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CNN Live At Daybreak

Cat Can Join in Family Viewing Time

Aired May 29, 2003 - 05:56   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: With cable and satellite television, there seems to be programming for every audience. Now even your cat, your cat can join in the family viewing time.
Jeanne Moos on Meow TV.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At least you can't say TV is going to the dogs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM MEOW TV)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's time for Meow TV.

MOOS: A half hour program on the Oxygen Channel featuring things cats like, from fish to squirrels.

RICHARD KIRSHENBAUM, CO-CHAIRMAN, KIRSHENBAUM BOND: It's not a joke.

MOOS (on camera): It's for cats?

KIRSHENBAUM: It's for cats. The show is for cats.

MOOS: You want cats to sit and watch the show?

KIRSHENBAUM: Absolutely.

MOOS (voice-over): Of course, the sponsor, Meow Mix, wouldn't mind if owners watched, too, so there's humor for humans from pet personals...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM MEOW TV)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm a clean, straight, well groomed office cat.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: ... to home videos ranging from the cat that surfs to the cat that eats with a Velcroed spoon. And then there's everybody's favorite segment, Cat Yoga.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM MEOW TV)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The side leg lean strengthens and tones the body.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: The show is hosted by Annabelle Gurwitch and her cat Stinky, though Stinky is often replaced by a more show biz savvy body double named Carbon, as in copy. The launch party featured a captive feline audience, a litter box sign leading to the rest rooms and the Meow Mix mobile parked out front.

(on camera): Anybody see big pussy?

(voice-over): Sometimes just your name gets you invited.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's upside down, darling.

MOOS: That's Big Pussy from the Sopranos.

VINCENT PASTORE, ACTOR: Yes, well, I'm going to lose a little weight. They're starting to call me medium pussy.

MOOS: Meow TV also features mock public service announcements for spaying.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM MEOW TV)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Life is sweet when you're not in heat.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: And cat haikos, read by Sandra Burnhardt (ph).

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM MEOW TV)

SANDRA BURNHARDT: Litter box is full, one of us doesn't have hands, get what I'm saying?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: But you won't catch Sandra emptying litter boxes.

BURNHARDT: I'm allergic to cats.

MOOS: The question is will cats watch?

ANNABELLE GURWITCH, HOST, "MEOW TV": Well, you know, there are 85 million cats in America and there's not one TV show out there for cats. And we're just going to find out, aren't we?

MOOS: Yes, we are. We set up a camera in a cat owner's apartment, popped in a tape of the show and left Feebie (ph) and Striker alone. They ignored the squirrel alert. Feebie turned her back on the fish. When the yoga came on, we thought Striker was about to join in. But no.

Back in 1988, the cat demographic was grist for film comedy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "SCROOGED")

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, in 20 years they could become steady viewers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Programming for cats?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: Now comedy is reality. Our test cats wandered out, they wandered in. Phoebe even jumped up on the cable box, where it's nice and warm. Or was she trying to change the station? Another catty critic.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired May 29, 2003 - 05:56   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: With cable and satellite television, there seems to be programming for every audience. Now even your cat, your cat can join in the family viewing time.
Jeanne Moos on Meow TV.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At least you can't say TV is going to the dogs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM MEOW TV)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's time for Meow TV.

MOOS: A half hour program on the Oxygen Channel featuring things cats like, from fish to squirrels.

RICHARD KIRSHENBAUM, CO-CHAIRMAN, KIRSHENBAUM BOND: It's not a joke.

MOOS (on camera): It's for cats?

KIRSHENBAUM: It's for cats. The show is for cats.

MOOS: You want cats to sit and watch the show?

KIRSHENBAUM: Absolutely.

MOOS (voice-over): Of course, the sponsor, Meow Mix, wouldn't mind if owners watched, too, so there's humor for humans from pet personals...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM MEOW TV)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm a clean, straight, well groomed office cat.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: ... to home videos ranging from the cat that surfs to the cat that eats with a Velcroed spoon. And then there's everybody's favorite segment, Cat Yoga.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM MEOW TV)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The side leg lean strengthens and tones the body.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: The show is hosted by Annabelle Gurwitch and her cat Stinky, though Stinky is often replaced by a more show biz savvy body double named Carbon, as in copy. The launch party featured a captive feline audience, a litter box sign leading to the rest rooms and the Meow Mix mobile parked out front.

(on camera): Anybody see big pussy?

(voice-over): Sometimes just your name gets you invited.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's upside down, darling.

MOOS: That's Big Pussy from the Sopranos.

VINCENT PASTORE, ACTOR: Yes, well, I'm going to lose a little weight. They're starting to call me medium pussy.

MOOS: Meow TV also features mock public service announcements for spaying.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM MEOW TV)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Life is sweet when you're not in heat.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: And cat haikos, read by Sandra Burnhardt (ph).

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM MEOW TV)

SANDRA BURNHARDT: Litter box is full, one of us doesn't have hands, get what I'm saying?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: But you won't catch Sandra emptying litter boxes.

BURNHARDT: I'm allergic to cats.

MOOS: The question is will cats watch?

ANNABELLE GURWITCH, HOST, "MEOW TV": Well, you know, there are 85 million cats in America and there's not one TV show out there for cats. And we're just going to find out, aren't we?

MOOS: Yes, we are. We set up a camera in a cat owner's apartment, popped in a tape of the show and left Feebie (ph) and Striker alone. They ignored the squirrel alert. Feebie turned her back on the fish. When the yoga came on, we thought Striker was about to join in. But no.

Back in 1988, the cat demographic was grist for film comedy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "SCROOGED")

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, in 20 years they could become steady viewers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Programming for cats?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: Now comedy is reality. Our test cats wandered out, they wandered in. Phoebe even jumped up on the cable box, where it's nice and warm. Or was she trying to change the station? Another catty critic.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com