CNN's Don Lemon Is My New Hero

Every once in a while some major news breaks, prompting cable news producers to act like monkeys at the zoo. This week it was the news of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich being taken into custody for...well for a lot of things.

In the circus otherwise known as the 24-hour news cycle, CNN has been looping a clip about Patti Blagojevich letting a couple of wordy-dirties slip in the background of a phone conversation about her husband's plot to force the firing of Chicago Tribune's editorial staff in exchange for state assistance in selling Wrigley Field. I guess when you've exhausted the possibilities of the real story, there's always profanity use to fall back on.

But! Today I rejoiced as I came home, turned on the tele and watched CNN Newsroom anchor Don Lemon challenging the previously produced segment about Patti B. Before airing the clip, Lemon said, "I think we're beating up on her a little. Who hasn't said something bad while on the phone?" After the clip, Lemon came back and admitted, "My producer yelled at me for editorializing, but I still feel the same way [...] Let's cut her some slack."

The whole thing took all of 20 or 30 seconds, but it was if ole' Donnie had read my mind. It's no secret that producers and reporters often have different agendas, and I think the world--and the news--would be a lot better if those producers just learned how to shut the hell up sometimes. Anybody with me?