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    Home » The Plain Columns » The Amish Editor

    Morning Shows

    Published: Dec 29, 2014 · Updated: Dec 29, 2014 by Kevin Williams | 3 Comments

    By Kevin Williams

    Morning news shows are on my mind this morning because The New York Times published a great selection of behind-the-scenes photos from the most watched "breakfast shows."

    When I was growing up, NBC'S The Today Show ruled the roost.  Bryant Gumble and Jane Pauley were fixtures on our TV as I brushed my teeth and ate my breakfast in preparation for the day ahead.  Bryant and Jane seemingly seamlessly gave way to "Katie and Matt"in my college years  (okay, there was the brief, rocky reign of Deborah Norville) and now, well....nothing...I don't watch any morning news shows at all anymore.  Although if I had to watch one, I'd probably still watch Today out of habit. But Robin Roberts on ABC's Good Morning America is the host who seems the most genuine and likable, so I might well switch to her.   As an adult, I just log on to get my news.  I can read what I want that way and I can do it quietly while the rest of my house is still asleep.  I don't really miss the fluff features of morning TV.

    The Today Show

    The Today Show

    I've been a guest on many early morning news shows (mostly local ones) to promote our various cookbooks over the years. I often took my own time and expense to do such things because no one else would and you have to go out and pitch your products if you want to get ahead.  I'm not a morning person, so being chipped at 7 a.m. while I discuss shoofly pie does not come naturally to me.

    The only New York-based morning show that I've done is Fox and Friends.  It was actually a show called Fox & Friends First, which was/is the far less-watched lead-in to Fox & Friends.  Rachel and I arrived in town for the Saturday morning segment (this was back in 2004) with cooler full of Amish goodies that I would take on the air to tie-in to one of our new cookbooks.   What we didn't count on was Hurricane Ivan churning up the Eastern Seaboard. Fox moved to all-Ivan, all-the-time coverage and my segment was bumped to the next Monday morning. So Rachel and I had to linger around New York City for the rest of the weekend.  Meanwhile, our cooler full of Amish goodies had to swelter in a parking garage over the weekend (it's New York, you can't really, realistically lug around a cooler...we reasoned the food would still LOOK okay, just tackle anyone who tried to eat what would sure to be a botulism conference)

    The original Saturday morning segment was supposed to be an outdoor one which would have been more relaxed and spontaneous.  Our rescheduled Monday morning segment was crammed in between a celebrity gossip interview and an interview with an Iraqi biological weapons expert.  He kept wanting to try our food which by then, after simmering in our car all weekend, probably was a biological weapon.

    I was interviewed by host Alisyn Camerota who seemed puzzled and unprepared for the segment, which was filmed crammed into what seemed like a closet.  A phone even rang once during the segment which lasted a grand total of about 2 minutes, half of what was originally planned.

    "The Amish are't really known for their cooking are they?"  Alisyn asked.

    Um...I think I wanted to say, "sheesh, where have you been, that IS what the Amish are known for! Why do think I am here?"  But I politely and gently walked Alisyn into the ins and outs of Amish cooking, and I'm sure within 2 nano-seconds after the interview was over she had forgotten everything I told her.

    So, do you have a favorite morning TV news show?  Or have you, like me, abandoned them in favor of something else?

     

    « Amish in the News: Amish Makeover; Checking in With Arlene; Former Amish, and Poem
    The Amish Cook: "Glorified Lorene Bars" AKA Vanilla Pudding Chocolate Chip Bars »

    About Kevin Williams

    Hi, my name is Kevin Williams and I am owner of Oasis Newsfeatures and editor of The Amish Cook newspaper column.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Carole

      December 29, 2014 at 4:25 pm

      Well I do watch "Today," probably out of habit too. I started watching it at my sister's house when I was about 10, before we even had a TV in our house. I liked some of the former anchor people better than the ones on now. I don't care for Matt at all and just tolerate the others. They all talk at once and I can't understand much they say. If you want just news, CBS morning show is the one to watch. I have also watched ABC and I like Robin but don't care for the other people too much.

      Reply
    2. brenda

      December 29, 2014 at 5:28 pm

      Fox and Friends all the way. there is no longer a woman who only knows her own Italian roots. I would suggest giving them another chance. they have been voted no 1 for their time slot for several years in a row. they especially Elizabeth would make sure they already know a bit about the Amish prior to your segment.

      Reply
    3. lorraine

      December 31, 2014 at 2:16 am

      I don't watch these morning breakfast news show anymore.

      Reply

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    Kevin Williams - The Amish Editor Amish Cook Column

    Hi There, I'm Kevin!

    Welcome to Amish365, where I share my knowledge of Amish cooking and culture! I’ve spent almost three decades exploring Amish settlements and kitchens from Maine to Montana and almost everywhere in between. I’ll occasionally throw in stories of my travels, journalism adventures (I’m a Pulitzer prize-nominated journalist), fascination with grocery stores and Kmarts, and much more!

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