CBS, ABC, PBS, CNN seek to replicate NBC's Lauer success. Fox demurs.

AROUND THE BLOCK

News with a Twist

Matt Lauer’s performance at presidential forum universally derided

Other networks promise to follow up with their own forums

Despite almost universal criticism and derision of Matt Lauer’s performance as moderator of yesterday’s presidential forum televised from aboard the decommissioned aircraft carrier Intrepid, NBC was thrilled with the publicity generated by the event as well as the ratings.

While the New York Times characterized Mr. Lauer as “lost at sea” in a reference to the venue, NBC took the position that all publicity is good publicity, particularly with this American electorate.

And, the other networks took notice.

CBS, ABC, PBS and CNN have all announced plans to broadcast similar presidential forums between now and Election Day, hoping to replicate Mr. Lauer’s buzz.

While dates and times have not been announced, Around the Block has learned that each of the other networks has named hosts, venues and topics for their own forums.

CBS announced that its forum, covering immigration issues, will be held on Ellis Island and hosted by Gayle King, co-anchor of CBS This Morning. The audience will consist entirely of illegal immigrants but Ms. King, a close personal friend of Oprah’s, indicated in Oprah’s tradition, each member of the audience will go home with a giveaway, in this case, U.S. citizenship.

Not to be outdone, ABC said that its forum would focus on the economy and will be hosted by Kelly Ripa on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Audience members will all have to have lost their jobs to overseas competition but will be able to participate in a special presidential forum edition of “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire” overseen by Ms. Ripa’s former co-host and original "Millionaire" host Regis Philbin. 

For its part, PBS said that it’s forum would cover domestic issues, be held on Sesame Street, and feature several hosts, each of whom would focus on a specific area: Elmo, on race relations; Oscar the Grouch on the environment; Big Bird on gun rights; and Bert and Ernie on LGBTQ issues. Audience members would be limited to those people without real legs but with someone’s hand stuck up their back.

CNN indicated its interest in hosting its own forum but, unlike its competitors, decided to have no specific topic and a real, unbiased news person to handle the moderating.

In that regard, it named recently hired CNN contributor Corey Lewandowski, Donald Trump’s former, and disgraced, campaign manager to handle the forum.

In naming Lewandowski, CNN president and former Today Show executive producer Jeff Zucker said, “Look, no one knows the issues of this election better than Corey Lewandowski. Unlike Matt Lauer, who used to work for me and, frankly was out of his depth, Corey has the knowledge and expertise to ask Secretary Clinton the tough questions and the tougher follow-up.”

Mr. Zucker went on to say, “Corey obviously knows Donald Trump very well and has promised to make sure Mr. Trump has a fair showing before the American people.” 

Although the makeup of the audience for CNN's forum has not been finalized, Mr. Zucker did hint that in response to Trump campaign accusations that the network was biased in favor of Mrs. Clinton, the audience would "most probably consist of Trump supporters only."

In a statement, Fox News indicated that it would not host a forum. 

"Given that Roger Ailes, our recently fired president, is now an advisor to Mr. Trump, we do not feel that we could televise a forum that, in our tradition, would be fair and balanced."