Eye on Hala, 5

It's a bit late, but wasn't Hala fab last Friday, at Petra?

A virtual hug to Liz/Tina for the caps.

I especially loved Schams Elwazer's segment on the technical difficulties of the crew to broadcast from Petra, and to capture the chapel behind my favorite anchor. I would have wanted to see Hala actually sitting/standing on that platform, but Schams all but made up for it with that footage of Hala putting on her makeup. Lol.



And, yerrghs, I actually enjoyed Jim Clancy's reporting.

Must have head checked.

Inside the Middle East was... consequential. It's nice to see Hala, but... I could've lived without seeing that episode.

Totally random, but speaking of Inside the Middle East: I was watching Casablanca early this morning, and I remembered Hala's segment last month. Everyone believes the line in the movie is "Play it again, Sam" (which is never actually said) but Hala... and this is the part that didn't occur to me until I saw the movie, Hala said "Play it, Issam." (Nodding approvingly) Hala knows her classic movies.

Eye on Hala, 4

I am... okay, I'm still a little asleep.

But that neckline. Hala, we love you even when you wear a pink turtleneck, so that outfit for Thursday's report? The low cut blouse, the pretty jacket, the necklace... Nice.

I admit I didn't really pay a lot of attention to the show, though. *ducks for cover*
It's just that I think the topic (how the youth population affects different aspects of the culture) has been covered once or twice on Inside the Middle East, and, well, Hala kept on throwing the show back to Jim.

It's odd. Spitfire, Tina and I all have differing opinions on which day has been the best.
But we all loved the doll report, don't we?


Inside the Middle East this weekend.

Eye on Hala, 3

Yes, I will use that title throughout the week.

Last night...

Oh. I don't know what was different last night, but Hala's eyes were incredible. So blue. So pretty.
And the shot where she's sitting down, before Nic's report? It's a good example of why I love Hala so: she makes you feel like whatever it is she's saying, you will understand perfectly, and you don't need to be so updated on current affairs. There's an ease about her, that makes me feel like watching CNN, a news channel, is not a strenuous exercise.
Oh, and did I mention how she's pretty? I know I once mentioned that I love her in light-colored clothes, but Hala in basic black? So pretty.

*shaking head at the fangirl sentiment*

This is where it gets impressive, though: it's Thursday here, and we've had three hours of Eye on the MidEast. And Hala's interviewed some really serious officials already. My favorite was yesterday's interview with... I forgot, I think it was Karen Silverberg (Assistant Secretary of State for something -- readers, if you can help me out here, I'd really appreciate it), and Hala once again showed her potential for the big news: when asked about the US's image in the middle east, Ms. Assistant Secretary of State (I was going to use an acronym, but realized it was inappropriate. heh.) tried to paint a sunny picture of it, that it's developing, growing, etcetera, all points beautifully undercut by Hala with tact and fact. And when discussing Karen Hughes, who for all her credentials, is a diplomacy and public affairs ambassador who is working on Middle East-related affairs but doesn't speak Arabic, I had one thing in mind: Hala, they could just hire you. Miss American-by-birth, French-by-culture and Arab-by-family. You've got three major cultures right there, Miss Gorani.

Damn. Where was I?

Anyway, that look of death Hala mastered on BizNews came into play, because while Ms. Assistant Sec of State rambled on, Hala had that expression that showed just how much she was not enjoying the interview, not really getting any substantial answers, and would want to further press the issue but knew better than to do just that, she professionally carried on.

Vic, you must be so happy: two of your three holy trinity reporters did segments. Except for 2.0, that is.


Oh, and Hala and her dolls: (thanks to Timon for the pic)
Sell it, Hala! Sell it!
Hey, no ticker. No CNN logo. No logo at all.


Dude, you're nuts:

Guido 19 Oct 2004, 06:48
Hala Gorani appeared this A.M. on CNN-FN wearing her dramatic ZYL frame, myopia correcting spectacles. She always looks so sweet and cuddly with her eyes framed.

I forgot where it's posted, but it's an eyewear fan forum.


Huh. While looking up Hughes and Silverberg, I learn that my country has no ambassador or director listed at the US State Department's website. Considering America's like our country's puppetmaster, I find that very strange.

Lest I forget: Inside the Middle East will air this weekend as part of this week's special programming. I love CNN.

And: it's horribly screwed up audio, but I've uploaded two mp3 files: one of Liz George bemoaning the David Beckham transfer of two years ago, and Richard and Hala discussing what make men and women happy.

Eye on Hala, 2

More Hala viewing. Not wearing pink, thank God.

Although this time, Jim was the more prominent "anchor" for Eye on the Mideast, and, hey, who cares. I saw Hala.

Is it wrong to base one's happiness on seeing a CNN anchor?


Oh, and Vic: I am so very thankful for the Hala-Guy pic on the forum. Good girl.

Eye on Hala Gorani

Ahh. Eye on the Middle East. Finally.

Could Hala look any happier to be a part of this special CNN Presentation?
Or is it the being in the Middle East part that's got her so happy?

Okay, I'm so happy right now about the whole thing I'll probably gush like a lunatic, so bear with me.
Just to be clear: I watched the whole hour while doped up on painkillers, I was suffering a ridiculously painful migraine. For some reason I was able to ignore the pain while watching Eye on the Middle East. Hmmn. I wonder why.

Hala wearing pink. Not my favorite color, but I'll live with it. She looks a little tan, though, must be all that outdoorsy sunlight.
Hala and Guy Raz is my mental picture of the day.
Hala's report on the head scarves. Not so much a laughing matter, but when she brought out the local version of the Barbie Doll (I was doped up, okay, forgive me for not remembering the smallest details, like, oh names). Something about Hala holding a doll makes me highly amused.

I cannot wait for Richard's report for this program.


More when I have the time.

And the painkillers (fresh new dose) starts to work.

Heh.

More Hala throughout the week! Yay!

Obviously looking for Hala won't be too much of a problem the next couple of days.

And certainly not during the week of November 21.


@Spitfire and Tina: Hee. "High as a kite." Yeah, she wasn't her usual composed self, was she? I maintain the explosions jolted her out of bed.

what is andrea doing at the LSE?

What is Andrea Sanke doing at the london stock exchange?
I know I said I liked Robyn Curnow at the desk, but not at this price!

Jeez. I go to sleep for a few hours and there's breaking news.

Hala and Zain taking part in the Situation Room. Yay.
Hey... If Hala's in Jordan, that means she could be all over CNN for the next few hours.
waitaminute. I sincerely hope Hala wasn't in any of the attacked hotels.

So much for "heightened terror alert in China". Wrong continent.


Is Colleen permanently doing YWT? Do I really want to know?

I miss The Music Room.

If Alessio and Ben are two, who caps off Vic's trinity?


Oh, and I love the use of Google Earth.



edit:
Tina: My theory on Hala's sort-of spacey demeanor: I think she just got out of bed when she started reporting from Jordan. Maybe the explosions woke her up.

Vic: Yes, Shannon. Absolutely.
Hmmn. Alessio, Ben and Nic. We definitely swing on opposite ends of the CNN spectrum.

Play it Again, CNN.

And again. And again. CNNI, why do you only play Inside the Middle East during its weekend run, and never again? Here's a tip: we (myself and the few people who read this blog) love Hala. So give us more Hala. Yes?


Did anyone else see the glittery thing masquerading as a ring on Hala's finger during her segment on Inside the Middle East, when she was interviewing the magazine editor?

Anyway.

Inside the Middle East was cool, as it had Hala, Monita, and Ben Wedeman, who for all intents and purposes means nothing to me. So, let's try that again: Inside the Middle East had Hala and Monita. Hala referencing Casablanca, nice. And I guess we all knew Hala wasn't going to do the Racing the Sahara story. That just wasn't going to happen.

Hala did World News this weekend, which I absolutely loved, just because.
Hee. Hala's filing system falls apart yet again. She's so adorable when she gets dorky, yes?
And when Hala tries introducing a story as strange as the Paula Hancocks' ravens report... Hala starts off with "I wouldn't be able to tell a raven if one hit me on the nose" and then tries -- and fails -- to be grave about it, as it's loosely related to the bird flu virus.

By the way, the Bird Flu special? Gross images. "Disturbing" doesn't quite cover the gross-ness of some of those images.

Anyway.

Last Friday Robyn Curnow did Business International, and I was riveted. Something I never imagined would happen. For a moment there, I was thinking, wow. This woman knows how to handle this gig. And her and Max Foster doing CNN Today (Monday last week. Or Tuesday. Something)? Not bad for a fresh pairing.

Oh, another good move by CNNI: Mallika Kapur hosting World Business This Week. I approve, CNNI.




And Spitfire's going to kill me for this, but I can't stand Asieh Namdar.