CNN = Cheers, and No-Nos.

Two of the extras on CNN have caught my eye – first, boos to TalkAsia. The last two guests of Lorraine Hahn have been Westerners: Elton John and Thomas Keneally. I didn’t care to catch the former, but the latter interview had nothing at all to do with Asia outside of a commendable opposition to hard-line Australian immigration policies… and a few mentions of WWII. Her next three scheduled guests are also Westerners, only one with any direct connection with Asia. While the website claims the show as targeting the Asia Pacific region, (to which one might state that future guests British author Alan Hollinghurst, and Diana Krall rather stretches the definition, and the geography) – is the Asian part of that simply the one asking questions? Lousy end of deal for the world’s largest continent.

Cheers goes to Femi Oke, weather anchor, who is the most natural personality on CNN. I mean, sure the anchors all look impressive in some way or another, but it’s all a little plastic with the big welcome and here’s the bad news. Femi’s got what is traditionally the driest part of the program, and she connects with her viewers by referring to weather conditions as relating to skiing conditions and potential flooding warnings. It’s “just above freezing” instead of 4°C, and “wonderful, clear skies”. Not to mention those great pics she finds to illustrate her points, everything from the postman in a snowstorm (the credo being “through rain or snow, sleet…” or something like that) to penguins and other interesting animals (violists are yet to be featured). Great live jokes like pretending the camera isn’t working, and then saying that she had to check it since someone said a fellow anchor looks cute, and it had to be a camera problem. It’s been a while, but I believe it was her who raised my eyebrows when she said something like, “It looks like a look at conditions in Africa will have to wait. My producer says we’re just out of time which really means time for me to shut up – back to you at the news desk,” all with that trademark smile which is always in season. Femi, you’re more than OK.