White House Correspondents Insider

Behind the scenes of one of the most powerful clubs in America.

Hannity Outperforms Maddow in First Head-to-Head Ratings Match-Up

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Photo courtesy Pixabay.

In their first 9PM showdown Monday night, Fox News’ Sean Hannity bested MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow in the battle for ratings.

According to data provided by Nielsen Media Research, Hannity received 3.3 million total viewers for his broadcast, making the program the most-watched show in all of basic cable.  Data suggests his show Hannity was also watched by 666,000 viewers in the critical advertising demographic between the ages of 25-54 years old.

Maddow delivered 2.7 million total viewers for her show in the same timeslot, finishing in second place.  The Rachel Maddow Show trailed Hannity by 610,000 viewers, and was also behind with adults aged 25-54 with 591,000 viewers.

Significantly, Maddow finishes the third quarter as the highest-rated program in cable news overall.  This marks the first time any MSNBC program has finished a quarter as the top cable news show.

Much of the growth associated with the three main cable news networks throughout 2016 seems to have slowed.  MSBNC remains the only network to see a year-over-year improvement in the third quarter, with viewership increasing by 43 percent, including a 29 percent increase in the 25-54 demographic.  However, Fox News remains the top network in basic cable, beating both MSNBC and CNN for the 63rd consecutive quarter.

Spicer Regrets Arguing With Reporters Over Inauguration Crowd Size

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James Brady Press Briefing Room. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer regrets berating journalists during his first White House press briefing in January.  During this session, Spicer had aggressively asserted the inauguration crowd size was the largest ever.

“Of course I do, absolutely,” Spicer admitted during an interview Monday with the New York Times.

During the first official appearance in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, Spicer announced that “[t]his was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period.  Both in person and around the globe.”

Photos and videos of the inauguration showed fewer people gathered on the National Mall than for former President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration.  Additionally, Nielsen data suggests the television audience for the Trump inauguration fell below numbers for both Presidents Reagan and Obama.

Spicer made a surprise guest appearance at the Emmys on Sunday to make fun of this notable first briefing.  Appearing at the end of Stephen Colbert’s opening monologue, the former press secretary emerged on stage pushing a mobile podium similar to one used by Melissa McCarthy in a popular Saturday Night Live skit.

“This will be the largest audience to witness an Emmys, period.  Both in-person and around the world,” Spicer responded to Colbert.

“This was an attempt to poke a little fun at myself and add a little bit of levity to the event,” Spicer explained during in his interview with the New York Times.

CONGRATS! Veep Wins “Best Comedy”, Julia Louis-Dreyfus Makes Emmy History

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Veep billboard in Times Square. Photo courtesy Ron Cogswell.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus scored Emmy history Sunday night by winning “Best Actress in a Comedy Series” for the sixth consecutive year in a row.  In addition, the smash HBO series Veep, wherein Louis-Dreyfus plays ex-President Selina Meyer, took the top award for Outstanding Comedy Series for the third year in a row.

“We had a whole story line about impeachment, but we abandoned that because we were worried someone else may get there first,” Louis-Dreyfus said in her acceptance speech.  “This continues to be the role of a lifetime and an adventure of utter joy.”

In winning Best Actress this year, Louis-Dreyfus now holds the record for most Emmys won by an actor in the same role.  That distinction had been held by both Candice Bergen, who won top recognition five times for her landmark character Murphy Brown, and historic Don Knotts for his portrayal of Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show.

Louis-Dreyfus is now also tied with the legendary Cloris Leachman for most Primetime Emmys wins by a single performer.  Both women have won eight Emmys.

“I don’t know what to say about it other than I’m numb,” Louis-Dreyfus noted after the awards ceremony.  “I can’t believe it.  I adore Cloris Leachman.  All I think about is her in Young Frankenstein going ‘He was my boyfriend.’  I’m just incredibly honored and amazed this has happened to me.  It’s all very baffling and a sh—ton of good luck.”

Louis-Dreyfus beat out other supremely talented actresses for the top billing in comedy:  Better Thing’s Pamela Adlon, Black-ish’s Tracee Ellis Ross, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s Ellie Kemper, Grace and Frankie’s co-leads Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, and Mom’s Allison Janney.

Her series Veep also rocked the evening by taking home their third consecutive “Outstanding Comedy Series” Emmy.

Executive producer David Mandel joked about the comparison between his award-winning comedy series and the real-world White House.

“I guess I’m honestly just glad that in our world Selina lost so we get to do our own show.  Obviously the comparison is going to be drawn, but you’re not watching us do a scene in the Oval Office and then watching him do a scene in the Oval Office.  He ends up being the 30 Rock to our Studio 60.  I think they’re doing a better job being funnier,” Mandel said backstage at the awards ceremony.

The Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series faced tough competition from other fantastic shows this year, including HBO’s Silicon Valley, ABC’s Modern Family, FX’s Atlanta, Netflix’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, ABC’s Black-ish and Netflix’s Master of None.

Veep went into the evening as this year’s most nominated comedy series, with 17 total Emmy bids.  The show has been a nominee for best comedy series every year since its first season in 2012.

HBO announced earlier this month that Season Eight of Veep will be its last.  The final season will air in 2018.

Comedy Central Extends Trevor Noah’s Contract Through 2022

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Photo courtesy Comedy Central.

Earlier today, Comedy Central and Trevor Noah announced that they have agreed to a contract extension to keep the popular comedian and television host behind the late night desk on the Emmy-winning smash The Daily Show with Trevor Noah through 2022.

President of Comedy Central Kent Alterman celebrated the announcement stating, “Trevor makes us look smart on a daily basis, and for that we’re grateful.”

Similarly, Trevor Noah expressed his gratitude to the network and his fans for helping bring another five years of his late-night show to the airwaves.

“I’m thrilled to be continuing this amazing journey with both fans of The Daily Show and Comedy Central.  It’s really exciting to renew this contract for either five more years or until Kim Jong Un annihilates us all – whichever one comes first.”

Under the contract extension, Noah will remain as host at The Daily Show through 2022, in addition to his roles of writer and executive producer.  He will also host and produce year-end specials for the network beginning in December 2017.

Noah has found outstanding success since joining the network in 2015, especially among millennial and Generation X viewers.  In the third quarter of 2017, The Daily Show increased its viewer share among millenials an astounding 28% compared to last year, more than triple the growth of any other late night talk show.

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah airs on Comedy Central Monday through Thursday at 11:00 PM EST and is available to stream the following day on thedailyshow.com and via the Comedy Central mobile app.

Justice Department: Russian Network RT Must Register as Foreign Agent

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Photo courtesy the Kremlin.

The Department of Justice announced that the owners of the Russian state-owned network RT must register as a foreign agent, suggesting all their content would be labelled as Russian propaganda.

To date, media organizations have largely been exempt from registration under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which focuses primarily on political consultants, lobbyists and public relations professionals working for foreign states.

Registration would not halt RT from broadcasting in the U.S., but would require regularly-submitted government paperwork listing sources of revenue from foreign governments and contacts within the United States.  The Act also would require any reporting to be labeled as financed by the Russian government.

Failing to file the paperwork would be a felony.

New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen said of the Justice probe, “We can’t allow foreign agents, particularly those working on behalf of our adversaries, to skirt our laws.  Every new revelantion about Russia’s use of propaganda to influence the 2016 election further highlights the need of the federal government to bolster its enforcement of FARA.”

The U.S. intelligence community issued a report in January calling RT a “state-run propaganda machine.”  It said the network “has positioned itself as a domestic U.S. channel and has deliberately sought to obscure any legal ties to the Russian Government.”

The Foreign Agents Registration Act was enacted prior to World War II in an initial effort to combat Nazi propaganda intended to sway American public sentiment.

Miss North Dakota Cara Mund Crowned Miss America 2018

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Photo courtesy Cara Mund via Twitter.

Celebrations and congratulations flowed Sunday night in Atlantic City as Miss North Dakota, Cara Mund was crowned 2018’s Miss America.  Last night was the first time in pageant history that Miss North Dakota has ever won the coveted tiara.

A Brown University graduate heading to law school following her reign, Mund said she hopes to one day become the first woman elected governor of North Dakota.  She showed political savvy and determination when asked about President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate accords earlier this year.

Referencing the decision to withdraw from the climate accords, the newly-crowned Miss America said: “It’s a bad decision.  There is evidence that climate change is existing, and we need to be at that table.”

She told reporters at Boardwalk Hall following the ceremony that it was her desire to provide a factual and honest answer to the question posed, instead of glossing over her answer.

“My onstage question answer was just my personal opinion,” she told The Associated Press in an interview. “I think everyone has a right to think what they want. But it’s important to have a spot at the negotiating table. This isn’t necessarily: ‘Does climate change exist or not?’ but rather the fact that we’re going to keep our Earth clean for future generations, and I just think it’s really important that we have a seat there. To pull out, I think, is just really unfortunate.”

Behind Mund, the other top five 2018 Miss American contestants were first runner-up Miss Missouri Jennifer Davis, second runner-up Miss New Jersey Kaitlyn Schoeffel, third runner-up Miss District of Columbia Briana Kinsey, and fourth runner-up Miss Texas Margana Wood.

The panel of judges for the 2018 pageant included country singer Thomas Rhett, actress and author Molly Sims, Grammy-nominated singer Jordin Sparks, People Magazine’s editor in chief Jess Cagle, CEO of AfterBuzz TV Maria Menounos, Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri and Olympic gold medalist, Tara Lipinski.

The Miss America Organization, alongside The Miss America Foundation and its 52 licensed organizations, is the nation’s largest provider of scholarship assistance to young women, awarding millions annually for young female scholars across the country and around the world.  The Foundation provides academic and community-based scholarships for undergraduate and graduate studies, as well as endowed scholarships for young women entering medical school, working in special areas for military service awareness and the performing arts.

‘The Weather Channel’ Viewership Surges During Hurricanes

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Photo courtesy Pixabay

Cable television viewers flocked to The Weather Channel last week, driven primarily by concerns over recent hurricanes bombarding huge portions of the United States.

The channel had averaged approximately 150,000 viewers in prime time throughout July.  Last week, according to Nielsen ratings, roughly 1.3 million people tuned in during peak hours – nearly a ten-time spike in viewers.

The Weather Channel has featured 24-hour coverage of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma during the past few weeks.  Nearly 70 reporters and producers have deployed to Texas, Louisiana and Florida to cover both of the deadly and devastating storms blasting the region.

“People are tired,” said Nora Zimmett, senior vice president of programming for the Weather Channel.  “But there is an adrenaline that comes with an event like this.”

‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah’ Adds New Correspondent Dulce’ Sloan

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Photo courtesy Comedy Central.

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah just added new correspondent Dulce’ Sloan to the roster, with her scheduled to debut this week with an in-studio desk piece.

According to a release issued by Comedy Central,

“Sloan is truly a unique emerging voice in the world of comedy.  She offers a fresh and honest perspective, bringing her signature point-of-view and confidence to commentary on a wide range of topics.”

Sloan was recognized by Rolling Stone as one of the ten comedians you need to know, as well as “New Face” at Montreal’s 2015 comedy festival Just for Laughs, and also as a correspondent at E! News Daily.  She has appeared on Conan, Steve Harvey, @midnight, and truTV’s Comedy Knockout.  Most recently, Sloan was cast in the Fox comedy pilot Type-A alongside Eva Longoria, Andy Richter and Ken Marino.

‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah’ airs on Comedy Central Monday through Thursday at 11:00 P.M. EST and is available to stream the following day at thedailyshow.com.

Mass Layoffs at Glenn Beck’s “The Blaze”

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Photo courtesy Wikimedia.

Glenn Beck, founder of the conservative multi-platform news and entertainment network The Blaze, announced Thursday his company would conduct mass layoffs.

“Today, we said goodbye to just over 20 percent of the combined workforce of Mercury Radio Arts and TheBlaze,” Beck said in a press release.

The one-time Fox News and HLN host suggested his network “needed to become more nimble and drastically adjust our approach to keep pace with the massive changes unfolding before us.”

The Blaze TV is struggling for ratings especially due to not being carried on major cable companies such as Comcast, Time Warner and Cablevision.

MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Most-Watched Show in Cable News in August

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Rachel Maddow speaking at SWSX. Photo courtesy Wikimedia.

Rachel Maddow had the most-watched show in cable news for the month, with 2.783 million total viewers in August, according to data released by Nielsen Media Research.  This marks the second consecutive month the MSNBC host landed at the top spot.

Closely behind was Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity, with 2.679 million total viewers.  Rounding out the top five news shows were Fox News’ Tucker Carlson (2.483 million), MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell (2.352 million) and Fox News’ The Five (2.351 million).

Maddow also was first among adults 25-54, a critical demographic for advertisers.

Fox News Channel edged out competitors including MSNBC and CNN for top overall cable network for the month, averaging 2.2 million viewers in prime time.  Fox has been the top-rated cable network based on total day ratings for 14 consecutive months and most watched cable news channel in both total day and prime viewers.