Behind the scenes: Anderson Cooper surprised by Murray's Santa song
Many of you had the same question about AC360's exclusive jailhouse interview with Michael Jackson's doctor: What was going through Anderson's mind when Dr. Conrad Murray started singing "The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot"?
Producer Jack Gray sat down with Anderson to relive the unforgettable live TV moment and ask him on your behalf.
Understand that it's not easy to surprise a globetrotting veteran journalist, but Anderson sure was, confirming it was the first time someone broke into song during an interview. Reflecting on the two-part segment, he says, "it took a very bizarre twist" when Murray switched from explaining to singing about his connection with Jackson.
Behind the scenes: Jack Gray and Anderson Cooper on 'Pigeon in a Crosswalk'
You may know AC360° producer Jack Gray from his legendary blog, Twitter musings, or as the guy who crafted the "No Nudity" sign to urgently remind Kathy Griffin about her boundaries on New Year's Eve, but there's so much more to his witty and sardonic views on life.
Anderson Cooper took your questions, added a few, and invited Jack into his office to talk about his new book, "Pigeon In A Crosswalk: Tales of Anxiety and Accidental Glamour."
Jack reveals where he wrote his best material (sorry, Anderson), why he mocks his boss in the book, and the rejected book title that has a female basketball coach (somewhere out there) indebted to him forever. And Anderson recounts that time he was mistaken for another white-haired television host.
Hangout with Anderson, Sanjay, Jeff, and Jack
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWBML9GobhQ&w=420&h=315%5D
Welcome to a live Google+ Hangout with Anderson Cooper, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Jeffrey Toobin and AC360 producer Jack Gray!
With your help, they're continuing the conversation they started last night with many others in the "Guns under fire" town hall. What questions did the program raise for you personally about gun violence in America? Leave a comment here or on the AC360 Google+ page, or on Twitter with the hashtag #gundebate360.
We'll be live from 12-12:15 p.m. ET.
Hangout with Anderson Cooper at 12 p.m. ET
At noon today you can find Anderson Cooper, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Jeffrey Toobin and AC360 producer Jack Gray in a live Google+ Hangout on CNN.com and AC360.com.
With your help, they're continuing the conversation they started last night with many others in the "Guns under fire" town hall. What questions did the program raise for you personally about gun violence in America? Leave a comment here or on the AC360 Google+ page.
The show included guests with a wide range of perspectives on gun laws and related issues like care for children with mental health issues and the culture of violence.
An NRA board member shared the stage with the president of the Brady Campaign; a man whose father was gunned down in the Sikh temple shooting told his story, and so did a young mom who protected herself and her baby's life with a shotgun when intruders broke into her home.
Who you should follow on New Year's Eve
We're getting ready for an epic #CNNNYE show hosted by Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin at 11 p.m. ET! We want to take you behind the scenes this year and give you an insider's perspective from the platform in Times Square to the party in Nashville, the celebration in Key West and the control room at CNN. Get the scoop directly from Anderson, our correspondents and producers by following them on Twitter on Dec. 31:
Live from Times Square @andersoncooper
The AC360 account will bring you the latest all night @AC360
Host of the 10 p.m. web show in Times Square @IshaSesayCNN
Producer on the platform in Times Square @jackgraycnn
Correspondent in Nashville @BrookeBCNN
Correspondent in Central Park @GaryTuchmanCNN
Producer in Key West @CNNkimsegal
Correspondent in Key West @CNNzarrella
Producer in Central Park @JoneilCNN
Senior producer in the control room @JennyBlancoCNN
Producer and site manager in Times Square @JulianCummings
Line producer in the control room @AnnieCNN
Producer in Nashville @JMOCNN
Don't miss Isha Sesay's behind-the-scenes show on CNN.COM at 10 p.m. ET! Tweet your New Year's Eve messages using #CNNNYE and you could see it on-air. Also, submit your questions for Anderson and Kathy on our Facebook or Google+ pages.
Who you should follow on New Year's Eve
We're getting ready for an epic #CNNNYE show hosted by Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin at 11 p.m. ET! We want to take you behind the scenes this year and give you an insider's perspective from the platform in Times Square to the party in Nashville, the celebration in Key West and the control room at CNN. Get the scoop directly from Anderson, our correspondents and producers by following them on Twitter on Dec. 31:
Live from Times Square @andersoncooper
The AC360 account will bring you the latest all night @AC360
Host of the 10 p.m. web show in Times Square @IshaSesayCNN
Producer on the platform in Times Square @jackgraycnn
Correspondent in Nashville @BrookeBCNN
Correspondent in Central Park @GaryTuchmanCNN
Producer in Key West @CNNkimsegal
Correspondent in Key West @CNNzarrella
Producer in Central Park @JoneilCNN
Senior producer in the control room @JennyBlancoCNN
Producer and site manager in Times Square @JulianCummings
Line producer in the control room @AnnieCNN
Producer in Nashville @JMOCNN
Don't miss Isha Sesay's behind-the-scenes show on CNN.COM at 10 p.m. ET! Tweet your New Year's Eve messages using #CNNNYE and you could see it on-air. Also, submit your questions for Anderson and Kathy on our Facebook or Google+ pages.
Join our Academy Awards Live Blog with Jack Gray
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Jack Gray
@JackGrayCNN
AC360° Producer/Writer
Starting tonight at 8 p.m. ET join us here for the AC360° Academy Awards Live Blog. The winners, the losers, good swan, bad swan…we’ve got your running commentary on it all. And, sure, considering all that’s going on in the world, the Oscars aren’t hugely important. But if you’re looking for a few hours of fun, then this blog is the place for you.
We should also point out that we’re not encouraging you to change the channel from CNN, but if you’re going to watch the Oscars anyway, you might as well watch them with us.
If you would like to participate in our Live Blog (and we hope you do) please follow our rules.
Here are some of them:
1) Please keep your comments short
2) Don’t write in ALL CAPS (we don’t like screaming)
3) No links
4) Use your real name
Please note that due to volume we may not be able to post all comments.
Jack Gray's Golden Globes Live Blog: Join the Live Chat
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Jack Gray
AC360° Writer/Producer
Follow @JackGrayCNN on Twitter
Welcome to our 3rd annual Golden Globes Live Blog. I'm your host and, in case you're wondering, my qualifications include once meeting Ricky Gervais at the Chateau Marmont and working for several years in a video store/tanning parlor.
I'll be with you from 8pm Eastern Time until the conclusion of the East Coast telecast. Now, to be clear, we're not advocating changing your channel from CNN. But if you're going to watch the Golden Globes anyway, you might as well watch them with us as your running commentary. And frankly, you don't even need to be watching the Golden Globes to enjoy the live blog.
Disclaimer: I'm sure some of these movies/TV shows are connected to CNN through our parent companies Turner Broadcasting and Time Warner. HBO, Warner Brothers and New Line Cinemas are just a few of our high-profile sister companies. But seeing as how another year has gone by and I've not gotten so much as a free hat or poster, I'm not in the tank for anyone. Except for Betty White. Not that she's even nominated. I'm just in the tank for her in general.
Related: Check out CNN.com's Marquee Blog
If you want to take part in our Live Blog (and we hope you do) keep in mind that you have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules.
Here are some of them:
1) Keep it short (we don't have time to read a "book")
2) Don't write in ALL CAPS (there's no need to yell)
3) Use your real name (first name only is fine)
4) No links
5) Watch your language (keep it G-rated; PG at worst – and that includes $#&*)
On Twitter
