CNN's Kyra Phillips Laughs It Off

Anchor Caught By Open Mic Pokes Fun At Herself On Letterman

(CBS/AP)  CNN's Kyra Phillips, embarrassed Tuesday when an open mic in the ladies' room turned some private comments into a soundtrack to a live speech by President Bush, poked fun at herself Thursday in an appearance on CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman."

Tuesday, Phillips apologized to viewers by calling her the snafu during Mr. Bush's Hurricane Katrina anniversary speech "an issue we had with our mikes" and "a little bit of an interruption there during the president."

CNN, in its own statement, also referred to "audio difficulties" and apologized to "viewers and the president." Calling the mishap "a technical malfunction with the audio board," the network said it is "addressing how this happened and why it was not more promptly corrected on air."

Thursday night, the explanations were a lot less formal and considerably more humorous, as Phillips gamely read the "Top Ten Kyra Phillips Excuses" for a sympathetic and obviously pleased David Letterman:

10. "I still haven't mastered complicated on-off switch."

9. "Larry King told me he does this all the time!"

8. "How was I supposed to know we had a reporter embedded in the bathroom?"

7. "I honestly never knew this sort of thing was frowned upon."

6. "I couldn't resist the chance to win $10,000 on America's Funniest Home Videos."

5. "I was set up by those b------s at Fox News."

4. "Like you've never gone to the bathroom and had it broadcast on national television?"

3. "I just wanted that hunky Lou Dobbs to notice me."

2. "OK, so I was drunk and I couldn't think straight."

1. "You have to admit it made the speech a lot more interesting!"

No argument there from the many viewers of CNN's "Live From..." who heard Phillips – first live, and then later on web sites including YouTube - unwittingly upstaging President Bush's Tuesday speech with an on-the-air analysis of her husband and her brother's wife.

Unaware that her wireless microphone was live while she was chatting in the ladies room at the network's broadcast center in Atlanta, Phillips' voice came in loud and clear over the sound of the Bush speech in New Orleans.

Viewers were left scratching their heads, wondering exactly who was speaking and why, and soon realized from the nature of the woman's comments that there was no way they were intended to be overheard, let alone be a second soundtrack for the presidential speech.

The voice that would later be revealed as Phillips, chatting with another woman – still unidentified - in an echo-filled room dismissed most men with a vulgar term but called herself "very lucky in that regard. My husband is handsome and he is genuinely a loving - you know, no ego - you know what I'm saying? Just a really passionate, compassionate, great, great human being. And they exist. They do exist. They're hard to find. Yup. But they are out there."

A few moments later, she observed that "brothers have to be, you know, protective. Except for mine. I've got to be protective of him."

Why? "His wife is just a control freak."

At that point, another voice cut in: "Kyra."

"Yeah, baby?" replied Phillips on hearing her name.

"Your mic is on. Turn it off. It's been on the air."

CNN anchor Daryn Kagan, looking flustered, then broke into the telecast with a recap of what President Bush had been saying.

[pitingo-2009]

So what else is new with CNN! This is not the first time they have had a "mishap" when either the president is on or the vice president! CNN is a bush bashing network! I like to refer to them as the Communist News Network!!!

[dmeesher]

Keep up the great CNN!

[dmeesher]

*work

[bvconway]

CNN is simply another propoganda channel like the rest of them.

Remember Weapons of Mass Destruction?

There's also those nagging little problems of starting wars of agression (recall Hitler), torture, wiretapping (Watergate), stealing elections with fake voting machines, lying to Congress and ignoring the Constitution ("that scrap of paper").

Everybody knows it takes a *** to get impeached in America, and no doubt CNN will happily report that also, if it's newsworthy.

Anyone who spinelessly protects these pretend-leaders and their plans deserves a free trip to peaceful and democratized Ramadi.

[randyrba]

Who cares what she said, she probably had the same bathroom type conversation everone else has had, this isn't really news--big deal!

[drew30319-2009]

The Holidays are gonna be fun at the Phillips' house this year.

;-)

[dcoryell1]

So she bashes her in-laws. So does everybody else. Now Kyra won't have to attend the next few family reunions or circulate the family fruitcake.

[zykracosmos]

Embarassing for Kyra. Hope its not fatal for her career, though I'm sure she will have to sit down with her sister-and-law now and eat a whole dinner of crow. I am amazed at how folks like bvconway (see below)can turn a microphone mistake in to a tirade about weapons of mass destruction, torture, wiretapping, elections, Hitler, Ramadi, the Constitution, impeachment, and so on- and all before lunchtime! Too much caffeine I bet.

[dmeesher]

bvconway,

Calm down sir.

Sincerely,

America

[mrpolite1]

CNN for some time now has been in the toilet. Their diversion from news to ex-lawyer hosted mind numbing alarmest babble has served up a good reason to cancel cable. Meanwhile, this latest breaking news item from the toilet pretty much tells you what is going on at CNN.

[highlandrose-2009]

Sorry, I can't go along with Oh well!! Why does this snafu surprise anyone? I watch MSNBC religiously and grit my teeth at hearing supposedly educated reporters using terms like "curiouser and curiouser" (Joe Scarborough and Monica Crowley) The ineptness of some of these people if it weren't so pathetic would be laughable. It all comes down to professionalism and what is obviously the lack of. This chick has been wearing a microphone on her job for a long time...you'd have thought she would know BY NOW to take it off or turn it off...DUH!!

[p027783]

What a dope!

[markross5]

What she was doing taking a bathroom break during a live to begin with. (Apart from the obvious answer.) Doesn't she have to summarize what the President has said?

[harrybug]

To bvconway, Take it easy. Ms. Phillips is not responsible for everything not being right with the world. Take it easy.

[evans626]

If she would have talked bits and pieces of her *** life while in the bathroom, she would be a celebrity by now...management would be delighted (though not outwardly), ratings would spike a little bit, and appearance at the Tonight Show with Jay Leno guaranteed. If I were Kyra, I would have taken that risk.

[bmanther]

What's to summarize? We've heard it all before and it's mostly lies anyway. You don't really think she writes her own reporting do you?

[slappezak]

What i don't understand is why this is even an issue that it has to be covered. Sure Kyra embarrased, but move on. Don't make a hype about everything. S'''happens but it's no tragedy

[lvsailer]

Why doesn't "Katie" Curic finally become Kate? Her wrinkles testify to advancing age just like her need for on air air brushing. Grow up Kate, you are the one who doesn't want to be known as "cute".

[three-o-six]

Anyone here remember the naked gun movie? Is this life imitating art?

[postoakie]

Kyra didn't do anything that I wouldn't have done during a speech by President Bush. I quit listening to the guy a long time ago. Also put the blame on the control room where it belongs. The one thing I really want to know is what is she going to say to her sister-in-law.

[jandayo]

Okay, maybe I a little warped but I am wondering what the "control freak" sister-in-law is saying about being outsted. Is she giving Kyra a hard time?

[slappezak]

Who's cares about her sister in law. I'm wondering what would've happen, if she farted.
Another terrorist threat?

[avigil2]

This year's family Thanksgiving dinner is going to be quite interesting.

[prelgovisk]

How could she give a recap to a speech she didn't hear? Makes you think that CNN had a recap already loaded into the teleprompter. A pre-written spin on a speech before it was given, delivered by a woman who wasn't listening. She didn't have too. Her boss did her thinking for her. Maybe all the news we get from CNN is him doing us the same favor.

[anmeismom]

Perhaps it was Kyra's way of passing a "subliminibal" message to Bush to either ---- or get off the pot.

[neumannta]

How does this play with the big X over the VP's face? I guess we forgot that one already.

[ar82ndabn-2009]

Tipicle woman broadcaster, can't even keep thier mouths shout even while sitting on the toilet.

[iglooo101]

www.youtube.com
think anybody taped it?

[iglooo101]

yep
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIIrPvLn3Xg
it is there

[jailrove]

I'm pretty sure Ms. Phillips called Bush an "***" at the beginning of the audio cut-in. Listen for yourself.

[serpentine2]

Prelgovisk, Daryn Kagan gave the recap..I'm assuming Mrs. Phillips was too embarrassed to show her face again for a while.

[alterbar]

Nice... A hottie reporter who is combat trained! I don't suppose there are any nude pics of her around... I mean, besides in DC? LOL

[prattlemore]

To ar82ndabn: you should learn to spell if you want to be a smart*$$!
To Prelgovisk: she didn't do the recap. Daryn Kagan did it.

[ormondgirlie]

Hilarious. A female Lt. Frank Drebin. Just goes to show you, always speak as if the world was listening.

[annabanana-1]

This was, by far, the best part of the broadcast. There was more real information disseminated by that open mic then by the whole pile of smelly leavings that Bush was pushing out of his mouth

[nicoleshaw72]

Whooooo cares! Let's let this one go, like we turned a blind eye on the Katrina thing...Man, we Americans are soooo preoccupied with scandal. Here's what makes us Hypocrites. We create standards and rules for such folk- Kyra, that we would never be able to live up to ourselves and are elated when and will aide and assist in their demise. She didn't speak of 7-11's and convinent stores being overrun by those of the darker nation of India. Nor did she show her ingnorance in saying the nuculer...whatever!

[swbradley1]

Obviously spelling and good grammar are not a requirement for posting a comment here.

Yes, it was funny and yes The President's speach is sometimes funny.

But for a good laugh let's look at the last one, who left his DNA on a blue dress. Now that's hilarious.

[nothappyatall]

" the network said it is "addressing how this happened and why it was not more promptly corrected on air."

Translated into English- somebody's BUTT is on the line and probably on another line today- the unemployment one.

Bush is a moron anyway and spews lies and BS, so the bathroom chatter WAS far more lively and real, at least honest!

[kamakahote]

Someone had a little fun with this clip before they posted it to youtube.com (*** noises in the background...unless there are some really disgusting and/or gas-filled women working at CNN), but you get the idea. Daryn Kagan is smokin. Kyra? Aaaaahhh, so-so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIIrPvLn3Xg

Thanks iglooo101.

I'll bet swbradley1 is probably ruing the comment about spelling and grammar. Hope you don't have to make a speach [sic] in front of anyone soon. Also, definite articles (The President) needn't be capitalized unless they're in a title, and only then if they're the first word.

Live long and prosper fellow prison-planet inmates.

The truth will probably get you arrested.

[jbpatrick]

MY hat's off to Kyra. I would rather listen to her say positive things about her husband than listen to the stupid President any day. He's a real loser!

[cdbgarcia]

Hysterical. What a come back. It's great to see that we can laugh at something like this and take it on a light note. We all need a laugh these days!!!! Too funny!!!!

[cdbgarcia]

Hysterical. What a come back. It's great to see that we can laugh at something like this and take it on a light note. We all need a laugh these days!!!! Too funny!!!!

[cdbgarcia]

Hysterical. What a come back. It's great to see that we can laugh at something like this and take it on a light note. We all need a laugh these days!!!! Too funny!!!!

[cdbgarcia]

Hysterical. What a come back. It's great to see that we can laugh at something like this and take it on a light note. We all need a laugh these days!!!! Too funny!!!!

[cdbgarcia]

Hysterical. What a come back. It's great to see that we can laugh at something like this and take it on a light note. We all need a laugh these days!!!! Too funny!!!!

[cdbgarcia]

oops, sorry for the repeat

[nrandazz]

What an idiot...

[DJN]

Nice to see that someone can make an innocent mistake, but not take themselves too seriously and even poke fun at themselves. How can you not like someone like that?