Previously, there used to be a block of commercials separating the end of one prime-time cable program and the start of another. ADADCuomo’s handoffs to Lemon often go on for several minutes, making them a kind of show within (or between) the shows. In March, Cuomo and Lemon spent more than six minutes talking among themselves about how news organizations, including CNN, should cover President Trump. Some of the anchor exchanges were wisecracks and quips, occasioning criticism that “happy talk” was cheapening the news and dumbing down America. Audiences for local newscasts soared, and by the 1970s, the “happy talk” formula had become the industry standard.

Source: Washington Post August 16, 2020 11:03 UTC