I don't mind the idea of Sawyer doing the interview with Rihanna if she also had Tina Turner on to give support and advice to Rihanna. Might be constructive insight for the women in the world that have dealt with a abusive relationship. I wonder if the networks are getting their ideas for programs and guests by reading Star and Enquirer. Save money on research and just grab the rags at the grocery checkout counters. Sure seems like all of Kates interviews have been done that way. Heck, they even show the rags on the monitors!

I will probably watch the Rihanna interview and the Palin interview. I think the Palin interview might be interesting because Oprah was not a supporter, not to mention the trainwreck factor between her and Levi Johnston. As for Kate Gosselin, I am sick to death of her. Nothing would make me happier than to see her fade into obscurity. The only reason I still follow this debacle is to see if some reputable journalist/reporter (that's you, Z!) will finally expose this scam for what it really is. How long will it take before more of the mainstream media catches on?? If it's ratings the networks are going for, I think a a true, in-depth expose on J/K would bring in blockbuster numbers.

Rihanna is going to be on CNN in just a little bit talking about her abusive realationship. This actually hits home very hard with me. A coworker who I worked closely with and had discussed some of the details of such a relationship with many of us at our transcription job. She had a beautiful family a daughter, two boys, and young twin girls. She was planning to leave the abusive situation with her children. Unfortunately, her situation turned out to be quite the opposite and it was a very tragic ending for the whole family.

The real hope I guess is that Rihanna's story will help other people in this situation realize and get help with the problem before it gets out of control.

It seems kind of strange that we as a society are drawn to these stories. The only positive that I can think of is that it saves someone from the tragic ending that my friend from transcription suffered at the hands of an abuser. I don't think I can watch this one.

However, I will be watching if a Palin interview takes place anytime soon. I would like to see if she has future plans as to run for any government office. And to see if she has improved her interview skills.

Thanks for this interesting article Z. It made me go back to something I had not thought about for many years, in sort of a sad personal way, but nice to remember a friend who has been far from my mind for too long.

I'm sorry that Rihanna (singer? actress?) was beaten, but I'm not interested in watching her be interviewed. I reach for the remote whenever Jon or Kate Gosselin appear. Ditto for Sarah Palin and reality shows. I no longer watch the Today show because I'm tired of the missing children/grieving parents/never-ending trials/shark stories/escapes snd sccidents of one sort or another, and so-called experts dishing out platitudes. On the plus side, I watch Flash Forward, House, CSI, and many of the British dramas (as well as Nova, Frontline, Washington Week, and the Bill Moyers Journal) shown on PBS. On the comedy front, I watch The Colbert Report and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart via the computer, and this morming really enjoyed William Shatner reading Levi Johnston's tweets via a video clip from the Tonight Show posted the Huffington Post website.

While I think this is a topic that hits home with alot of people in our country. I just have not followed this specific story that much.

I had a situation last night at my home. My 13 year old son was sitting on the porch and he lost his temper and told a neighbor girl, "I am gonna beat your buns (cant say the word here)"

I went into Mommy motion immediately. I made my son come in and made my case about why I will not tolerate such behavior in our home.

We have to teach our children to respect themselves then they will learn to respect others. And, we are just turning into such a society that rewards the bad behaviors & are so permissive about letting things slide.

Chris Brown is someone's child, Rihanna is someone's child. I am not saying at all that their parents failed somewhere. I am just saying from my perspective as a parent of 8 that many behaviors of people in adulthood start in the home when they were children.

We can only hope this situation is presented in a context that teaches an enlightened message about this. I give Diane Sawyer credit. I would expect she will do that. Thank you so much for giving this real-life testimony, Irene. Z

Ironic that Rihanna decided to "break her silence" weeks before her new album comes out...

Fair point, good point. Yes, and Sarah Palin has a book. The dance between celebrity, selling and TV is troubling. It would be nice if some one would speak out on something like this totally for the sake of public enlightenment -- and to prove it, do so when they do not have anything to sell. Still, I am glad we can have the discussion about such important and often not talked-about topics on TV anytime. Thanks. Z

Irene-

Chris Brown has said that he did come from an abusive home (his Dad to his Mom). I am all for giving someone a second chance but these types of situations are so scary and unpredictable.

I love the music of both of them - I hope they get the help they need.

IMO, Rihanna's story is a good one on which to report in that it will hopefully help others in similiar situations.

Sarah Palin, now THAT's another story. I'd rather watch Tina Fey as Sarah Palin.

You guys are funny, the light of my crazy days. Which consist of 8 kids, 2 jobs, 300 residents & my addictiveness (is that a word?) to the Gosselins to name a few.

I think Z has a good point Diane Sawyer may be able to turn this into a great interview. I know one thing for sure...good that Natale Morales isnt doing the interview. (it is going to take awhile for me to put that one in perspective)

I did catch comedy night with ABC. The Middle, that is my new Mom that I relate with....and Modern Family was great.

Is it that Rhinnah's album is about to be released that she is doing this album or Chris Brown's?

The reason being is that I do not believe that he should not be given a second chance. Think about the things that we have all down as young adults that we had to learn from.

I am just not quite sure Rhinnah's motives are to support domestic violence victims. There just may be so alter motives here.

Mary,

We like a lot of the same shows, Flashforward, House, on PBS I like a lot of the documentaries, CNN is my channel for news. And my husband and I enjoy Inspector Lewis we record these they are great to re-play. Never get tired of them.

I would like to see President Obama interviewed by Sheperd Smith. I would like to see another inteview with Hugh Laurie, he has been great on Ellen in the past and on the tonight show. I like his wit and quick thinking. Kate Gosselin can go away.

Irene - love Modern Family.

The new show "V" a little too Sci-fi, too much alien, the spaceship reminded me of the balllon boy saga.

I am off to meet a friend. See everyone later.

Not sure if I will watch. I do find the timing of the interview suspect, but I guess whatever it takes to sell those CDs, right? This whole incident is unfortunate, IMO, and although I don't support CB's actions, let's all keep in mind that he is very young and hopefully will get the help he needs so that this never happens again; he should be seeking help for his own benefit, not to keep his career/fans.

This to me is the result of what happens when kids make ridiculous amounts of money and their parents stop being their parents.

Rihanna is letting one person shoot her exclusive performance in London, Novemeber 16th. Go to http://talenthouse.me/177

I am reading these posts too fast I missed your last two sentences.

I would love to see the following interviews.

Beth Carson interviewed by Diane Sawyer.

President Obama interviewed by Shepherd Smith/my hubbie says by Oreilly.

Round table discussion that is comprised of Active Duty Soldiers on ABC's Sunday morning show with George Stephanopoulos.

Yes, I am sick of Kate Gosselin being interviewed. That being said I would love to see an interview of people in the inner circle (relatives/TLC crew and some of their insights by a reputable journalist...HINT HINT COUGH COUGH....Z you hear me out there.

Hi Irene, I don't think anyone from TLC will be talking to me anytime soon. Z

Oh, and I have been pretty hard on TLC, Jon and Kate, but I do wish for the record that the Paparazzi would quit following the Gosselin children to the busstop, the movies or anywhere for that matter.

The parents are the sideshow.

The kids deserve to be kids. Just for the record I would be mad as a hornet and outraged if my children were being photographed like these kids are. It would be ugly. HINT HINT JON, KATE AND TLC!

I will only watch if Rihanna says she is having an affair with Jon Gosselin! LOL
They are all fame whores.

Rihanna could do so much with her fame to educate young girls about abuse. Maybe she is and I just haven't read it. But in the end she really doesn't owe anybody anything, I guess.

They all kneel at the same altar.

I guess everyone wants a piece of the pie. Headline news cnn was talking about Diane's interview with Rihanna. I guess in these economic times that is good advertisement for ABC.

Hmmm...what ever happened to competition in media? Seems like these days they just all run with eachother's stories.

What a night and morning. I want to talk about the Ft Hood tragedy in terms of Television. We got the play by play and in days to come more information will be coming out.

However, how many more of these are we gonna have to have to wake up this country? I remember the day where I was standing what I was doing that Ronald Reagan was shot, Columbine, 9/11, Susan Smith drowning her precious children, and on and on. I just still do not wrap my head around why these things keep happening. I would not want it to happen to my family or community so why perpetrate such evil? Ahhhhh...

My thoughts and prayers are with this whole country. It is high time we use the media that is available to us to our advantage: the end of things this brutal and senseless.

Hi Irene,

I am putting together a piece right now on media coverage of Ft. Hood. But I have some more reportingto do on it first. What did you think of the coverage? Who did you watch? Thanks. Z

We caught it last night with Cnn and my hubbie stole my remote and went to Shephard Smith. I thought he was careful but hours later the report that the shooter was dead changed to shooter alive.

Then Good Morning America this am.

I think we need to give Media outlets a little time to develop these stories. Cuz they are very complicated.

Shep Smith~~ that cousin of the perpetrator did no favors by giving a statement so soon.
While I would never want to be humbled the way some families are whose loved ones do such awful things this is unconciousable and there is no defense of it it any way.

Good luck Z. You got your work cut out for you.

That was a tragedy in Fort Hood. Will be looking for the article Z. I think there is a lot of pressure surrounding these wars and it is sad to see this happen. I am trying to catch-up on what happened.

Is anyone else bored? I am so tired of the same old, same old.

Perhaps I'm becoming cynical in my old age.

What a lucky coincidence that Rihanna can finally bring herself to talk about this business just as her new album is released! Wow, huh?

Let's all stop being used.

I'm totally with you, Mary.

Now reported shootings in Orlando. What in the world is our country coming too?

I would love to see an interview with Drew Barrymore and while we are on Drews, also Drew Carey. I think he is funny. Can we interview you Z? We can all ask you a question on the blog that would be fun. haha :)

Yes, Sherry T I think it would be a funny interview with Z. Especially after his head exploded Monday night?

And, just think Z the Gosselin High Road will keep us busy through the end of the year?:-)

Irene and Sherry, No way on the interview. The bloggers here will be way too tough. Maybe if Natalie Morales does it and TLC launders all the questions and I have approval of the final edit. And oh yeah, I will have to be paid more money -- and there's this ring I have been looking at....Z

Okay Z, No interview. It probably would be too traumatic and you have suffered enough for us with the J&K and having to watch for us.

Still would like to see an interview with Drew Barrymore, Drew Carey, Hugh Laurie, President Obama with Sheperd Smith. Julia Roberts would be nice and Jessica Lange.

Whew. Z

I love Rhianna and think her music WAS supercool.

But both of them doing interviews right now?? SMELLS of cross promotion and hyping their albums.

I feel like if Rhianna was really scared of how her image was going to affect these really young girls who look up to BOTH her and Chris Brown, she should have spoken up earlier and not have waited until she was unveiling her new product.

Which btw, have you seen some of the lyrics to??????!!!!!

“You can see my heart beating, you can see it through my chest/I’m terrified, but I’m not leaving/Know that I must pass this test,So just pull the trigger.” The song ends with a gunshot.

Talk about mixed messages. And these fans of hers (young, YOUNG girls as she puts it) are supposed to understand this?

Z,

I see your sigh of relief. :)

Have a nice evening, it has been a long day. It was a beautiful day here in Ohio though.

Jennifer,

That is a great point about the lyrics to songs and young girls. I have two teenage daughters. Don't laugh, but this is a true story. I found some words writren on a piece of paper in her bedroom (I was not snooping it was in the open) and I thought she must be very depressed. I confronted her about the letter and it was lyrics to a song she had copied down. I do truly wonder how these affecet these young kids.

Natale Morales you missed the chance big time to ask some tough follow up questions with the Queen of high heels, I'm a High Road taker Kate.

I watched Rihanna's interview last night with Diane Sawyer.
I loved how Diane used some podcasts of questions/comments real people said.

This is a young girl. I did not realize how young she was when fame and fortune hit her way. Although it appeared sometimes Rihanna might not fully understand the depth of things she was saying she is on the right track for a 21 year old.

I hope that she is able to stay on the right track. I could not help but feel like I was sitting there watching Bobby Brown & Whitney Houston. That turned out to be a disaster of a relationship. Love is blinding and can sometimes bring the best and/or worst out of us.

Irene,

I agree about the Rihanna interview and I liked the segments with the real people too. That gave it a real feeling and made it seem like it had a lot of depth. I give Diane Sawyer a lot of credit, this was good interview, not a softball interview like Kate's. A totally different level and I think young girls will benefit from this. Great job. Rihanna had a lot of courage to speak out and seemed very honest.

I have to get out of here. See you all soon.

I really believe that Rihanna needs counseling too. Yes, her album is about to drop in a week, so "I will do this interview now to drum up support and bash my ex, so the public can hate him while feeling sorry for me to increase my sales". I do not believe we received all the details of that night, I am very sure she got upset about the text message, started questioning him and eventually got angry enough that she hit him a few times until he reacted...YES REACTED!! I am a firm believer that men should not hit women, yet why do we mothers not educate our daughters to NOT HIT MEN!! Chris did not reveal any details about her, nor bash her for what I am sure she showed her ass about. I am not making light of the fact he did punch, hit and wound her, but I do not feel sorry for her, because I do not believe this young man is an abuser. An abuser abuses women constantly, consistently for breathing wrong and relishes in power over women. This relationship could not be compared to what Tina Turner allegedly went through DAILY!! Rihanna, you are not a role model to me, you are human and I teach young women to NOT look up to celebrities (Miley, Britney, Beyonce, Madonna, Tina, Gwen, Whitney, etc.) because they are human and are likely to do what any non-celebrity woman does daily. Our business is just not as news worthy. So Rihanna good luck, but grudges you hold toward anyone only reveals YOUR insecurities. Chris, continue to receive the counseling that I see is working and yes God holds your future and it is yours not the people of this world, you can only apologize so much dear, so live your life to the fullest. Both of you read Jeremiah 29:11 and God Bless!!!