MYERS GETS UP CLOSE: ESPN's Chris Myers interviewed
O.J. Simpson in a "no-holds-barred" session on yesterday's
"Up Close." In N.Y., Larry Sutton writes that Myers "fired
tough questions" at Simpson (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/16). In
L.A., Larry Stewart: "Myers, who had more to lose than gain
by doing the interview, didn't soften the questions, nor did
he badger Simpson. If anything, Simpson badgered him. Give
credit to ESPN for letting the live interview run minutes
over the allotted time" (L.A. TIMES, 1/16). In N.Y., Steve
Zipay writes that Myers "played the role of interrogator"
(NEWSDAY, 1/16). In Philadelphia, Bill Conlin writes that
Myers "maintained enough editorial control to prevent O.J.
from [a] Don King-style monologue" (DAILY NEWS, 1/16). Also
in Philadelphia, Raad Cawthon writes that "as the hour ended
with a deadly serious Myers saying good-bye, an off-camera
Simpson could be heard saying, 'I thought I was going to be
talking about sports with you'" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER,
1/16). In Baltimore, Milton Kent: "In the biggest moment in
his career, Chris Myers did himself, his network and his
profession quite proud" (Baltimore SUN, 1/16).
TV: In N.Y., WNBC-TV President/GM Dennis Swanson has
both Jets coach Bill Parcells and Giants coach Jim Fassel
under contract, and even though NBC doesn't have the NFL
anymore, Swanson "is planning to do both a Jets and Giants
show next season" (Bob Raissman, N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/16).
...WCBS-TV in N.Y. ran a station promo which showed the CBS
eye and the voiceover: "CBS-2 your home for the Olympic
games and this fall, home of the NFL." The end of the spot
featured the NFL and WCBS eye logo (THE DAILY)....CNN will
debut a new weekly series, "CNN's Page One With Nick
Charles" on Saturday from 11:00-11:30am ET (CNN).
