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Soledad O’Brien Is Betting on Jeff Zucker Soledad O’Brien Is Betting on Jeff Zucker
(7 months later)
Your memoir made your experience growing up in Smithtown, a largely white town on Long Island, sound like a huge drag.
It really wasn’t. It is truly not fun to be the family that sticks out in an all-white community. On the other side, I have five brothers and sisters, we all look exactly the same and we’re very, very tight. The lessons about race were not pleasant, but there are things that I loved about my childhood. In the book, I didn’t want to be the tragic mulatto.		 Your memoir made your experience growing up in Smithtown, a largely white town on Long Island, sound like a huge drag.
It really wasn’t. It is truly not fun to be the family that sticks out in an all-white community. On the other side, I have five brothers and sisters, we all look exactly the same and we’re very, very tight. The lessons about race were not pleasant, but there are things that I loved about my childhood. In the book, I didn’t want to be the tragic mulatto.
Is “tragic mulatto” a term I should know?
Oh, yeah. Google it. At Harvard I was taking an African-American studies class, and we were reading about the tragic mulatto. Invariably the tragic mulatto can’t fit in either world and flings herself off a bridge. So I’m reading, and I’m like, Oh, my God, I think I’m in literature, but my life was never like that.		 Is “tragic mulatto” a term I should know?
Oh, yeah. Google it. At Harvard I was taking an African-American studies class, and we were reading about the tragic mulatto. Invariably the tragic mulatto can’t fit in either world and flings herself off a bridge. So I’m reading, and I’m like, Oh, my God, I think I’m in literature, but my life was never like that.
Before this, I didn’t know you had a white Australian dad and a black Cuban mom. Would you prefer to have people not think about your race at all?
It never made a difference to me if people watching knew, but I want people to understand I’m very proud of what I am. My parents have a great story. And I think your background is critical in how you approach the stories that you’re covering.		 Before this, I didn’t know you had a white Australian dad and a black Cuban mom. Would you prefer to have people not think about your race at all?
It never made a difference to me if people watching knew, but I want people to understand I’m very proud of what I am. My parents have a great story. And I think your background is critical in how you approach the stories that you’re covering.
A couple of my favorite campaign moments were watching you on CNN grilling John Sununu and Rudy Giuliani. Do you enjoy making people squirm?
I like to argue whether it’s with my brothers and sisters or on TV. My desk is always stacked full of first-source material so you can say, “Actually, I have a Congressional budget report, and on Page 116, it says this.” I was yelled at a lot during the campaign. Mr. Giuliani yelled at me a little. That seemed unfortunate. It reminded me a lot of dealing with my 12-year-old, who’s a bit sassy.		 A couple of my favorite campaign moments were watching you on CNN grilling John Sununu and Rudy Giuliani. Do you enjoy making people squirm?
I like to argue whether it’s with my brothers and sisters or on TV. My desk is always stacked full of first-source material so you can say, “Actually, I have a Congressional budget report, and on Page 116, it says this.” I was yelled at a lot during the campaign. Mr. Giuliani yelled at me a little. That seemed unfortunate. It reminded me a lot of dealing with my 12-year-old, who’s a bit sassy.
Jeff Zucker, who rose to the top of NBC Universal after producing “Today,” was just named head of CNN Worldwide, and he reportedly plans to immediately focus on your morning show, which is behind in the ratings. How scared are you?
Not at all. He was my boss years ago when I worked at the “Today” show. I’m absolutely thrilled to have him back.		 Jeff Zucker, who rose to the top of NBC Universal after producing “Today,” was just named head of CNN Worldwide, and he reportedly plans to immediately focus on your morning show, which is behind in the ratings. How scared are you?
Not at all. He was my boss years ago when I worked at the “Today” show. I’m absolutely thrilled to have him back.
But can you seriously be so calm, considering that The New York Post reported that Zucker’s considering moving Erin Burnett to your slot?
Listen, I have been doing this gig for a while. People go crazy with speculation every time there’s a shift in leadership. I can’t comment on every rumor, but so far I’ve read reports on me, Anderson, Piers, Ann Curry and Erin Burnett, and all that’s clear to me is that somebody’s busy dialing Page Six.		 But can you seriously be so calm, considering that The New York Post reported that Zucker’s considering moving Erin Burnett to your slot?
Listen, I have been doing this gig for a while. People go crazy with speculation every time there’s a shift in leadership. I can’t comment on every rumor, but so far I’ve read reports on me, Anderson, Piers, Ann Curry and Erin Burnett, and all that’s clear to me is that somebody’s busy dialing Page Six.
Who? Can you be a little more specific?
Nope.		 Who? Can you be a little more specific?
Nope.
When you were weekend co-host of “Today,” you said that the recognition you got for softer stories, like one about a trapeze school, felt “a little hollow.” Would you be willing to go lighter now?
I’m fairly confident that I’m not going to be cooking salmon and doing fashion shows on CNN.		 When you were weekend co-host of “Today,” you said that the recognition you got for softer stories, like one about a trapeze school, felt “a little hollow.” Would you be willing to go lighter now?
I’m fairly confident that I’m not going to be cooking salmon and doing fashion shows on CNN.
But Zucker has said that CNN is not only competing with MSNBC and Fox News but also with History and the Discovery Channel, which produce shows like “Pawn Stars” and “American Chopper.”
If you’ve ever seen “American Chopper,” you know they have created something that is riveting. I don’t think he’s saying we’re going to do “American Chopper II.” I think he’s saying we are going to assume that everybody is our competition. He knows how to win.		 But Zucker has said that CNN is not only competing with MSNBC and Fox News but also with History and the Discovery Channel, which produce shows like “Pawn Stars” and “American Chopper.”
If you’ve ever seen “American Chopper,” you know they have created something that is riveting. I don’t think he’s saying we’re going to do “American Chopper II.” I think he’s saying we are going to assume that everybody is our competition. He knows how to win.
Your strength is hard news, doing the homework. I’m not convinced these traits are as prized as they once were.
I bet you $5,000 that CNN is always going to be a place for that. I have four kids to get through college, but I can cover that.		 Your strength is hard news, doing the homework. I’m not convinced these traits are as prized as they once were.
I bet you $5,000 that CNN is always going to be a place for that. I have four kids to get through college, but I can cover that.
I don’t make TV money. But even though betting has been frowned upon at The Times, I’ll wager $750 that in a year CNN will look much more like “Ice Road Truckers.”
You are so completely wrong. I will take that bet, and I will buy dinner. You should come with a check.		 I don’t make TV money. But even though betting has been frowned upon at The Times, I’ll wager $750 that in a year CNN will look much more like “Ice Road Truckers.”
You are so completely wrong. I will take that bet, and I will buy dinner. You should come with a check.

INTERVIEW HAS BEEN CONDENSED AND EDITED.

INTERVIEW HAS BEEN CONDENSED AND EDITED.