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audio'connell · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 7:06 pm Post subject: I Am Pissed!

Maybe it's only me but the stupidest thing The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric ever did occurred tonight
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 8:09 pm Post subject:

It's entropy. Eventually, all voice over work will settle down and be done by Morgan Freeman.
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roger · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 8:36 pm Post subject:

Love Mr Freeman acting, but announcing is not his strength. What an odd choice.
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Lee Gordon · Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 1:14 am Post subject:

Since everybody seems to want someone who sounds like Morgan Freeman, why should CBS be any different? Look at the bright side. At least they didn't go with the other guy everyone wants if they don't want Morgan Freeman: Dennis Leary.
(Maybe Peter's annoyed because he didn't get to do a contest first.)
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Philip Banks · Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 2:22 am Post subject:

All the information is there and it's obvious that we're listening to Morgan Freeman. I suspect the only bad thing we're hearing is the result of "fear of giving direction".

Try this - "The love of my life has agreed to marry me". Read it as Morgan Freeman read the news anno. The person is not the love of your life and truth is you're disappointed.

Try this - ""The love of my life is presenting the news". You're dignified but it is difficult to contain your excitement.

As an experienced actor there is no doubt in my mind that Mr Freeman would've responded well to direction.

craigcrumpton · Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 2:29 am Post subject:

That was worth reading just for the URL in Peter's blog.

And I wholeheartedly agree with you, Peter.

Freeman is a great actor and a wonderful narrator. An announcer he is not.
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Philip Banks · Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 3:44 am Post subject:

Darren Altman · Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 6:16 am Post subject:

"That's great Morgan, but could we have less enthusiasm please?"
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Mike Harrison · Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 6:39 am Post subject:

Television is increasingly (and disappointingly) tabloid. It first became apparent long ago when the local newscasts - even those of network O & O's and affiliates - began shifting their focus to the 'if it bleeds, it leads' mentality. Run whatever will get attention. Don Henley's 'Dirty Laundry' (1982) illustrated that in song.

While they may begin the show with 'hard news,' NBC's 'Today' show began turning tabloid long ago. After they began broadcasting from the Plaza and attracting a street audience, ABC and CBS followed suit. With the increased desire to use celebrity voices in TV and radio commercials, NBC's hiring of Michael Douglas to introduce 'Nightly News with Brian Williams,' and Mike Rowe (host of Discovery's 'Dirty Jobs') doing Diane Sawyer's intro on ABC's 'World News Tonight,'why are we surprised that CBS decided to use Morgan Freeman?

As they struggle to retain relevance, viewers and advertisers, broadcasters have become narrow-casters. (yawn)
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Bob Bergen · CM Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 979

So, I've been reading oodles on the topic of Morgan Freeman's new VO gig, not just on this forum but many others as well.

My first thought was, "Come on, folks, lighten up!! So they went with Morgan Freeman! Every voice actor in the biz read for this gig. They had a certain sound in mind. They wanted that "March of the Penguins" feel. Authoritative, trusting, warm. At least amongst the celeb casting choices, MF can deliver.

....then I heard the clip!

OY!!

I think Mr. Banks is right. He needed direction. He has a deer in headlights/fear of the world/lack of confidence in his delivery that I can only assume is the antithesis of how CBS want to brand their newscast.

BB

Bruce · Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 7:11 am Post subject:

I'm in the camp of Morgan Freeman is a great actor/narrator but out of his element here.

When I saw above that Mike Rowe was doing ABC's open I was impressed. I mean he's got the right chops and I love his work. But then I tracked down the opening on the web and went "eh". It sounds like they way over directed him until it came out as an unenthusiastic pile of words.

I think we need to start a protest movement against hiring the famous. Wink

B
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Mike Harrison · Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 7:39 am Post subject:

Philip Banks · Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 7:42 am Post subject:

An' they got sum Brit guy readin them thar CNN promos too! Let's all have us a lynchin'!

audio'connell · Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 7:58 am Post subject:

I guess we're burying the men who are only following directions.

Of the three, I personally love the tonal quality of Mike Rowe's voice.

And I have said before, Michael Douglas is very talented but the one read he did for NBC Nightly News was shite....have him re-do it.

Morgan Freeman I have a soft spot in my heart for cause I remember him from the Electric Company when I was a kid so his rise to fame is as great as his talent. His read was not his best work (but I was also one of the few who thought his VISA commercial reads were not good...I got beat up a bit for that...it didn't change my opinion)

So the one consistent factor is the direction these talents were getting (or not) or more specifically the evidently tin ears of the broadcasts' EP's. Thems who we should lynch!
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todd ellis · Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 8:05 am Post subject:

couldn't agree more --- big freeman fan - big michael douglas fan - both reads sounded "phoned in" - maybe it was the read they were asked to deliver? maybe it was a throw away? who knows. it's what the network wanted (or were willing to take) or it wouldn't be on the air.
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