Sexy News Anchors? Thank Fox News
I’m a news junkie. I get up just before 6am every day and am greeted by Robin “Bubbles” Meade’s “Good Morning Sunshine.” (I call her Bubbles ‘cause she’s, well, bubbly.) Whenever I am doing something requiring less than 100% attention I have the 13” Sony perched on my desktop tower tuned to CNN, MSNBC or, for comic relief, Fox News.
I’ve been a news junkie for at least six years so I’ve been able to see a gradual yet profound change in the general sexiness of the programs. Specifically the female anchors.
It all started, I believe, with Fox News.
When I first began my habit I got exposed to Fox News. I had seen little snippets about Fox News on the old Talk Soup program, but I had never watched for myself. One of the first things that struck me was how many of the women anchors had blond hair. It struck me because I had rarely seen blond female correspondents on other networks.
There was a time in America, not so long ago, when blond women were considered mentally inferior. Maybe even bimbo-esque. I suspect that in order for a woman to be taken seriously as a journalist she had to go with a darker color.
But on Fox Bimbo was not only favored—dare I say?–it was encouraged. The blonder the better.
At the same time other cable news networks were striving to catch up with Fox’s ratings without adopting Fox’s Right-Wing leanings. But what could they do?
They added banter. Now previous talking heads were suddenly thrust into the witty repartee business—and many were ill prepared. Like Ted Baxter clones, they came only half prepared for wit. Even Bubbles went through an awkward period of adjustment before she got back to her pre-packaged pageant chitchat.
So news exes began trying a second tactic: Sexier news.
Suddenly blond was the new brunette. Heavier make-up. Full-length shots of leggy news babes. Who knew my beloved “Bubbles” was wearing a mini-skirt and 4” mules beneath her news desk?
It won’t be long until someone starts SPNN – The Stripper Pole News Network.
Mr. Murdoch, are you listening?
