Translating CNBC’s comment
on Melissa Lee’s move
Posted: Thursday, April 4, 2013
Some of those broadcasting Web sites report the news just as efficiently as the press releases.
According to TVNewser, in an article posted April 3, 2013 (above), Melissa Lee is not co-hosting CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" anymore because she is "cutting back" her duties.
Unless Lee is getting either 1) married or 2) pregnant (No. 1 probably wouldn't matter, but if either is actually true, congrats!), we can be assured that "cutting back" her own airtime — which would be incredibly rare for anyone younger than Barbara Walters and certainly for someone apparently still on the good side of 40 — was likely not Lee's decision.
(The report above also refers to Lee as a "he" in the 2nd sentence; even sites that collect Verizon advertising for their production could use some editing.)
Lee is an extraordinarily hard worker who rarely misses a day on air. She has helmed a very diverse repertoire that can partly be described as "anything but political," from "Squawk on the Street" to "Fast Money," plus "Options Action" and the "Money in Motion" currency program on Fridays only. "Money in Motion" was quietly and unofficially deep-sixed 2 weeks ago, almost certainly because the sponsor pulled the plug. That slot is apparently being filled by a half-hour edition of Lee's "Fast Money."
This site is aware that in-house opinions were expressed about "Squawk on the Street," and a change occurred in the host lineup — a curiously informal change, given that even after the TVNewser report surfaced and after Lee had apparently stopped anchoring the program, her image was still in the "Squawk on the Street" masthead at CNBC.com (below), and the move appears to be going officially unacknowledged.
The statement TVNewser reported from a CNBC spokesperson on the surface implies Lee asked to be replaced, but that likely requires translation:
"Melissa is an integral part of the network (translation: we're not asking her to quit) and wanted to focus on ‘Fast Money’ (translation: we have no new assignment for her) the 5PM show (translation: "Halftime Report" is Scott Wapner's now) she has hosted since 2009 (translation: we've already given her 4 years in an anchor position) as well as work on other projects including her upcoming documentary on the industrial Internet (translation: half-hearted promo — what in the world is the "industrial Internet"; nobody's really sure what those "other projects" will be)."
According to descriptions at CNBC.com, 6 of the 18 host/anchor positions during CNBC's 14 hours of U.S. business day programming are helmed by women: Becky Quick (Squawk Box), Melissa Lee (Squawk on the Street pending replacement, Fast Money), Sue Herera (Power Lunch), Amanda Drury (Street Signs) and Maria Bartiromo (Closing Bell).
The other 12 are claimed by Joe Kernen and Andrew Ross Sorkin (Squawk Box); Carl Quintanilla (Squawk on the Street), Simon Hobbs (Squawk on the Street), David Faber (Squawk on the Street), Jim Cramer (Squawk on the Street, Mad Money), Scott Wapner (Halftime Report), Tyler Mathisen (Power Lunch), Brian Sullivan (Street Signs), Bill Griffeth (Closing Bell) and Larry Kudlow (The Kudlow Report).
TVNewser says it "hears" that CNBC's Kelly Evans might be given a shot at "Squawk on the Street" but "no definitive plans are in place," which is another way of insiders saying we don't want to tick anyone off but Kelly Evans will be co-anchoring "Squawk on the Street."
CNBC seemed unfazed when Melissa Francis and Trish Regan left for other channels and shifted onetime "Power Lunch" co-anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera into Chief International Correspondent, in which she enjoys regular airtime. But the network was dealt a blow in 2011 when Erin Burnett, unanimously thought to be an heir apparent to something and widely regarded as the channel's biggest attraction after the duopoly of Maria Bartiromo and Jim Cramer, exited for a CNN nighttime slot that already is tenuous.
Amanda Drury's rapid promotion appears to have plateaued; the channel has not found the next Burnett.
Becky Quick, perhaps the channel's most popular personality, remains firmly ensconced on "Squawk Box."