Letters to the Editor
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I knew it was coming but I'm still so sad to see Aaron go
As far as I'm concerned, Aaron Brown has long been one of the few watchable, bearable presences at CNN, and it sucks that they've squeezed him out of his show. I've never been able to pinpoint the exact source of his appeal, but the Broadsheet's "Elegy" explained it about as well as anyone. Brown does come across a little awkward, a little lacking in the "slickness" department. He's smart and nerdy and flawed--which is to say, real. Watching him, you see right away that he loves giving the news, loves just sharing the information. He's no mimbo, "acting" the news; he engages with it. I like how he often seems a little bemused by the world events he's relating; that feels real to me, and sane.
And I LOVE The Rooster. Long live The Rooster! Sure, it's uber-folksy to simply read us the next day's headlines, but it's a nice palate cleanser. In the 24-hour news cycle universe, the CNNs and MSNBCs of the world must keep themselves in a state of constant frenzy, trying to make every minute seem urgent and relevant. Brown doing The Rooster seemed to say, "What the hell, let's relax for a minute."
I actually like Anderson Cooper for the most part, so I'm not knocking him. But it saddens me that CNN apparently make room for both men, both styles. I know it's a ratings game, and I gather that Brown lacks a certain sizzle quotient. But by squeezing him out to make room for the more sizzlicious Cooper, CNN is needlessly tossing away its most warm, real, human presence. Aaron, you'll be missed.
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this breaks my heart
Great. A Coop d'etat. Just what we all need - Anderson "great white snark" Cooper, 24-7. Damn him and his giant forehead. I've loved Aaron for years, and now instead of intelligent gravitas we get Gloria Vanderbilt's hipster spawn. Yuck.
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i agree, aaron brown will be missed...
i agree, aaron brown will be missed... like all the old anchors of yesterday who carried an aura of respectability and chivalry. knights in shining armor who daily laughed and cried with us over the tragedies and comedies of real life worldwide- they are gone and replaced by anchors who carry all the credibility of keanu reeves, doing the news. and that is what they are, after all- actors. actors trying to do better what they cannot even imitate- be real, be compassionate, and be likeable.
tamara knowles
alexander city, alabama
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It was inevitable, I guess...
I have to admit, I more or less stopped watching Aaron several months ago when CNN decided that they couldn't tolerate a smart program about politics moderated by an intelligent host who featured interesting people... and who wouldn't tolerate the usual screaming. I assumed Aaron's days at CNN were numbered then, when they forced him to become a weird combination of Nancy Grace and Paula Zahn.
Well, of course CNN is nothing like the CNN of old. They clearly will stop at nothing to overtake Fox, even if they have to become Fox to do it. Aaron Brown was simply too earnest and too smart for the network that CNN has become. It's a shame that there's not room for even one intelligent program on CNN, but so it goes. But I'll never forget sitting in Budapest on 9/11 and for days afterward, watching Aaron and wondering where this guy came from. That was great reporting, and he can be proud of that for the rest of his life. It makes no sense that a network would keep an airhead like Paula Zahn and fire an Aaron Brown, but then, nothing in this country makes much sense anymore, does it?
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in gratitude and appreciation for Aaron Brown
I think Aaron Brown is cool. I am a definite groupie. I have loved watching since the time he was the face of late night as in middle of the night voice and face of ABC News. I missed him when he moved to CNN but thought good for him and good for a wider audience. And suddenly he isn't hip enough for them?? I guess my demographic is showing--middle class, middle age (48), middle west (Illinois), married white woman--not the audience de jour (baby boomers are no longer cool except on AARP ads). And I love his unique style...hair, voice, and all. There is a sincerety there that escapes most anchors. The only other anchor I adored was Douglas Edwards (yes, even most of my contemporaries won't remember him), the consumate, polished, professional who made Walter Cronkite (who?) look ordinary. In any case, after a well deserved rest, I know that Aaron will turn up on another channel...unlike Walter lifelong prime time career on CBS, I've noticed that my favorite guys (and gals) roam around a bit and as long as find a new niche and I can find them, I'm fine. I'm not channel loyal...just anchor loyal.
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A loss for CNN
I too am saddened that Aaron Brown will not be continuing at CNN. Mr. Brown possesses such class and style, and he evidences a great maturity in his reporting; I have always found him to be a stellar news anchor. I also enjoy Anderson Cooper but I see him more as a wild card, a top field reporter who is wonderful at adding an on-site perspective to the news stories of many a CNN anchor (but Cooper is a fidgeter when seated, appearing as if he can't wait to jump up and get out of the studio setting).
While Cooper is perfect in his current capacity, Mr. Brown's poise and delivery trumps Cooper's style hands down, and I'm immensely disappointed that CNN management is choosing to cancel Mr. Brown's contract; I will greatly miss him.
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Tell me it's not so
I can't believe it's true - no more Aaron! I too looked forward to his show - a calming, believeable and thoughtful review of the news. Never overstated and not sensationalized. Since I can't watch the embarrassing meanderings of Larry King and the tabloid headlines from Paula, I'm left with Anderson and Lou Dobbs. Don't you dare touch these two guys or I'm leaving the party.
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Pink material?
I,too, am sad to learn that Aaron Brown will no longer be on CNN; there's little left on CNN that makes it worthwhile. But, what is this item doing in the pink blog? There's nothing woman related about it other than the author. It just makes me wonder, yet again, what the purpose of this pink blog is.