David Frost joins al-Jazeera TV

[kskiska]

Veteran UK broadcaster Sir David Frost is to join Arabic-language TV station al-Jazeera, the network has confirmed.

Sir David is to appear on al-Jazeera International, the pan-Arab news network's new English-language channel, due to be launched next spring.

The Qatar-based channel said Sir David, who broadcast his final Breakfast with Frost programme for the BBC in May, would be among the "key on-air talent".

Sir David was quoted as saying he felt "excitement" about his new role.

(snip)

An al-Jazeera statement called Sir David "the only person to have interviewed the last seven presidents of the United States and the last six prime ministers of the United Kingdom".

It said: "(He) has joined the line-up of key on-air talent at the new 24-hour English language news and current affairs channel."

more…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4318284.stm

[katinmn]

1. Cool! Makes it harder for people to dismiss Al Jazeera

as an angry Arab station, doesn't it?

[mrfrapp]

2. Holy Cow! n/t

[Nostradamus]

3. the man who "rose writhout trace"

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

4. I hope he has bodyguards and kevlar underwear

Al Jazeera employees seem to have a lot of accidents with high-velocity projectiles.

[brentspeak]

5. He's famous for having The Beatles record "Hey Jude" on his program,right?

Obviously, I'm an American. :-)

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

8. and the invasion of the Yippies

"Rubin lit a joint and handed it to Frost. This was the signal for the rest of us to swarm on the stage, only I found myself swarming slower than might have been expected and a tad more unsteadily. I do recall, however, noticing Richard, with Louis, keeping himself well off camera, which struck me as a little odd. I also clearly remember Felix squirting Frost with a water pistol. "

http://www.arsydd.btinternet.co.uk/frostbenn.html

[brentspeak]

22. We Americans apparently learned a lot from the David Frost show

There's a photograph of Felix David, now the super-rich publisher of Maxim magazine, squirting a water pistol (at David Frost). The show was turned into a riot, aka Morton Downey Jr. 15 years later. Although, I wonder what the Smothers Brothers Show was like.

[Centered]

12. An American... or a person from the USA?

Not a Flame my friend but persons from the USA would do better not to say "American"... unless they wish to specify which America they are talking about... North, South... or Central.

It really is time to stop acting like we own the place.

[thebigidea]

6. its Timmy Williams' Coffee Time!

Super! Super! Super!

[Eric J in MN]

18. Does that mean you approve or disapprove of Frost being hired?

nt

[thebigidea]

27. it means that I love Eric Idle's impersonation of him in Monty Python

they were all former employees of his, and sent him up hilariously.

I quite enjoy Al-Jazeera, they piss off the right people. Frosty is a bit soft in the interview department though.

[mom cat]

7. Wonderful news! That should help their image.

[DrZeeLit]

9. Good for him! I always liked him. Seemed intelligent and credible.

I hope this rankles Cheney's cockles.
Or..whatever.

[Judi Lynn]

10. Good for David Frost. He's made a very courageous move.n/t

[0007]

30. I'll second that move.

Time to wake up America!!

[Matilda]

11. In his day, I think Frost was the most brilliant interviewer in the world.

I saw him a number of times on The Frost Report interviewing people
who had committed white collar crimes. In the most subtle way,
probing very firmly but always appearing gentle, he would get them to
admit to what they did on air. One man was even arrested by Scotland
Yard in the studio as he came off the air - it was his second night
on the program, and I think the whole country was watching to see if
he would finally tell all, and he did.

A young David Frost could probably get even Karl Rove to spill the
beans.

[Matilda]

14. Correction - The Frost Report was his comedy sketch show.

I can't remember the title of his interview program.

[leftchick]

13. Excellent news!

Go Sir David!

:)

[Jim Sagle]

15. Whadda piecea shit.

[Eric J in MN]

17. Why do you say that?

nt

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Jim Sagle]

21. Of course they can - just not the ones who work for Al-Jazeera.

Your argument is like saying anyone who hates Fox News doesn't think blondes can be good journalists. ;-)

[cire4]

23. There are plenty of objective journalists that work for Al Jazeera...

You'd be surprised at how often Al Jazeera pisses off the Islamic fundies and stirs up trouble in the Arab world. They are controversial for reasons that go far beyond America and terrorism...

Watch the documentary "Control Room"....It's very eye-opening...

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Zhade]

29. I was bad. My post was deleted. They were right to do it.

But I do still think that you're wrong about al Jazeera. I'd like some evidence of whatever you think is wrong with it - as long as it doesn't come from LGF (kidding, kidding).

[Eric J in MN]

16. I posted this at "SpeakSpeak News" in response to your post.

http://www.speakspeak.org/speak-blog/2005/10/07/david-frost-joins-al-jazeera-tv/

[BrotherBuzz]

20. Cool! David Frost's TW3 made me a news junkie....

My, we've come a long way.

[JawJaw]

24. Interesting development...

Frost may have started out with good intentiona in the '60s but now he's as softball & deferential as they come. His grovelling interviews with Bush I particularly recall.

Still, his presence on Al-Jazeera makes it more difficult for the FMR to dismiss the whole station as just "Arab propaganda"

The GREAT British wit Peter Cook had his measure:


A rather bizarre incident occured whilst at a country house retreat with friends one summer during the 60s. Some of the group decided to go for a swim. David Frost, although unable to swim, ventured into the lake and promptly began to drown. Cook dived in and pulled the hapless Frost from the lake, according to eyewitness accounts his actions saved Frost's life, Cook later half-joked that his was one of the greatest regrets in his life. This animosity was due to Cook, and many other people, believing that Frost as the host of That Was The Week That Was blatantly copied Cook's style, jokes and even characters. Frost's mimicry was well known in their Cambridge days, he was in awe of the revue members and made a laughing stock of himself in his efforts to curry favour with the gang. It was against nature that Frost should have garnered such respect and adulation at Cook's expense.

Some twenty years later David Frost (now a respected journalist for the BBC moving in Royal Circles) rang up Peter Cook, this anecdote stands as a remarkable example of Cook's use of wit in the face of adversity. "Peter, I'm having a little dinner party on behalf of Prince Andrew and his new bride-to-be, Sarah Ferguson. I know they'd love to meet you, big fans. Be super if you could make it: Wednesday the twelfth." smarmed Frost. "Hang on... I'll just check my diary." Pause and rummaging and leafing through diary noises and then Peter said "Oh dear. I find I'm watching television that night."

http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=746443

[thebigidea]

28. a lovely Cook line, isn't it. Droll to the third power...

a DVD of "Beyond the Fringe" came out recently, great to actually watch it instead of hearing musty old recordings... it was such a delight for me to discover that Moore and Cook were comic gods and had oodles of great work to go through - over here we had to settle for "Arthur 2: On the Rocks" and Cook in "Supergirl."

Three or four cheers for Derek and Clive!

[JawJaw]

31. Check the "discography" section...

http://www.stabbers.org/



For example, "celebrity suicides"

;)

[uncle ray]

32. while your attention's on the subject, another person joining them:

i can't rememember his name, but the guy from the documentary Control Room who was the spokesman for the military, the guy who spewed their "it's going great!" propaganda has signed up with Al Jazeera International as well!

that made my head spin a couple of times.