The Cussin’ Anchor-Man is Doing Okay

Last updated on: April 26, 2013 at 9:59 am by Brad Williams

The Cussin’ Anchor-Man is Doing Okay 2013-04-26T09:59:50-06:00 Brad Williams

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A.J. Clemente had a bad first day at work. But then, who hasn’t? Apparently, his nerves over going live for the first time, mixed with his inability to to pronounce the names of some marathon winners, led him to swear. He dropped the f-bomb on live TV, followed by the s-bomb. After that, the newscast becomes an exercise in complete awkwardness as his co-host tries to keep it together. You can see it here, the offending words bleeped out for your sanctification; the hilarity is left for your enjoyment .

What happens next is fairly predictable: he got fired. After all, you are not allowed to drop f-bombs on TV during newscasts. New stations get fined for that sort of thing, and it is rather unprofessional, as Clemente himself admits. What happened after that is not so predictable. Clemente got to go on Letterman, and he also got hired to work the red carpet at a Pierce Brosnan movie premier.

That’s where things get really crazy. How on earth did this guy become a folk hero by acting so unprofessionally? It was bone-headed, and people have gotten fired for such mistakes before. But somehow, this guy has garnered the sympathy of David Letterman himself.

It is unjust, I tell you!

Think of his poor co-anchor who tried to recover from his inappropriate remarks. She stared wide-eyed at the camera thinking, “Oh $@#!, did he just say what I think he said?” But she had the professionalism not to say it out loud. She didn’t even laugh when he introduced himself by saying, “I’m used to being from in the east coast.” The next day, he is on Letterman while she is stuck in Bismarck, North Dakota! Who’s cussing now, I wonder?

I hope that seeing Clemente’s success doesn’t begin a wave of “accidental swearing” in order to move up the news anchor ladder. If it does, I can understand the attraction. I tried to get my editor to put “Guy says F***in S*** on TV, gets to go on Letterman and meet Pierce Brosnan”, but he declined. (Way to take the high road, Rich.)

Maybe I’m just old fashioned, but it seems bizarre to me that we live in a world where swearing accidentally garners support and a raise while professionalism and integrity seemingly go unrewarded. Kind of makes me want to cuss.

Games

Of the Moment

Previous Post

April 26, 2013

Scouting for Anorexic Models Is A (Horrific) Real Thing That Happens

Next Post

April 29, 2013 Why Does God Care about My Sex Life?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Asides Elsewhere Featured Film Games General Culture Headline Literature Music Of the Moment Podcast Politics RetroPost Sports Technology Television Uncategorized Viral

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz