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Tonight the show airs from Richmond, Virginia.
We were extremely busy before the show even began last night. While our show is 99 percent of the time live — and 99 percent of our live show is live — last night we taped three special interviews before our show. We only tape interviews when there is a scheduling problem. I actually prefer live interviews and find them easier to do than taped interviews. (I seem to pay more attention when it is live. A taped interview could always be stopped and fixed, although we never do stop them.)
One interview we taped last night was that of polygamist Warren Jeffs‘ former civil attorney, Rod Parker. Rod, who is not a member of Warren Jeffs’ church, had a scheduling problem and thus could not do the interview live at 10 p.m. ET. We taped him at 8:15 p.m. and then folded his taped interview into the show during our 10 p.m. show. If you watched last night, you saw our interview with Rod. I wanted to interview Rod because he has been to Hilldale, Utah, many times and I was curious what it is like. Rod is not a member of FLDS but represented them in civil matters.
Another of the three interviews taped last night before our 10 p.m. show was with Michael Isikoff. Michael, an investigative reporter at Newsweek, and David Corn, editor at The Nation and a FOX News Contributor, have a book that is coming out today: “Hubris.”
“Hubris” has Washington all abuzz and I am sure you will be hearing lots about it in the next few weeks. If you want to get the book, or want to read a blurb about it, you can go to Amazon.com. I am not sure when we will air our interview with Michael… that is a decision made by my producer. My guess is that we will air it this Friday.
One of the things I wanted to know from Michael — since the book is bold — is how many interviews he and David conducted. I wanted to know how well sourced the book is. He told me there were more than 200 people interviewed (some more than one time) and added that thousands and thousands of documents, including e-mails were studied. In reading the book I was surprised how many people agreed to talk to the two authors on the record. I like it when people speak on the record.
And the third taped interview? There is a new movie coming out about John Lennon (out September 15.) We interviewed two guests who have multiple roles (writer, director and producer) in creating this movie. Because I was going to conduct the interview, I was sent an advance copy of the movie to better prepare myself. There is a lot of footage of John Lennon and Yoko Ono which I liked seeing, and frankly it is a good thing I watched the movie since I had forgotten that the Nixon administration tried to deport Lennon in 1972.
I was also stunned by one piece of information in the movie. What was that? It was the movie’s revelation of who persuaded the Nixon administration to try and deport Lennon. Incidentally, after many ups and downs, Lennon won in a United States federal court. The Nixon administration was ordered by a federal judge not to deport Lennon and Lennon eventually got a green card.
If you saw last night’s show, you watched an interview with “American Idol” judge Randy Jackson and American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson (also two-time Grammy winner)! They both were in Washington, D.C., yesterday on Capitol Hill to commemorate a day of music advocacy that connects top music makers with members of Congress. They — along with the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences — wanted to tell policy makers about the important role the recording arts plays in our nation’s culture and economy. I could not resist posting two pics of my colleagues. Yes, starstruck. (They might kill me for “outing” them.)
Have you seen Catherine Herridge? Yes, she is back at work and has been on the air often since her return. I spent some time in the office with her yesterday. We talked about many things including her office that she shares with Steve Centanni. After looking back at Steve and Catherine’s summers, you can’t help but ask: “What’s with that office?” (Incidentally, Steve is on vacation and will be back in a few weeks.)
And what am I doing in my spare time? I am studying… studying football. I have agreed to give my weekly “picks” on Brian Kilmeade and Judge Napolitano’s radio show. I have been reading sports pages, online sports Web sites, etc. And, yes, I have concluded I am way over my head but I agreed to do this weekly, so I am going to do this. I am not feeling too worried since I do believe in dumb luck.
And to those who wrote me e-mails with ideas about our 9/11 show, thanks for the ideas. We may follow your advice. I need to take it up with my producer.
Now for some e-mails:
E-mail No. 1
Greta,
You said it best in your question: “What is left to say about it that has not been said?” NOTHING! One minute of silence at the end of your program and that should do it! Do people actual tune in to more of the same rehashing of that day? I sure don’t. The minute I hear the words 9/11 I am grabbing for the remote. It is over, deal with it and life moves on. FOX should break out of the box and have something totally different, maybe even lighthearted stories of the day and gather all the viewers that are channel surfing for something to watch that evening. Maybe, Jack Hanna with children and their unusual pets.
Have a great day,
Pat Meyer
Michigan
E-mail No. 2
Greta,
I love your show and have been watching you since your CNN days. I think the 9/11 redux should be short on scenes of destruction and long on the reasons why. Is there a connection between 9/11 and WW III or is this just a localized terror problem? We’ve seen and remember the horror of the Twin Towers. We must explore and not forget the broader implications of the first major attack on the U.S. mainland.
Michael H.
Du Pont
E-mail No. 3
Greta,
Rhoda and I would like to see all the events again which made the day something for all of us to remember. We should never forget.
As for the other question, I and Rhoda are registered Republicans and this time, since our Senator DeWine wants to give illegal aliens “amnesty,” I know I will vote for the Democrat. I can’t believe sticky (sic) with a party is more important than constituents.
George Hreha
Alexandria, OH
E-mail No. 4
Hi Greta,
Love all your stuff, but I also appreciate that you ask the viewers opinion.
One thing that might be a fresh story would be what your day was like on 9/11 — how you must have gone from one avenue to totally changing gears, where you were and who you interviewed and maybe follow up with the people you or FOX spoke with that day specifically. I think that running the list of deceased, no matter how much it has been done, would be appropriate for the closing of the show!!
Loyal viewer!!!
Christina Lounsbury
Mashpee, MA
ANSWER: Where was I? I was actually at the airport in Washington, D.C. (a few blocks from the Pentagon). I was headed to NYC to talk to the CEO of FOX about moving from CNN to FOX. Our flight to NYC was cancelled after the first two planes hit the WTC… so I left the terminal with my husband and headed to our car. As we walked on the rooftop of the parking lot, we heard a plane rev its engines, looked in the sky where you expect planes and saw nothing… then immediately heard a HUGE explosion. I brought my eyes down and saw a plume of smoke coming out of the Pentagon. I obviously knew something very bad had happened. The smoke shooting straight up in the air was indescribable.
E-mail No. 5
Greta,
“Akeelah and the Bee” just recently came out on DVD, and since you had recommended it, my curiosity was up and I thought we would give it a try. What a fabulous movie! The best I have seen in a LONG time with a terrific story and acting. The story was appropriate for my entire family, and we all were thoroughly entranced by it. You were right to gush about this movie and I hope that you give it a couple more thumbs up in your blog so that many more people will see it now that it is on DVD.
S. Kingston
Fort Worth, TX
E-mail No. 6
Dear Greta,
I have not seen this addressed: What happens to the stingray after it stings? As a bee dies after it stings because the stinger is pulled from the body, what happens to the stingray’s stinger? Is it pulled from its body after a sting? Does it grow a new one? Does it die too? Please let me know. I enjoy your show.
Thank you,
Pat Peters
ANSWER: I don’t know this answer. Can anyone help Pat and me on this?
E-mail No. 7 (This e-mail refers to E-mail No.1 in yesterday’s blog.)
Hi Greta,
After reading E-mail No.1 from Gary, I wanted you to know that I was really anxious when I changed my e-mail address and hurried up to notify to cancel my old one and put in my new one. It was taken care of in a flash! Also am anxiously waiting for the NASCAR show as I lived about 10 minutes away from the Daytona Speedway and miss watching them practice. I watch every race. I like the new “kids on the block” but also favor Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. You do a good job of reporting and if anyone doesn’t like it then they can change the channel!
Mary
Hadley, MA
E-mail No. 8
Hi Greta,
I called for an early ballot in the Scottsdale election and they sent me a Republican ballot. I had to cross off more than half the names and put in Democratic names. Why can’t they send a complete ballot with both so we can pick? I will not vote Republican because I liked the way I felt when our country was loved around the world and we didn’t have a war. War on Terror I understand, War on Iraq I don’t understand.
I have a Muslim living next door on one side and a Catholic living on the other side and a Jewish lady living across the street and I was raised Methodist so what’s the big deal about religion. We are all happy as neighbors.
We need some peace in the world.
Keep up the good work Greta. I love your show.
E. Steele
Scottsdale, AZ
E-mail No. 9
Hi Greta,
In regards to voting, I know you asked about the November elections and whether or not people changed their parties. However, I feel the need to tell you that prior to the Clintons and their staff doing a number on the White House when they left office, and prior to 9/11, I tended to vote more on the liberal side of things. After 9/11, I educated myself on the truth (versus going with the liberal flow/drinking the kool-aid), and I chose the Republican Party. The more I see of the liberals’ agenda and un-American behaviors, the more glad I am that I educated myself came into the light.
Laurie L. Davis, RN, BSN, LNC
E-mail No. 10
Greta,
I voted for George Bush and my husband also, though he is a registered Democrat. We, like so many other Americans haven’t forgotten 9/11 and though we hate what is going on in Iraq, we also know if the war wasn’t fought over there it would be fought here on our homeland. So for that reason we will again be voting for those who stand behind the president and continuing to fight against the war on terror.
Thank You and God bless,
Nelda
E-mail No. 11
Dear Gary,
This is in response to the letter you sent Greta published in the Sept. 6 GretaWire regarding unsubscribing to her blog. It is frustrating when one keeps receiving something one is trying to get rid of kind of like a stringy wad of gum or toilet paper that attaches to your shoe and one can’t seem to shake it off. You have so many other options to “dump” GretaWire while you are waiting for FOX News to right the situation:
1. Don’t read it
2. Use your delete key
3. Set up a filter so you block the pesky little thing
4. Assign it a status of junk mail so it goes there automatically without it getting in your face and dander
5. Set up a new e-mail address and don’t tell FOX. (You’ve tried nearly 200 times to “unsubscribe”—-this might take only 5 minutes at Yahoo, Google or Hotmail.
6. Throw your computer out the window because Greta’s blog gets you so mad.
I am kidding, of course, about E-mail No.6 but very serious when I say that your e-mail was extremely rude and it kind of made you look very smalllllll.
Catherine Connelly
Beverly Hills, MI
Last night many viewers thought I was rude to a guest. Please be sure to see the e-mails below about this and my response:
E-mail No. 12
I believe that is the first time I’ve ever heard you be rude to someone. When you interviewed the newsman that was beat up you told him maybe he should be a weatherman instead and next time maybe he should duck. I would have much prefer you given him a little respect and said that reporters go through a lot to report our news or something like that rather than make light of the situation and tell him maybe he should have been a weatherman. As the man said he loves his profession and he looked a little crushed that you said that to him.
Barbara
ANSWER: Rude? Yikes, that was not what I intended to be. I was teasing him with good intentions and not mean intentions and I think he took it as teasing, too, but maybe I am wrong. I did not think it funny what happened to him (he got hurt!) but teasing can be a form of endearment and not meant always to be mean. I tease my family all the time and it is done with good heart and mind. As an aside, apparently (see below) you are not alone in thinking I was rude. I woke up this morning to find myself flooded with e-mails from people who thought/think I am jerk. By the way, I really expected to hear from journalists who cover the weather after my comment. Covering weather can be very dangerous… try Katrina or a tsunami.
E-mail No. 13
I was shocked at the way Greta handled the end of the segment where the FOX reporter in San Diego was beaten. He was understandably traumatized. Yet Greta made an asinine attempt at humor to close the segment. I was channel surfing last night since “On the Record” lost all credibility with me after the yearlong Natalie Holloway ratings farce.
L. Marth
Fairport, NY
E-mail No. 14
Greta,
I love your show and appreciate you reporting on the journalist from San Diego, but could you have been anymore rude to him? “Have you considered the weather?” “Next time duck.” Consider how you would feel if the tables were turned and someone said that to you.
Jason Fister
Columbus, OH
E-mail No. 15
Greta,
I watched your broadcast this evening and was extremely disappointed. To put it bluntly, I was outraged that you would insinuate that he “consider working as a weatherman.” You of all people who work hard as a journalist should understand why he has chosen the profession that he has. How could you make such an insensitive comment? Please, please, please, apologize to him for making “light” of his brutal and extremely violent circumstances. You are hired to report the truth and to present the reality of that truth, not to minimize or belittle a co-worker.
Sincerely,
Pam Wilkum
Phoenix, AZ
E-mail No. 16
Dear Greta,
I thought your tongue-in-cheek comments to the reporter from San Diego who got beat up covering a story were very insensitive! This man was doing his job, a public service profession at that, and had serious injuries! Asking him if he considered doing the weather and telling him to duck next time were very inappropriate. Next time pick a funny story to make light of!
Shelley McDaniel
Folsom, CA
E-mail No. 17
Regarding the segment you did about the 14 year-old-girl raped at her school: My jaw hit the floor. I thought it was totally tasteless of you to question whether there was a possibility that it was consensual. Yes I know it happens, but for crying out loud, this suspect is here illegally, has a previous arrest record, was deported and then somehow manages to get back to the U.S. and gets a job at a SCHOOL. I think time would have been better served to question how in the world does a person like this get into the school system instead of questioning the validity of what happened to the victim.
P.S. I didn’t like your interview with the reporter who was injured either. It was obvious he was (and rightly so) upset from what happened. Your lighthearted tone of voice, little laughs and coming across as if making light of the situation was inappropriate. Time to change the channel.
Jan
Pensacola, FL
E-mail No. 18
Can’t believe what I just saw. You laughing at this poor guy with his cut up face and having been punched out and thrown to the ground today. Did YOU see the footage? I think the fact that he was too upset to look at the footage himself might have been a clue to you that a joke was not in order and it was hardly a laughing matter.
N. Bopp
Beaufort, SC
E-mail No. 19
Dear Greta,
I have been watching with a smile on my face all the people from Utah who come on and say they are against polygamy. I lived in Utah almost 15 years, Salt Lake City to be exact, and I can tell you that everyone knew that polygamy was happening. Most of the members of the Mormon Church I knew believed silently in polygamy. It was outwardly preached as against the law, but silently accepted. Turn a blind eye was the way it was handled. I can remember being in a restaurant and having a man come in with three of his wives. It was not an uncommon site in many places. I was not among the majority. I was an outsider, a non-Mormon. Believe me, they all know and they are pulling the wool over your eyes if they say they don’t believe in the practice of polygamy. I just had to speak out.
Sincerely,
Jeane Petersen
Lenexa, KS
Send your thoughts and comments to: ontherecord@foxnews.com
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