Critics wonder if Cooper will come out on new show
Tue. September 13, 2011 11:41 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
anderson cooper with snooki and kathy griffin
photo credit // andersoncooper.com
Chicago, IL -
Anderson Cooper's new afternoon talk show didn't make too much of a splash on Monday.
The Washington Post reports that "Anderson" earned a 1.3 in households naturally. The only other daytime talk show he beat was "Wendy Williams."
TV critics were impressed by Cooper's first guests (Amy Winehouse's parents) but wondering when Cooper will address the elephant in the room: his sexuality.
It's long been rumored that Cooper is gay and he was even named to Out Magazine's list of most powerful gays and lesbians in 2007, ranking number 2 behind Hollywood mogul David Geffen.
"When it comes to the prospect of watching 'Anderson' day after day, it leads to a personal question he has declined to answer many times about his sexual orientation," wrote Post critic Hank Stuever, who is a gay man. "Cooper has said before that he decided long ago to keep his private life private, a lesson learned from watching his famous mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, endure press scrutiny. Fair enough, but that's not what viewers want in an afternoon talk show host. This job is after all about spilling it-- whether its the guest or the host."
Cooper told Entertainment Weekly: "I'm not interested in [reporters'] personal lives, but I understand people are, and you know, we'll see."
"Anderson" airs Monday - Friday in Chicago on WFLD, Fox 32 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (CT), in Los Angeles on KTTV, Fox 11 at 4 p.m. and 1 p.m. (Pacific), and in Washington, D.C. on WJLA, ABC 7 at 4 p.m. (ET). For more listings visit andersoncooper.com.
The Washington Post reports that "Anderson" earned a 1.3 in households naturally. The only other daytime talk show he beat was "Wendy Williams."
TV critics were impressed by Cooper's first guests (Amy Winehouse's parents) but wondering when Cooper will address the elephant in the room: his sexuality.
It's long been rumored that Cooper is gay and he was even named to Out Magazine's list of most powerful gays and lesbians in 2007, ranking number 2 behind Hollywood mogul David Geffen.
"When it comes to the prospect of watching 'Anderson' day after day, it leads to a personal question he has declined to answer many times about his sexual orientation," wrote Post critic Hank Stuever, who is a gay man. "Cooper has said before that he decided long ago to keep his private life private, a lesson learned from watching his famous mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, endure press scrutiny. Fair enough, but that's not what viewers want in an afternoon talk show host. This job is after all about spilling it-- whether its the guest or the host."
Cooper told Entertainment Weekly: "I'm not interested in [reporters'] personal lives, but I understand people are, and you know, we'll see."
"Anderson" airs Monday - Friday in Chicago on WFLD, Fox 32 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (CT), in Los Angeles on KTTV, Fox 11 at 4 p.m. and 1 p.m. (Pacific), and in Washington, D.C. on WJLA, ABC 7 at 4 p.m. (ET). For more listings visit andersoncooper.com.