I grew up watching "Sunday Morning" with the late Charles Osgood on CBS most weekends. He delivered stories with real people in a comforting voice, no shock value. In journalism, we’re told a story must be novel and impactful to be worth telling. In 2026, it seems like that means shocking and conflict-inducing. "Sunday Morning" brought unique stories that impacted viewers emotionally in a positive way. While I understand the importance of tragic news, the average American could use calming, heart-warming stories that are real - not just scripted. The precursor to Sunday Morning for my mom was, and always will be, "The Today Show" on NBC. My favorite segment was the Smucker’s Birthday Wishes. Smucker’s would feature a person turning 100 years old or older on a Smucker’s jar and tell the viewers a few of their hobbies or secrets to longevity. As a 3-7 year old I was fascinated by the idea of old age. I cannot remember any of the tips and tricks they gave, but I can’t help but wonder if they are better than the diets, workouts, and treatments I’m being fed now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgXOiy6_2TQ
One of my all-time favorite journalists is Wendy Williams. Not only is she hilarious, but also groundbreaking in daytime television. Wendy shared personal stories, advice, and gossip unpolished. The entertainment value of "The Wendy Williams Show" was a fusion of her quick wit, audience engagement, and the crew. Wendy used classic classroom tactics to keep the audience involved, asking them, for example, to: “Clap if you care,” or "Clap if you think she should suffer."(Questionable, but priceless) She also went into the house seating to give real-time advice to audience members. She was quick on her feet and never afraid to say something she might regret.
Her crew, including a producer (Norman) and staffer (Suzanne) were consistently shown on camera and chimed in to balance or affirm Wendy’s commentary. Even the cameraman was a key aspect of the program, with his quick shots to audience members at inappropriate times. Unfortunately "The Wendy Williams Show" is no longer on air due to her health complications, but our Wendy stays quippy even in her most vulnerable moments. When paparazzi were bombarding her with personal questions about her health she stayed true to her journalistic virtues saying through tears, “I would ask you to respect our privacy... But please, I don't respect people's privacy. That’s why I do the hot topics.”
https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyswilliam/video/7206414455054404906?lang=en
Let’s talk red carpet etiquette. Lately, there has been some discourse surrounding the hosts of this year’s red carpets. Now that awards season is coming to an end, we can discuss the criteria for what makes a good or a bad interviewer. Decades ago, the position of red carpet reporter was coveted and had quite a high barrier to entry, with renowned journalists like Joan Rivers handling the questions. Today, new-age influencers seem to be the default for the job. Some examples include:
- Emma Chamberlain for the Met Gala
- Paige DeSorbo for the Actor (previously known as SAG) Awards
- Mary Beth Barone for the Golden Globes
- Jake Shane & Quenlin Blackwell for the Vanity Fair Oscar Party
Many viewers despise influencer presence in traditional media, especially award shows. While I actually do not hate all these people, I see how having a degree in journalism or more experience could make for smoother interviews. With Jake Shane, Paige DeSorbo, and Emma Chamberlain’s first few years, some interviews hit awkward lulls or felt clunky. I believe this usually can be attributed to the interviewer's nerves, lack of knowledge about the interviewee, or shifting the focus onto themselves.
A good red carpet reporter makes the interview feel like a conversation without actually shifting focus from the subject. Mary Beth Barone was a star at the Golden Globes this year. While she has technically broken into traditional media through the TV show "Overcompensating", she began at open mics and has a strong presence on social media and co-hosts an internet podcast. MBB came prepared with questions that sparked longer answers, made celebrities laugh, and didn’t feel stilted. It was clear she was familiar with each person’s role and production they were promoting, as some questions were crafted for the interviewee specifically. Mary Beth’s deadpan tone contrasted with nervous laughter and welcoming smile somehow calms the celebrities. I say let's see some more of her - one day, filling the shoes of Nikki Glaser in an award show host role. My personal favorite question was: “Is there anyone here you want to apologize to?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDkr2ysFLhk
P.S. The font will not allow me to italicize, if you’re bothered by that, double it, and that’s how I feel.
