Page 31 - ARUBA TODAY

PEOPLE & ARTS Thursday 16 November 2017
A31

Twitter, BuzzFeed join for breezy online morning show

By DAVID BAUDER smartphone.
AP Media Writer The show’s regular “fire
NEW YORK (AP) — Twit- tweets” segment simply
ter and BuzzFeed initially involves the hosts kibitz-
planned to start their new ing over random remarks
morning show, “AM to made on Twitter. They
DM,” each weekday at 8 laughed at one person
a.m. Then they considered who wrote, “no one actu-
their likely audience, and ally tells you that an adult
scheduled it for 10. job is deleting 80 percent
Now there’s time to wake of your emails and ignoring
up leisurely, have coffee the rest.”
and fire up your smart- Melissa Joan Hart stopped
phone. Hosts Isaac Fitzger- by for a celebrity interview.
ald and Saeed Jones, who She answered questions
like four-fifths of the show’s about the differences be-
audience are under age tween acting and direct-
35, don’t have to rise at an ing, was given a few min-
ungodly hour. It’s all so civi- utes to address a social
lized. cause she’s promoting
Launched quietly in late and played along with a
September from a studio quiz that, among other
in BuzzFeed’s Manhat- things, revealed she was
tan office, “AM to DM” is This image released by Buzzfeed shows Saeed Jones, left, and Isaac Fitzgerald, cohosts of an “I Love Lucy” fan. The
a breezy mix of news and BuzzFeed News AM to DM. Associated Press show has had a mix of poli-
pop culture. Viewers can ticians and celebrities dur-
click on Twitter and watch be top of mind with social lack in polish. interviews with BuzzFeed ing its first two months, in-
the stream live, or catch media companies experi- “I never in my life thought White House correspon- cluding Connecticut Sen.
highlights later in the day. menting with video. there would be a place dent Adrian Carrasquillo Chris Murphy, Ohio Gov.
“It’s been kind of fun,” After working with BuzzFeed for a gay black man to be to preview what President John Kasich, singer Audra
said Shani Hilton, head of on an election night spe- fully involved in a morning Donald Trump will face now McDonald and actress Ni-
U.S. news at BuzzFeed. “It cial, Twitter suggested show,” Jones said. that he’s returned from cole Richie.
feels like the early days of the morning show. Rather “AM to DM” talks about the Asia, and national secu- “It was fun,” said CBS
BuzzFeed where we were than search for poten- news more than it reports it; rity correspondent Thomas “S.W.A.T.” actress Lina Esco
experimenting all the time tial hosts with a television Hilton said producers work Frank about the investiga- after her recent appear-
and making things out of background, they found under the assumption view- tion into Russian actions ance. “Chill. I felt like I was
bubble gum and glue.” their team in BuzzFeed’s ers have already checked during last year’s presiden- hanging out at someone’s
“AM to DM” (DM standing newsroom. Fitzgerald, 34, out news headlines. The tial campaign. living room.”
for ‘direct message’) neat- is a former firefighter who show relies heavily on the “Will there ever be a point Tuesday’s show also fea-
ly fits the ambitions of two is BuzzFeed’s books editor, collaborating companies. where there will be a smok- tured a BuzzFeed corre-
young media companies. and had made several ap- Opening Tuesday’s show ing gun, or will it be an in- spondent giving relation-
Twitter has moved aggres- pearances on the “Today” with the story about Ala- cremental creep?” Jones ship advice and an “NFL
sively into video during the show to talk about the liter- bama U. S. Senate candi- asked Frank. fashion ambassador” talk-
past year, streaming more ary scene. Jones, 31, is a date Roy Moore and mo- Frank replied: “The answer ing about “Dungeons and
than 800 events during the published poet who was lestation accusations, the is, nobody knows.” Dragons” with Fizgerald.
summer months. BuzzFeed executive editor of culture hosts review what has been As Jones conducts one in- The content of “AM to DM”
wants to make money with at the web site. They make written about him on Twit- terview Fitzgerald stands is much like that on Twitter,
its news operation and up with energy what they ter. They conducted Skype beside him, typing on his Fitzgerald said. q

Garth Brooks highlights first 5 years of career in new book

By LINCEE RAY riod spanning from 1989 to for country music. In fact, lyrics of “The Dance” to
Associated Press 1993. Brooks creatively di- Brooks wrote so many songs boisterous party anthems
With tons of behind-the- vides the book into chap- that he would occasionally like “Friends in Low Places.”
scenes photographs of ters each highlighting a dif- offer them to other artists. Ironically, both were almost
writing sessions and his ear- ferent song. “The Thunder Rolls” was al- passed up for other proj-
ly music gigs, Garth Brooks Each section is set up in an most recorded by a promi- ects.
has written a book that de- interview style, with Brooks nent female artist at the “The First Five Years” is so
tails the chronology of the recounting the foundation time, but the deal fizzled. much more than a book
first five years of his boom- of how the track devel- Brooks recorded the edgy about melodies and No.
ing career. oped. He spares no praise single about infidelity and it 1 hits. It’s the story of one
As a recent CMA “Enter- acknowledging produc- became one of his biggest man’s constant pursuit to
tainer of the Year” recipi- ers, writers and vocalists for hits. achieve a very big dream
ent, Brooks pays homage helping him flesh out ideas The success of a song and the poetry that paved
to the days when he didn’t and taking something ba- with dark subject matter the way. Surrounded by
sell out huge stadiums and sic and transforming it into opened new avenues for good friends, wise counsel
arenas. something extraordinary. Brooks. This cover image released by and talented artists, Brooks
Pearl Records.
The book, which includes Brooks is an emotional sto- Suddenly, he was able to Associated Press gives all the credit of his first
five CDs, covers the pe- ryteller, which works well swing from the poignant five years to the music.q