Shakeup at CCO was hard on the eyes

By C.J.

Last update: November 28, 2008 - 1:10 PM

WCCO-TV’s 10 p.m. anchors on the CBS O&O decided to compete with ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” finale Tuesday.

The joke was that Don Shelby, Amelia Santaniello, Mark Rosen and Chris Shaffer were just going to shake it a little since everybody was probably watching KSTP-TV where “DWTS” airs. Shelby’s moves were in a word, appalling.

So in a very unThankgivingy move, I called Shelby Wednesday to tell him that I was revoking his “Honorary Black Guy” card. Long, long time ago I elevated Shelby to honorary black guy because of how well he plays basketball and because Don thinks he prepares gumbo like an old Southern black woman.

After I called to inform Shelby of his demotion, he left this on my voicemail: “This is Don Shelby calling to tell you on the web poll of the best dancers, I am completely slaughtering everyone else in the contest. Now, it could be that they’re white Lutherans voting. But if you did watch the web extended extra, I did throw in a Bill Cosby move. Does this mean I am no longer an honorary brother?”

Yeah, Cosby was the wrong place to go for help. Any honest person who’s seen the opening credits of any of Cosby’s old sitcoms, would have to admit that he did less dancing than any other cast member. All I know is that Shelby dances better than what he pretended to be working with in the video.

We’ll all be watching to see if WCCO’s Dancing Anchors supplant or join the “Most Watched Viewed Videos” at tvspy.com, which for weeks has featured KARE11’s “Bust a Blog” commercial.

That spot would have been perfect if only Sven Sungaard had used his right hand to make the “c.” Still it has some nice touches between “Lady Di” Pierce’s dance move (and she too dances better than what you saw) and the finish provided by that crazy, funny Eric Perkins.

C.J. is at 612.332.TIPS or cj@startribune.com. E-mailers, please state a subject — “Hello” doesn’t count. Attachments are not opened, so don’t even try. More of her attitude can be seen on FOX 9 Thursday mornings.