yes, i really am this shallow

I love the haircut, I do, it's just...

... isn't it a little hard to manage it? I used to have that haircut, and it can get really impossible to keep it presentable. Small gust of wind, and bye-bye, hairstyle.


And, oh-- (presenting my sick humor in the face of world news):

"Let's see... Intro, intro... When do I start to sing?
And when did they replace the prompter with a karaoke machine?"

Cheers.

Pictures borrowed from Spitfire.

forum lurking

Credit to Mistress76UK for the caps:

hee. look at that smirk.

Spitfire: do not deign to try and explain women. Seriously. And I hope you meant "somber".
And I agree with Liz/Tina: It's not for lack of interest, it's lack of viewing time. As well as it's very rare that something happens during the broadcast that makes one jump up and decide, wow, I've got to blog about that.

Rock-paper-scissors tournament. I remember Hala playing referee to one that involved Richard and Don.

And, whee, my days as a TechTV (before the dawn of G4) geek collides with my CNN fandom:
They bought their earrings at the same shop? XD *ducks for cover*

the early days

Hala's back. Somehow maintaining the weight loss she got in Lebanon. And the woman's messing around with her neckline.

But something's missing with Hala. It's called Richard Quest.

I have been sorting through my old videos of clips and God knows what else, and compared to Hala on last night's broadcast, the old days of Hala in London is so much more... more.

She's funny, sarcastic, and no report is random enough to make her boring. And there used to be a Richard Quest baiting her, teasing her, looking for the sarcastic reply. It was this partnership that gave birth to this obsession fanaticism, and I miss them together. Hala was so different back in the day.

I mean, come on, the woman clearly scared the heck out of Tony Campion. Charles Hodson seemed to develop a personality before my eyes when he hosted alongside Hala.

In Atlanta, it's a little different. Maybe it's the reasonable hour. By broadcast time Hala's had a full night's sleep, she's fully awake, and she's had her coffee (or other tasty beverage of her choice).

Michael Holmes did a decent job of replacing Richard beside Hala, but the speculation that Hala would go there could have ruined that partnership.

Jonathan Mann... is okay. For a moment there they actually had some je ne sais quoi going.

Then there's Jim Clancy. On the forums some time ago, a guest post stated that Hala loved hosting alongside Clancy. Okay, let's give them that. It makes sense, since Hala the journalist strives to be taken seriously and you don't get any more serious than Mr. Clancy.

But Mr. Talking Head means she becomes Ms. Talking Head. She still speaks a mile a minute, looks at the wrong camera all the time and is still so very pretty, but she's just... I don't know. Different. Almost... boring. The quips are rare, the looks of death are almost non existent, the bitchiness kept at a minimum.

Thank God for those diary entries on cnn.com for Inside the Middle East, because at least the inner bitch sarcasm still shines through.

Example:

"Should be okay," Saad tells us with some hesitation before we board. Not too reassuring, I thought, wondering how long it would take me and the crew to swim back to shore if we capsized.

LIZ!!!

LIZ!!!!!!!

I never thought I'd be so happy to see a CNN personality, but because I was having a horrific day yesterday, when I saw Liz George late last night, I suddenly realized how much I've missed her. I mean, I know I miss her, and I miss her personality, but when I saw her in MainSail I suddenly realized, damn. I have missed her. A lot.

Between Liz last night, and Hala this morning, I am slowly recovering from yesterday's horrid events (not to go into details, but let's just say it's one of the worst workdays I've had). Of course, just an hour or less ago yesterday took a twisted but still horrific turn, but still.

I saw Liz George.

I've missed you, Liz. And I really hope I'll see you again next month on MainSail. Hey, if you're back on the CNN roster, I think they've made it up to me on the Andrea Sanke thing. Only if you're completely back on the employee list.


It's OK, Liz. Take a deep breath.
- Hala, instructing Liz how to cope with the David Beckham transfer.

the brink of exhaustion?

Well. I guess Hala finally gave.

After more than a month in Lebanon, wearing the same set of outfits, seems to have affected Ms. Gorani. Okay, the outfits are probably the last thing in her set of priorities, but still. The weight loss, the endless hours of coverage... I sincerely hope she's getting some much-needed rest.

Then I move on to more shallow ranting.

Questy anchoring in Atlanta and Hala's nowhere in sight. This is not good for one who yearns for the Hala-Richard days of BizNews. Please, CNN, throw some old-school fans a bone and put these two together. One hour, hour and a half, two hours, anything. They miss each other, I know it, and I for one miss them together.


After months of having to work while CNN is broadcast from London, I was confined to bed last week, and it's finally hit me that Andrea Sanke's gone. Gone! It sucks. She was a pretty good anchor, not my favorite (duh), but still a good one. I mean... I don't know. Losing Liz George was at least a gradual departure. Although that's a CNN departure I still haven't quite gotten over.
I take comfort that Robyn Curnow was on MainSail and is just pregnant. Yes, she's not the best anchor CNN's got, but she can make the most random news bit seem worthwhile. As a reporter.


And: so that's where Christiane Amanpour disappeared to a few months ago.

Come on, CNN. Hala-Questy on Your World Today. Come on.

the press can sit this one out

Title borrowed from Stephen Colbert. I use not without sarcasm.


Someone's beefing up her CV.

I think that: She wasn't supposed to be part of the entourage, but she was already in the region, and might as well be put to good use.

I have to say, though, while she doesn't exactly look the part of War Correspondent, Hala seems to be fitting in pretty well. Yes, she can never look like she's been sleeping in bunkers or the sort (see the SNL short with Catherine Zeta-Jones for an exaggerated version of this perspective), but Hala is faring well in war coverage. Of course, I'm hoping this conflict doesn't quite reach "war" proportions. Or has it already?

And judging from Hala's reports I'm inclined to think that she's the female CNN international version of Anderson Cooper: telling the personal tales of woe in war time.


But that wasn't exactly the point of why I started this entry. I actually wanted to wax hilarious that Tony Campion is on BBC World. Oh, Tony. I don't think he did too well as victim to Hala's early morning sarcasm. How did someone at the forums put it? Bitchy. Bitchy captures the Hala-Tony relationship very well.
When I saw Tony I was confused, because Campion looks old. Like he's aged a whole decade. Or are BBC anchors supposed to look aged?

Oh well.

Is Inside the Middle East going to be shown this weekend?

allegedly

I love this. This is where being a Hala fan for (seemingly) ages comes into play.
Follow closely.
(I do apologize for the low-quality pix, this is screen capture by MS Office.

On the dotorg:
Then:
And then:
Followed by:


What does this have to do with being a longstanding Hala fan?
This:


Okay. I officially have no life.

BTW, Hala, is that proper anchor wear?

Pastels!!!

I saw Andrea Sanke yesterday! Just on TV, but I've missed her. I can't wait for a day off or whatnot, just so I can tune in to CNN Today again.

Pressing matters, though (heh. "Pressing") -- Hala's new clothes. In recent weeks I've noticed a growing wardrobe, and in pastels! Pastels!!! I'm all for new clothes, but now I'm thinking, cash bonus? None of those teabags anymore, Hala?

Oh, God. Now I'm thinking if that was Hala that Richard was joking around with about the CNN gifts, including them teabags.

I miss Hala and Richard together.

Oh, and Hala's passion for football and France's chances in the World Cup? So cute.


I should be laughing (laughter) Just kidding! We love the English football team... Except they’re playing against France.
- Hala (24 April 2004)

disclaimer

This blog is fun. Fun. Logging in and sharing with people I'll never personally meet my thoughts and opinions regarding a CNN anchor (or other CNN aspects) is fun. Yes, I know my crazy mind makes some of you wonder my mental health, but for me it's projection, not stalking.

Once upon a time, a couple of years ago, Hala was in London and she and Richard caught my attention because that kind of catty behavior between two anchors just wasn't heard of (for me, anyway).

Understand this: if and when I meet the woman? I wouldn't tell her I write this blog. Because that's just creepy. In fact, I probably wouldn't write about it. Probably. Or that'll be the end of the blog, for all I know.

Anyway.

Since the creation of this blog, and especially after the increase in internet traffic, I have received comments that are negative towards Hala. This is particularly amusing, because people can find this in very few ways.
1. Accessed CNNfan.com and in one of very few forums (mostly Hala-related) saw my name, saw the website, and clicked the link.
2. Accessed Liz's website, and checked the links, and did the same.
3. Google'd Hala Gorani, saw the blog.
4. Blog searched "Hala Gorani" and saw this.
5. Checked other Hala fan forums and someone had linked to this site.

See the pattern?
To anonymous commenters posting anti-Hala statements: Dude. That's an awful lot of effort put in for an anchor you claim to dislike. Some of you are even passionate about it, even detailing her speech, and her reporting style. Now, what are you doing reading fan forums about her when you don't like her? Ignore her. That's what I do to Shihab (to Shihab fans: I'm sorry). And Asieh (to Asieh fans: I'm sorry, too).

I've tried ignoring your comments, anti-Hala people, and the only reason I don't delete your comments is because, well, I'm lazy. And it's a free universe.

A friend tried to goad me by being anti-Hala, and boy does she regret it. (You know who you are, and you asked for it.)

Mistress76uk's screencaps

Photos courtesy of Mistress76uk on the Newsfans forum.
(Borrowed without permission. -- Thanks for the pic of Hala at the water!)

"Because Liz's got to see the earrings."

"Are you there, Allah? It's me, Hala."

"Don't I have a jacket that looks just like that...?"

"What a lousy time to forget those sunglasses."

"Did I charge up that mp3 player--?"

Cheers.

heavens, no

Spitfire said:
are ya suggesting that Hala has been under the knife??? Well I can asure you she hasn't because last year on a WN after a report on cosmetic surgery Hala used the phrase "Non Surgically Enhanced" in relation to herself. Yes my memory is like a steel trap. LOL

Oh, Spitty, no. Heavens, no. I simply meant that Hala's been an advocate against cosmetic surgery. Of any kind.

In fact, come to think of it, Hala's an advocate against unnatural ideas and images of women. Yes, she's had her share of Barbie dolls (heehee), but she's been quite vocal against people who expect all women to be Barbies.

That's one of the things I like most about her (other than that cutting wit).

And we all know what she and Richard had to say about actors undergoing Botox treatment:
"So when you think the actors on screen aren't showing a wide range of emotion, it may not be lack of talent, it could be Botox."

an opinion on indoor plumbing on CNN

Love. Love. Lovelovelove the new Inside the Middle East.

CNNI, I totally forgive you for last month's edition.

Because Hala was on. And I don't just mean she was in the broadcast, I mean, Hala was on. She was smart, she was witty, and she was cool. The hair's been sold, and I will use all my avoidance abilities to ignore those earrings. I don't know exactly how story assignments are made, but I have a feeling I know why Hala's not the one who covered the plastic surgery story. Also, if anyone has pictures of Hala on those rocks on the water, that'd be great.

And because Ben's report was brilliant. Was it his daughter maintaining that her passengers were being dramatic with the "tiny bump"? Was it his son chasing after a setup tent? Was it Ben, in the Sahara desert, in that sunlight and heat? In that outfit? Whatever it is, it was brilliant.

"I'm not too sure I could enjoy an entire holiday without indoor plumbing..."
- Hala

So honest, Miss Gorani is. And I really agree with that point of view. Indoor plumbing? It's the best.

I also love that James Earl Jones is back on station ID's.

I love my CNN.

the hair

I'm not quite decided on what to make of Hala's hair, but since I'm a Halafan, I'll just go with it's pretty.

...Although that wasn't my reaction when I first saw it.

Couple of things:
1. Saw Monita and Max yesterday, after a really long time.

2. Watching Andrea and Max is like watching CNN Lite. Yes, I'm an Andrea fan, but I can't help but think, those two are trying so hard to be serious anchors. Lighten up, you two.
Did I previously ask Max to call me? I've changed my number.

3. I miss Richard at the desk with a co-anchor.

4. Did anybody else laugh with much hilarity and amusement at the latest Quest? That was so awful I really hope Liz, Becky, Hala, Andrea, Monita and Jenny all saw it. And gave him grief for it.

5. If anyone's got pictures of Robyn Curnow at the dock for that luxury liner report, please send them my way. Particularly those during the CNN Today broadcast. Heh, that woman must be cursing her long hair now.

"It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it."
- Ralitsa, on Robyn's on-deck report

hmmm.

Did Hala change her outfit from Your World Today to Headlines? I can't be sure (and I could've been too sleepy to be remembering this correctly), but I think she was wearing blue on YWT and a cream-colored thing on Headlines.

Can someone please tell me I wasn't hallucinating?


Oh, the many ways I loved the Hala Gorani - Salman Rushdie interview.
I wonder if Hala reads a lot.
Hee: "Satanic Versus" author. Who's typing those lines out? That was hilarious. Disturbingly wrong, but hilarious.

some other blonde on CNN

I'd discuss Hala's earrings, and how I thoroughly enjoy starting my day with Hala on Headlines, but there's something even more important to talk about.

What the hell did Robyn Curnow do to her hair?
Yes, I know, the answer is she grew it out, but...

My officemates now know I'm such a CNN geek, but I don't care.

Yesterday, stuck in a hotel room with officemates (long story), to de-stress I tuned in to CNN. Early on it was Hugh Rimington, so yay, but I was busy so I had to turn the TV off and actually work. The next time I turned the TV on it was World Sport, which I've seen, so again, off.
At noon I had to have my CNN. And I did.

Adrian Fineghan or whatever his name is sucks vacuum cleaners, and can bore the life out of Jim Clancy, and not even Robyn's I-want-to-be-an-anchor vibe can make him lifelike.

But: Robyn.
What did you do to your hair?

I even shrieked it out (okay, not shriek, it was more of a gasp). What the hell did she do to her hair?
I liked the sleek look. Kind of Liz George-ish, but it was nice.
I'm not saying it doesn't look good, I'm just saying it's... new.

Officemate D asked why I was reacting like so, and I was at a loss for words.

Nic Robertson's in London, which I also noted, and at that D was looking like me like I'd gone insane.


On Your World Today's first hour, Shihab and Ralitsa? Okay, I have much respect for Ralitsa, despite Vic's (very true) remark that the hair's been the same since... ever. But the two of them? Together?

And how many times does one have to see that Inside the Middle East promo in a day? I love Hala, I do, but... three times in an hour? Really?

long shift?

Let's go over this:

1. Hala was on YWT, Business International, and delivered the Headlines. (And, oddly enough, I did catch each one of these. I can only imagine how bad my zombie-like appearance and demeanor will be today.)
2. Hala's wardrobe: That's a white T-shirt, I can feel it.
3. Hala's wardrobe: Hee-- Pinstripes.
4. Hala looks thinner. Have I really been spazzing on my stalker duties and not noticed?
5. Hala did Business International!!! I don't care if it's from Atlanta, as has been done in the past. She actually said "I'm Hala Gorani, and this is Business International."
6. All we need now is to haul Hala off to London (or have Richard Quest in Atlanta) and seat them together and see if they still have that wonderful TV chemistry I loved them for.
7. One has to wonder: how interested is Hala, really, on the whole Venus satellite news? The woman barely fakes excitement during launch missions, especially when the news is on the delay of the launch.
8. Holiday (yay!) so possibly more psychotic Hala commentary over the next couple of days.
9. The other day, Hala and Ralitsa were discussing the American Immigration Law/protests, and they were discussing something I actually understood about immigration and Visas. What do you know: I'm actually learning something from work.
10. Fun part: "I'm American, I was born here." -- Yes, Hala, but we love you anyway.


Hey, Vic must be orgasmic about all the Vinci sightings on CNNI.

I think I'm going to hate the Revealed series.

And I think I've not only accepted, but also warmed to, the new look of CNNI.

i know it's not "your" show, but...

For a show I consider to be Hala's, I was shocked (shocked!) to see she didn't have a story of her own.

There was a Casablanca reference in there.

Inside the Middle East. How lovely to see it on a weekday.
A weekday in which I was going to sleep through it because I had to wake up unbelievably early the next day.
But I didn't, because it's Hala. And seeing it on the same day after I read that travel article (Postcard from Cairo), made it so much better.

On the evening in question, my producer Schams Elwazer surprised me with a chocolate cake. My colleagues and a couple of waiters then sang "Happy Birthday" with varying degrees of enthusiasm.

Hee. Cake. (huh?)

Back to ITME.

Schams, why did you look so... what's the word I'm looking for... made up?

I wish we'd had more of Yehya Khalil, though. Seemed more interesting than that last feature, although, okay, I get why it's in there.

The May Chidiac story was great, if only for its powerful undercurrent. My mom pointed out that there are very few people in the world with the last name of Chidiac.
I don't know what to do with that information, but, okay.


And, yay, woke up to Hala on Headline News. Wearing a familiar jacket (although not the that jacket again? one).

in blue

Hala. In blue. And pinstripes.

Not even those earrings could distract me.

*happy place*

pouvez-vous parler avec un accent français?

Wow. It's been a while, hasn't it?

Where to start... oh, right: Hala saying "de Villepin" made my day (or night, with the timezone, and all). For no special reason, I just loved it. I kind of felt bad when Hala didn't recognize the town square in which a rally was being held, but then again, I've never been there, and squares probably all look the same.

Paula Hancocks away from the stock exchange is a pretty good deal. So far she's been to the middle east, and russia, and sri lanka, and... Hey, she speaks French and Italian. So that's what she's doing there. Still, Hala and Paula sharing screen time reminds me of the days in London... (*grows wistful*)

As I haven't been around for CNN Today from Europe, I have no idea what's going on there.

Did I mention Hala saying "de Villepin"? Hee. (OMG, yes, I'm an idiot.)

I am yet to see Ben Wedeman covering the Israel elections. Seen John Vause (Johnny!) and Guy Raz (still pretty), but not Ben. Hmm.
Hey, Ariel Sharon's still alive, right? I remember, when the Hamas won the Palestinian election, and Sharon needed emergency surgery not soon after my friends and I were kidding around that he's not dead yet and already he's rolling in his grave.

My friends and I are such a collective ass, I apologize for that right now.



(you knew this was coming:)

"de Villepin"
- Hala

darn, i should've recorded that.


new ITME on APRIL 8.

and don't blame me for the mucked-up french, blame babelfish.

the new look

I love CNN, I do, but...

It looks like BBC. In fact, it looks like the poor man's BBC World.
The headlines in two lines? Why? Especially when you can minimize the font a little and stretch it over one line.
But, whatever. Whatever floats their boat, I guess.

I woke up Saturday morning to Hala at the desk. XD
She couldn't seem to get over the new graphics, making note of it in the middle of World News, the weather, talking to field reporters, and also with World Sport.
Oh, Hala. You clearly were not clued in on what the new graphics would look like. But you didn't need to constantly remind the viewers.
It's new. We get it.
But: I got my first dose of the relaunch with Hala. Yay me.

The names of the anchors and reporters are tiny, though. And there are those cubes freaking everywhere.
Thank heavens the ticker replacement is neat and tiny.

Have I mentioned that I love the new Inside the Middle East promo? (March 4!)
But doesn't it remind you of the Eye on the Middle East promo? ;p

lately

Hala's so serious nowadays I find myself tuning her out sometimes. Don't get me wrong, I'm still an obsessed fanatic, I just don't feel compelled to pay attention to every tiny thing lately. I like the funny version of Hala. The wry humor, the dry sarcasm. The talking head version just doesn't warrant obsessive observation.

Huh. I'm defending non-psychotic behavior.

The past week or so Hala's been so serious I haven't paid much (any) attention this week (*ducks for cover*).
Because of this, I missed this quote, brought to us by BobbyBaby from the dotorg:

There was a pic of a pale, freaky looking tree kangaroo and Hala said "[that is] before make-up."

Heehee. Hala's humor. Miss it so. It's on display so rarely since she's been in Atlanta. (OMFG, she's been in Georgia for nearly two years! The London days are that long ago?)

Sigh.

Oh, right: Inside the Middle East. Umm... not spectacular. Sorry, Schams, but this month's edition did nothing for me.


But here's something, which only Vic is likely to understand: Coming from the country that had that horrid stampede of people waiting for a game show, I have this morbid urge to see if any of the international correspondents (CNN or BBC) will broadcast the name of the game show.


Where's Robyn Curnow? And is she still not a staff member of CNNI?
-- quickedit: Robyn was on yesterday for Business International. I don't agree with the outfit, but I thoroughly enjoyed Robyn talking to Robin (Oakley) :P
-- Hala was also in a considerably better mood, but I wasn't really paying attention.

waking up

Hala: so pretty.

So here's what happened: I was dead asleep in the middle of the night, a friend sends me an SMS message on my phone, then calls to make sure I read the message.
I'm tired, bitca, but okay. So I rouse myself from sleep, answer the call, and check the time.
Here's the sad part: upon realizing that I was awake in time for YWT, I immediately turn the TV on and tune in to CNN.

Lo and behold: Hala.

I can't remember much of it, I was going in and out of consciousness (yes, during my friend's phone call-- I am a horrible friend at 0300HKT), but I do remember passing judgment on her outfit (acceptable) and the last part, with Jim Bitterman's report on food being turned into musical instruments.
Hala's expression at the end of the report was priceless. I don't know what Jon Mann was saying, but Hala's expression was capped off by her statement:

"I don't think I'd like to eat something that someone has blown into."
- Hala (18jan2006)

i have a theory

Okay. Hajj stampede. I should be concerned, right, since Hala's been there and now Schams is delivering the update?

I have a theory. And it's that Hala's not in Mecca anymore. I'm probably wrong, but it's what I'm telling myself to not worry about someone I've never met (and probably never will).

Given how much promotion was done to publicize the Hajj coverage, I really expected more. At least more live updates. Her coverage a few years ago was much better. This time, I can't help the feeling of... I don't know. Like it's an extended Inside the Middle East report stretched out throughout the week.

But I have enjoyed seeing Hala throughout the week. The first report was... I don't want to say 'fun', but I will. It was fun. Then it became less about the Hajj experience and more about its implications, and now the pilgrims have made it about the pilgrimage again. Go pilgrims!

To answer Hala's thought:

I wonder as I look down on the crowds how ambulances would respond to emergencies during Hajj.

Well, not well enough, but what can you expect in a sea of pilgrims.

But, really: to be among thousands of people -- millions, even -- and walk? That takes a lot of religious fervor and faith, and you've got to give it to them for doing it.
Too bad the last part, the stoning of the devil, has not failed to produce stampedes and such tragedy.

Just to illustrate the number of people, and that Hala's not kidding with the "sea of pilgrims" description: (yes, all that white are people)

still photo borrowed from Starman.


"On the way out of the tent city of Arafat, we face crowd chaos of epic proportions."
- Hala (in the CNN diary)

italics are mine, but Hala: such a flair for the dramatic, you.

sand games

Finally. Hala sightings.

The main event of the Hajj starts soon, so hooray. Regular Hala check-ins.
I'm a bit in wonder regarding who are covering the Sharon illness. I know Guy Raz is there (poor guy must've been there for hours). But who else?

Haha. One of the reasons I love Hala:

As I squeeze my way past a group of singing Chinese Muslims, a woman in full black hijab, her face completely shrouded by a black face cloth, taps me harshly on the shoulder.

"It's un-Islamic. Un-Islamic!", she screams at me.

"What?" I ask, irritated at having been physically prodded.

The woman points accusingly at my forehead. "Un-Islamic" was what she was calling the strand of hair that had escaped from under my headscarf.

(CNN.com - Masks and Business at Hajj)

"Irritated at having been physically prodded". Sounds like Ms. Gorani, absolutely. And who else loves the "screams at me" part?

Can't Hala have a daily blog for the Hajj? Please, CNN?

Oh, and here's food for thought: each pilgrim at the Hajj has to have a goat slaughtered, and pay 500... um... dollars? Just, 500 bucks. Probably the local currency, I've forgotten my bits of information. Anyway: Each. One. Do the math.

Okay, now down to business. Inside the Middle East this week. I'm no big fan of Ben, but any report that gets the reporter drinking is fine by me. And any opportunity to see Alessio Vinci's surfing attempt is always fun, but to recycle Richard and Hala's Eye on the Middle East reports? That's just... okay, I have no idea who comes up with the show in its entirety, but shouldn't the recycling be done gradually?

Anyway.

Hala in that sand vehicle (whatever it's called) was... Inside the Middle East is a lifestyle program. So I will account Hala's glee of playing in the sand as part of the "lifestyle" programming.

And am I wrong to enjoy Hala's state of breathlessness after her ski run? :)

"We've run out of superlatives..."
- Hala