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What's up with CNBC? ?

Thursday, June 10, 2004 | 10:20 AM

What is up with CNBC's recent programming gyrations? It defies logic.

Consider these moves:

-Cutting back their top rated (and my favorite) show -- Kudlow & Cramer -- from 4X to just once a day (big mistake);

-The Dennis Miller Show -- it makes no sense on this network -- and that's before you get to the fact that its simply unwatchable;

-Moving Maria off the NYSE floor (which was likely her choice) has left a void -- find a new "Money Honey" to replace her with (How about the woman from CNBC Asia? -- Amanda something -- she has a similar look and demeanor);

-What up with Rukeyser? He's been AWOL for over 6 months now. It's like he died and they are afrsaid to tell anyone; Strange things are afoot at the Circle-K.

-Lastly, can we please stop hiring Jocks and Actors to do Financial Analysis? In 1999, it was Jose Conseco, now its disgraced wrestler John "Bradshaw" Layfield (See links below). Wise up.

On the positive side, grabbing Dylan Radigan from Bloomberg was a smart move, and his show BullsEye -- at least the first half hour -- is a lively format that seems to work.

Now, if we can only break them of their celebrity addiction, it would make Jack Welch proud.

Sources:
CNBC Wrestles With a Bad-Boy Image
By Lisa de Moraes
Washington Post, Thursday, June 10, 2004; Page C07
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29937-2004Jun9.html

CNBC SMACKS DOWN NAZI
By DON KAPLAN
NY Post, June 10, 2004
http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/22682.htm