Glenn Beck (TV program)

infobox television
show_name = Glenn Beck


caption = "Glenn Beck" title card
format = Talk show
runtime = 60 minutes
starring = Glenn Beck
country = USA
network = CNN Headline News
first_aired = May 8, 2006
last_aired = Present
website = http://cnn.com/CNN/Programs/glenn.beck
imdb_id = 0800289
tv_com_id = 68400

"Glenn Beck" is an American cable-news show hosted by conservative commentator Glenn Beck on CNN's Headline News.

Overview

Each broadcast usually begins with a brief, scripted monologue by Beck, in which he gives his analysis of the top story of the day. This is followed by an interview with a correspondent who continues the discussion with their opinions on the matter.

Although the original concept of the show combined elements of late-night talk shows (e.g., satirical comedy bits and frequent celebrity interviews) as well as cable news, it has gradually come to center on the latter format and adopted a more news-oriented style.

pecial programs

The Friday broadcast is often devoted to a full-hour interview under the label "Honest Questions". Interviewed people include Ron Paul, Al Sharpton, Janice Dickinson, Larry King, Nancy Grace, Benjamin Netanyahu, Anderson Cooper, and Ben Stein.

Special programming includes "Exposed: The Extremist Agenda", "Exposed: The Climate of Fear", and a weeklong series titled "America's Addiction", about pornography. These programs tend not to include the usual humor and sarcasm used in Beck's shows, because of the largely serious nature of the content of these programs.

Exposed: The Extremist Agenda

"The Extremist Agenda", aired in November 2006, which overviewed terrorism in the Middle East. This special was the most highly-watched program the day it aired.

Exposed: The Climate of Fear

The May 2, 2007 edition of his "Glenn Beck on Headline News" was a "special report" entitled, "Exposed: The Climate of Fear". In his opening remarks, Beck said, "Welcome to exposed, the climate of fear. I want you to know right up front, this is not a balanced look at global warming. It is the other side of the climate debate that you don't hear anywhere. Yes, Al Gore, there is another credible side." [ [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0705/02/gb.01.html Transcript of Exposed: The Climate of Fear] ]

Exposed: America's Broke

Beck aired a special called "Exposed: America's Broke" during the week on 9/15/08. This special deals with the national debt in Amerca, and the debt of leadership.

Al Sharpton interview

On May 10, 2007, Beck interviewed Al Sharpton regarding his comments about Mitt Romney and Mormonism.

Sharpton had said, "As for the one running -- the one Mormon running for office, those that really believe in God will defeat him anyway. So don't worry about that."

This statement has been criticized as suggesting that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) do not believe in God. Sharpton claimed that his comment should be viewed as a retort to Christopher Hitchens, a self-proclaimed atheist, in a debate. [http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/05/09/romney.sharpton.ap/ Sharpton accused of 'bigotry' after remark on faith] , [http://www.cnn.com CNN.com] , May 9 2007]

Later in the interview, Sharpton said ""What I said was that we would defeat him, meaning as a Republican. A Mormon, by definition, believes in God. They don't believe in God the way I do, but by definition, they believe in God."

When asked about past Mormon Church racism by Paula Zahn, Sharpton said the following in reference to the fact that, prior to a 1978 proclamation, Blacks were baptised as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but not ordained to the Priesthood prior to 1978, "I think that that's by self definition. If prior to `65, `78, whenever it was, they did not see blacks as equal, I do not believe that as real worshippers of God, because I do not believe God distinguishes between people. That's not bigotry. That's responding to their bigotry."

Beck began this broadcast with the following:

"Tonight, the tables are turned. Al Sharpton in the hot seat. Will he apologize for his controversial remark about Mormons?" [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0705/10/gb.01.html CNN Transcript of Beck show, May 10 2007] ]

During the interview, Beck drew a comparison between Sharpton's comments and Don Imus's racially charged comments against the Rutgers University women's basketball team. Sharpton led the charge to get Don Imus fired. Imus was eventually fired from both his television show and his radio show for his statements. Sharpton rejected Beck's comparison, seeing no bigotry in his own comments:

"There are some -- let me put this -- let's get straight to the point, Glenn. There are some in the Christian faith that do not accept Mormons as Christians or as believers. I am not one of them. If I wanted to cop out, I could say, "I have a religious disagreement.

I do not think me or anyone else has the right to determine who are believers. I do not have any -- think anyone has the right to, in any way, discriminate against one's decision how they approach God. Which is why I said, on my radio show today, that to Mormons, this is not my intention to have said anything against Mormons. As I explained to you, I was talking about atheists."

Sharpton claimed that it is permissible for one to question an individual's religion's past doctrines to determine if those former practices have any impact on the person's philosophy and decision making process today. Sharpton stated out that Mormons, at one time, failed to allow minorities to fully participate in their religion as well as called attention to Mitt Romney's past use of the term "tar baby." Beck countered that former practices of any religion should be left in the past. Sharpton acknowledged that he still needed to learn more about the Mormon religion and would have an opportunity to meet with Mormon leaders Henry B. Eyring and Russell M. Nelson in the coming weeks.

Sharpton also called for more dialogue between religious leaders of different faiths. Sharpton said that while there are still groups of religions that did not recognize Mormons as Christians, that was not his personal view. Beck replied that Sharpton was skilled in shifting the conversation from himself and focusing on others. Beck admitted before airing the Sharpton interview that it was one of the most difficult interviews that he had ever done. More than likely, this was because the subject matter of the discussion was "deeply personal" for him. [ [http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2007/05/sharpton_glen_b.html Sharpton on Glenn Beck show] ]

ee also

*Glenn Beck
*Glenn Beck Program (radio)

References