TV-related anecdote from Agassi's book. Remember the Friends episode "The One After The Super Bowl" where Brooke Shields played a crazy woman stalking Joey? Agassi was on that set and stormed off during the scene where she had to lick Matt LeBlanc's hand.

Add a Comment

*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

31 Comments

Filter by:
Barry Jagoda

THANKS for pointing out that "exclusive" is just about the most overused word in television journalism today. CBS News is most guilty among the networks and cablecasters, continuing its shameful efforts to overpromote Katie Couric.

November 11 2009 at 1:30 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Scott

Bob--I can't believe you watch CBS News.
Unless, of course, you're digging up another one of their Lies.
I quit watching See BS News when it occurred to me that they were lying an average of about a dozen times per telecast.
Sheesh.

November 10 2009 at 7:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
buddysucks

Gee Buddy, an equal opportunity hater. Most morons pick one side or the other.

November 10 2009 at 7:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mezl

here's another over used "news" term- "was walking down the street when some thing went "horribly wrong"". or- "was walking down the street when some thing went "terribly wrong"". you know, news people? can you all learn to report the news WITH OUT the adjectives, adverbs, what ever? just tell what happened with out treating us like a bunch of babies who don't know the difference between "terrible" and "good". i think we can figure it out for ourselves. the facts, "journalists"- JUST the facts. "was walking down the street when some thing WONDERFUL happened. a branch fell and hit him on the head"". because that's exactly what i would think if i didn't have a dumb reporter tell me other wise. talk about the dumbing down of america.....

November 10 2009 at 7:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ted

The headline asks "Did 60 Minutes Lie." My immediate respones was "of course," they constantly lie and have no qualms about doing so. When I clicked to the article and realized it was a non-issue, I had to wonder why that question wasn't asked 1,000 times before when the subject mattered but 60 minutes lied.

November 10 2009 at 7:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ehm

No, I just feel your stupidity and xenophobia infecting our society. Crawl back under your rock, please.

November 10 2009 at 7:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jaguar6cy

"Journalist" has no meaning today. All are now sales people for the network advertising arm or for some political hack. If you rely on them for anything more you will be disappointed.

November 10 2009 at 6:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Krista

We didn't watch it and as much as I love Andre Aggasi I cannot stand Katie Couric. You talk to people about her & they all say the same thing " I can't stand her, I wish they would take her off of the evening news because I won't watch it when she is on." My family is the same way. When you see on the internet news that she is being replaced it really makes us all happy but then it doesn't happen. WHY???? AOL took a poll & ask who you watch on the evening news...Charlie Gibson (the winner), Brian Williams (close to the winner) & Katie Couric (the loser by such a far margin that it wasn't even funny.) Why do you keep her? That is an embarrassment to her & to CBS. She needs a job behind the scenes not in front of the camera...what ever she had in the beginning... she has lost it now.

November 10 2009 at 6:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
murphyjdm

Who cares about this idiot? Why would you have respect for some moron that comes clean? Most people are not as weak as this loser, and never have to turn to drugs. Atheletes and Hollywood stars as a whole are pathetic, because they are handed life on a silver platter, yet they do all they can to ruin what has been given to them.

November 10 2009 at 6:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lance Korzilius

who gives a shit, it's done and over with and nothing
can be done about it now, anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!
what a bunch of dorks!

November 10 2009 at 6:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

Follow Us

From Our Partners