Kyra Phillips and John Roberts Welcome Twins

People.com reports:

CNN Newsroom anchor Kyra Phillips, 42, and her fiancée, Fox News Senior National Correspondent John Roberts, 54, welcomed fraternal twins just after midnight on Tuesday, March 15, they tell PEOPLE exclusively.

Daughter Sage Ann arrived first at 12:03 a.m., weighing in at 5 lbs., 15 oz and 18½ inches long. Son Kellan Clay followed shortly thereafter at 12:05 a.m., also weighing in at 5 lbs., 15 oz and 18½ inches long.

“It was amazing to welcome them to the world. It was a long road to get here, but they are absolutely beautiful little people,” the couple said in a statement. “It’s incredible to be able to hold them in our arms and love them in person.”

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Catastrophic Failure

We don't often do opinion here at All Things CNN, that's not what we're about. But we're making an exception today because of recent events and a few shocks yet to come.
We were saddened this week to learn of John Roberts departure from CNN. He, like so many others who moved on this past year, could have helped CNN to return to its former glory, if they had been used properly and appreciated more. Do you realize how many fine journalists left CNN in just the past 365 day? It's rather shocking when you see it presented in list form.

December
John Roberts
Tony Harris
Karl Penhaul
Jamie Kraft, producer
Larry King

November
Abbie Boudreau

October
Cal Perry
Rick Sanchez

September
Jon Klein

July
Campbell Brown
Octivia Nasr

March
Christine Amanpour
Betty Nguyen

February
Gerri Willis

January
Susan Lisovicz
Erica Hill
Eliane Quijano
Nicole Lapin
Heidi Collins
Abbi Tatton


We know it's not the viewers job to fix the problem but ultimately you. the CNN viewer, will be the decider (to quote our last President). CNN needs to get its act together and fast. They can't survive another year, both in terms of talent loss and ratings failure, like 2010.

We'll leave you with a classy but subdued Tony Harris as he signed off CNN for the last time.







All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Another CNN Loss

TVNewser is reporting that John Roberts will be taking his talents to Fox News and be based in Atlanta as one of their national correspondents.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Jamie Kraft Leaving CNN, John Roberts Leaving AM

Last week we blogged the news that John Roberts has been named a national correspondent for CNN and is heading to Atlanta. This article in Bloomberg Business Week mentions the direction that Ken Jautz has in mind for American Morning and also adds information about Jamie Kraft heading to NBC. We wish both Kraft and Roberts great success in their new endeavors.

John Roberts is out as a CNN morning anchor with the network's new boss saying he wants a more "upbeat" show.
CNN Chief Executive Ken Jautz said Tuesday that he wants a bigger mix of stories and a faster pace in the morning.
"American Morning" generally finishes fourth in the cable morning ratings behind Fox News Channel, MSNBC and CNN's sister station, HLN.
Roberts came to CNN from CBS News. CNN says Roberts has requested a reporting assignment that will move him from New York to the network's Atlanta headquarters. His fiancee, CNN anchor Kyra Phillips, lives there.

It was also announced Tuesday that executive producer Jamie Kraft is leaving CNN for a job at NBC News.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Reports: John Roberts leaving American Morning; Tony Harris leaving CNN

Mediaite quoting the New York Post...

Will the new year bring a slew of shakeups at CNN, now under new Ken Jautz-led management? The New York Post thinks so.

The Murdoch-owned tab says the head-rolling and chair-shifting will being in January, with American Morning co-host John Roberts first on the list to pick up a new gig, at least according to the Post’s “insiders:”

John Roberts is finalizing a contract to leave “American Morning” and start a new life as a CNN national correspondent in At lanta, where his pregnant fiancée, Kyra Phillips, anchors “CNN Newsroom.” Insiders speculate that handsome newsreader T.J. Holmes, who filled in for Roberts yesterday, is one of the favorites to take over Roberts’ role and anchor alongside Kiran Chetry. “T.J. Holmes has always been groomed for a bigger gig,” an insider told us.

The Posties also suggest it’s the end of the CNN road for CNN daytime anchor Tony Harris, who will reportedly “announce to his staff…that he’s leaving the network after six years.”

CNN told the Post it would not comment on talent contracts.

More later, no doubt...

 All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Another One Bites the Dust?

We didn't think this was worth its own post but apparently others do because our inbox is filling up with tips so here ya go:

From today's Page Six of the New York Post

CNN anchor Kyra Phillips' pregnancy with John Roberts could bring big changes at "American Morning," insiders say. Roberts, who broadcasts from New York, is likely to move to Atlanta to be with his fiancée, who's expecting twins. Since CNN ex-president Jon Klein recently rebuilt the prime-time lineup, insiders say his replacement, Ken Jautz, will focus on daytime, and his first step will be to dismantle "American Morning," the lowest-rated cable morning show. We hear the staff is frustrated with co-anchors Roberts and Kiran Chetry. "John is a tyrant, freaking out over stories and guests, and Kiran is dumb as a rock," a staffer said. "He has a chip on his shoulder because he was considered the heir apparent to Dan Rather at CBS." During an interview with David Axelrod last month, Roberts snapped at Chetry on-air for typing too loud. Chetry could be the first go. A CNN rep said, "There are no plans in place to change 'American Morning' at this time."

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

CNN Twosome Expecting

People Magazine is reporting that Kyra Phillips and John Roberts are about to become parents. The anchors are pleased to announce that they’re expecting twins next Spring.

CNN Newsroom‘s Phillips, 42, and Roberts, 53, a co-anchor on American Morning, were engaged in April.

Congratulations to the lucky couple!

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Your Views on the News, September 18, 2010

A few weeks ago we received the following comment by one of our readers.
None of us were tuned in to American Morning to witness the exchange and we didn't have the program recorded that morning either so we couldn't comment of verify. Yesterday the video of the event surfaced on HuffPo. Take a look, tell us what you think and whatever else is on your mind concerning CNN.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

John Roberts Interviews Betty White

American Morning's John Roberts interviewed Miss Betty White about her career and her newest series, Hot in Cleveland, which premiered on TVLand Wednesday night.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Some Reporters Have All the Luck

Anderson Cooper complained on Monday's AC360 that no one from BP would talk with him. It seems John Roberts has much better luck. This was just released by CNN:
John Roberts, anchor of CNN's American Morning, has secured unprecedented access to Doug Suttles, Chief Operating Officer of BP Exploration and Production. Roberts will take a chopper tour and head out to the oil rig with Suttles for an inside look at BP's efforts to stop the disastrous oil leak.
The interview will begin airing at 6 a.m. ET Thursday on American Morning. Transcript and video will be available tomorrow morning. Roberts will co-anchor the program from the Gulf region through Friday.
If you're interested in the video of Cooper's rant it's posted after the jump.

Read more »

Some Serious, Some Silly

I have to offer apologies for my tardiness with the material in this post but time seems to get away from me lately. When I first got an alert that John Roberts would be doing an interview with John Avalon at The Strand in NYC on March 15th I knew it would be interesting. I was encouraged to know that it would be posted on C-Span2 Book TV and planned on grabbing it to post here at ATC. Unfortunately C-Span2 thwarted my efforts with a video that isn't able to be copied, lifted or embedded. So I will post the link to C-Span2 site where the video is posted and strongly encourage you to watch the 54 minute talk that is packed with good information and also highlights John Roberts strong skills as an inteviewer.And while we are on the subject of John Roberts, he pulled a steller April Fool's (I told you I'm behind, didn't I?) joke on American Morning April 1st. He told Kiran Chetry, Christine Roamans and others on the AM set that he had been asked to be the ambassador to Canada. Here's a bit of the CNN transcript:

CHETRY: You know, I feel so much better than I did about 10 minutes ago, because our Christine Romans is here "Minding Your Business", and she fell for the same April Fools' joke which is John telling us that he's been called up to be the ambassador to Canada.

ROMANS: I really believed it.

CHETRY: And you and I both fell for it. No one else did.

ROMANS: John! Really? John!

CHETRY: Well, wait. My reaction was, oh my gosh, you know, it's such a big career move. Christine goes, am I going to have a connection then to these good parties?

ROMANS: That's true. I did say that. All right, well --

ROBERTS: And in your condition, too, (INAUDIBLE).

ROMANS: So, as you can see, I'm really -- I'm looking -- taking the long view. I'm looking around -- over the corner.

Look, we're talking about the -- the free credit reports as well.

ROBERTS: But wait, the (ph) ambassadorship to Canada is available.

ROMANS: You know -- and please tell us, is that -- that was a beautiful April Fools' joke. It was very well done, well executed. You get the -- you get the award for the best April Fools' of the year.

ROBERTS: It's the first one I've pulled in a decade, at least.

Later in the morning there was a great exchange about Robert's April Fool's prank between John, Kiran and Kyra when AM tossed to Newsroom.

Thanks to BA and Cyn for help with the material in this post. ~Phebe

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

John Roberts to be Guest Speaker at AJA's

ATLANTIC JOURNALISM AWARDS
John Roberts Guest Speaker at AJAs

The Atlantic Journalism Awards (AJAs)announced recently that CNN's John Roberts will be the guest speaker at their award ceremony. The 29th Atlantic Journalism Awards will be presented at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel, on Saturday, May 8, 2010, during the AJAs gala dinner and awards ceremony.
A veteran Canadian broadcaster and award-winning journalist,Roberts spent the first 10 years of his career as an anchor for several broadcasts of City TV in Toronto. He also co-anchored CTV's Canada AM.The Atlantic Journalism Awards (AJAs) is an annual celebration of excellence in Atlantic Canadian journalism. Over 70 gold and silver awards will be presented for the best 2009 print, radio, television, on line, and magazine stories and images.
Tickets for the show and gala dinner are available online at www.AJAs.ca, or by calling (902) 425-2727.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

JR, Kyra and Slash

CNN anchors, and real-life couple, Kyra Phillips and John Roberts made the trip north to Toronto to interview Canadian Music Week keynote guest – rock guitar god Slash, of Guns N' Roses.
Roberts, a Toronto native has a long history of interviewing rock stars as he formally worked in music television in Canada during the eighties.
During the interview, Phillips shared memories with Slash of neighborhood restaurants they would frequent as she and Slash grew up in the same LA neighborhood.

I would like to thank Richard Budman of Shot7.com for permission to post and also for the shot of Kyra's killer stilettos.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Your Views On The News March 15, 2010

There was a lot of buzz on the Internet last week about changes that may or may not be coming to CNN. As a long time AC360 watcher I have noticed a difference in the program's direction during the last few weeks. Less panels and more diverse stories on a wider range of topics have been a welcome change. Here are a few observations from insiders about what maybe in the works for American Morning. The Wrap wrote:"CNN – which has been shuffling its weekend and evening lineups of late – is developing a new morning show pilot, with a format closer to MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and “Fox & Friends” than anything it has ever done, TheWrap has learned......
But according to one source familiar with the network’s development process, CNN is testing a concept that would include personalities with dueling political ideologies and opinions. That would be a bit of a departure for CNN, which considers itself to be a bipartisan, journalistically-driven network unlike its rivals at Fox News and MSNBC. (CNN does have a roving band of politically-charged commentators like Mary Matalin and Ed Rollins, but other than Lou Dobbs and the late "Crossfire," never had them host.)
A CNN insider, however, stressed that the programming and talent department are “always testing new talent” and formats, and that the pilot in question is not similar to “Morning Joe.”
It’s also unclear how the pilot would affect CNN’s current a.m. offering, “American Morning.” While the show, hosted by Kiran Chetry and John Roberts, is in second place in the ratings behind “Fox & Friends,” the gap is widening.
According to Nielsen, “American Morning” is down 30 percent across the board in 2010."Medialite took The Wrap's story a few steps further and wrote:
"In some ways, what’s happening in the morning at CNN is symptomatic of a larger issue at CNN – where hard news continues to drive prime time as well. While the formula may have worked in the past, the ratings are declining, and CNN hasn’t evolved in the same way the competition (FNC, MSNBC and even sister-network HLN) have.
Another element to this is Kiran Chetry, who came over from Fox News (very suddenly) almost three years ago exactly. Would a change at CNN in the morning coincide with her contract being up? CNN had no comment (although, regarding Chetry, others yesterday did).
One final note – in TVNewser’s write-up yesterday they highlight “another top-line talent may bolt the cable channel when her contract expires. We hear she’s being wooed by one of the big 3 news divisions.” It would make sense that this person is Christiane Amanpour, whose name has been rumored for the vacant This Week job. In that case, it wouldn’t directly related to CNN’s morning show changes (or non-changes). "

And while we're on the topic of Christiane Amanpour,
TVNewseris reporting that she was offered the job at ABC News and has not decided where her future lies.




Someone who has found her future is Gerri Willis, who has signed with Fox Business News. Willis will host a primetime weekend program called Willis Report. When announcing the new hire Roger Alies,FBN chairman and CEO, said "Most of the CNN talent have been restrained from showing what they can do."


So there you have some of the latest developments in CNN's struggle back up the viewship ladder. We look forward to your views on the news.



All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

John Roberts and Ozzy Osbourne Rock On

John Roberts and Ozzy Osbourne sat down this week to look at the past and what the future holds for the 61 year old rocker. The Prince of Darkness has a new book 'I Am Ozzy' that has just been released.

Part 1




Roberts played a few minutes of the interview he did with Osbourne 1985 and then they spoke of Ozzy's drug use, rehabs and survival.

Part 2




All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Sanjay Gupta: Cheating Death NYC Book Party

NY Post's Cindy Adams spoke to CNN's Sanjay Gupta about his book Cheating Death at a book signing party held earlier this month.

GERONTOLOGISTS or biologists or sociologists or physiologists or whatever kind of ologists scientifi cally decree that man's life span has been extended eight years. Dr. Sanjay Gupta told me that Monday, the very day of the announcement.

Said CNN's chief medical correspondent: "A woman's average previous life span has been 72; men, 70. We now add eight years onto that. It's not due to the stress of work that men have two years less because today women also share that same environment. It's just something about the male gene."

However, you'll only live longer if you do not meet Sanjay's staff. They are injurious to your health. They'll tell you how in the '60s, his mother, in a sari, was the first-ever woman engineer at Ford. They'll constantly say how wonderful, patient, kind, intelligent, caring, helpful, loving he is. You could meet them healthy and come away with diabetes.

It was a book party this week for his just-published "Cheating Death." After Dr. Sanjay Gupta hugged Dr. Deepak Chopra, I asked if, with elder abuse increasing, is life worth extending? He said: "Many parts of the world, like Japan, which has the highest concentration of centenarians, respect elders. America discards people from the work force at 65. This country cannot further physical changes without also making cultural changes.

... to read the full article: Life goes on and on.

LIFE has several pictures of the event:

Jonathan Klein, Philip Kent and Dr. Sanjay Gupta

CNN's Robin Meade, John Roberts and Kiran Chetry

CNN's Larry King, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Soledad O'Brien

CNN's Christine Romans, Larry King and Dr. Sanjay Gupta

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

New plan for Afghanistan?

Last night, John Roberts (sitting in for Campbell Brown) hosted a conversation with Michael Ware and Gloria Borger about the future of the US's commitment to the war in Afghanistan. As President Obama gets new advice from his generals on the ground, will politics or reality be the deciding factor?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Earlier in the day, Wolf Blitzer interviewed Thomas Ricks about the new team leading the American effort in Iraq. Things not sounding great there...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And Mohammed Jamjoom filed a report about medical clinics in Baghdad that are being run on solar power as a way to deal with the still-spotty supply of electricity in the city:

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Saturday's Scoop for 9/12/09

John Roberts was interviewed by Mediaite Office Hours on 8/27. Here is the interview from mediaite.com

James Carville and his wife Mary Matalin are co-chairing a committee to bring the Superbowl to New Orleans in 2013. Click here for the article from nola.com.

Ladies' Home Journal's October edition talks with Jill Dougherty on her fight against breast cancer. Here is TVNewser's post with a summary of the article.

Jamie Kraft has been named the new executive producer of American Morning. Previously Jamie had been American Morning's senior broadcast producer and has also worked on AC360. Prior to that Jamie was with CBS and 60 Minutes. Here is the article from Broadcasting & Cable.

Ali Velshi spoke with TVNewser about his trip on the CNN Express. Click here for their full article.

Ali Velshi also spoke with the Wisconsin State Journal about speaking with students at UW - Madison.

Twitter Pictures:

@sanjayguptacnn and @daniellecnn from Afghanistan

@sanjayguptacnn reporting from Afghanistan

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

War and ... Peace?

Last week, Peter Bergen appeared on American Morning to discuss the Taliban's proof-of-life tape of PFC Bowe Bergdahl, as well as the overall status of the war in Afghanistan:

Friday, John Roberts spoke with The New York Times' Roger Cohen, who did such remarkable reporting during the Iran protests immediately following the election:

Monday, Arwa Damon had a report about the new ways that American troops are working with the Iraqi forces:

Nic Robertson reports from London on the status of British forces in Afghanistan and the possibilities of talking with the more moderate Taliban leaders:

Another report from Ivan Watson, with the Marines in Helmand Province in Afghanistan -- how to avoid the IEDs that have now become common in this war:

Friday, Cal Perry reported from Beirut on the latest in shuttle diplomacy in the Middle East:

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Michael Ware: Back in Baghdad

Well, it's been awhile since I've been able to do an all-Michael Ware post, but here we have one. Michael is back in Baghdad in the run-up to the beginning of the end of the American-led war in Iraq -- per the SOFA signed by the Bush administration, as of June 30th US troops are required to pull out of the cities and can only re-enter them at the invitation of the Iraqi government.

Monday, Michael spoke with International's Hala Gorani about the latest rash of bombings:

A few hours later he spoke with Hala again with the latest death tolls:

On Tuesday, Michael Holmes interviewed Michael for BackStory. It was 8pm in Baghdad, and things were a bit casual; however, Michael apparently felt that if he was going to be interviewed he ought to at least be shod. (I'd say "Crikey!" but he'd probably hurl one of those shoes at me... so instead I'll just quietly grumble about his pesky journalistic ethics.) This very short clip teased the interview (and yes, for you Tommy Evans fans, there he is in the background at his familiar post):

Due to some technical glitches, the interview itself was split into two segments, running Tuesday and Wednesday. This is the full clip as posted to CNN.com:

Wednesday and back on Hala's program after another heartbreaking major bombing:

Domestic finally got some airtime with Michael, as Wolf Blitzer talked to him about the bombings and the increase in tensions. Jack Cafferty also had a comment:

And this morning, John Roberts talked to him briefly as well:

It's always good to hear Michael's perspective on what's going on in Iraq, even though we seem to be heading into yet another very dangerous time there; nobody knows the players and reads the currents as well as he does. (We're also looking forward to the AC360 special that he and Tommy were working on in Pakistan recently, which is slated to air next month.)

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.