Plus Don Lemon talks about a special CNN Juneteenth concert

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🎤 CNN's queen of funny: Meet Jeanne Moos

Jeanne Moos is known for including “man on the street” commentary in many of her TV reports.

A woodpecker gets tangled in a woman’s hair. A man throws a cake at the Mona Lisa. A rat sends a New York City dog park into a frenzy. These are the headlines that pop up when you search for Jeanne Moos’ latest reports. Moos perfected the art of offbeat storytelling even before there was a such thing as a “viral video.” Her hilarious commentary and “man on the street” reactions make her reports some of the most popular with CNN audiences. We recently caught up with Moos and asked about her career — and some of her most memorable reports:

CNN viewers know you for your quirky video segments – but you actually started as a serious news reporter.

My career was a bit split down the middle for the first couple of decades. I would alternate between funny and serious stories, doing funny ones when there were no serious ones to do. I was sent to China, for instance, to do humorous sidebars, and then Tiananmen Square happened and sucked me in. I remember one of the highlights was interviewing Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev on the Great Wall of China and asking him when was he going to tear down that OTHER great wall, the Berlin Wall. His wife, Raisa, shot me such dirty looks for asking that. And speaking of former presidents, I once accidentally called Richard Nixon “President Reagan” while trying to get his attention during a reporter scrum. There was a dramatic pause and then Nixon answered, “I’ve been called much worse,” and everyone laughed.

How did you get started in journalism?

I always knew I wanted to be a reporter. I was editor of my middle school newspaper and wrote a column in the local paper. I knew journalism was for me and figured TV journalism would be more glamorous — so I majored in that. I got my first job in TV news shortly after graduating from Syracuse University. This was so long ago that I was the first female reporter ever hired at WPTZ in Plattsburgh, New York. I did everything from emptying the trash to editing my own pieces to anchoring the weekend news. On-air chitchat was always an adventure, like when my weekend sports co-anchor — who knew very little about sports -- referred to the New York Knicks as the New York “Kinks” three times on the air.

What was CNN like when you joined in 1981?

It was a blast. Very little supervision. No layers of approvals to go through. We didn’t even have to get script approval in the early days. It was fun having swashbuckling Ted Turner for a boss. And nobody cared about the ratings because we had no ratings. Our production values were low but our spirits were high.

How did you get your start in doing the offbeat segments you’re known for?

I basically overdosed on covering the United Nations. I was CNN’s UN correspondent during the first Gulf War, a fascinating time to be posted at the UN. But I eventually burned out as TV technology advanced and we did zillions of live shots a day. I’ve always considered myself more of a writer and I especially love writing to video, but there’s not much scintillating video to write to when diplomats are sitting around a table. I asked to be taken off the UN beat, and the offbeat became my bread and butter. It proved instantly popular. Award-winning UN coverage just can’t compete with, say, a two-headed turtle when one head yawns and inspires the other head to yawn too.

What are some of your favorites?.

The types of stories I do seem to change every few years. I did nothing but funny Trump stories for five years. Then Covid put the kibosh on humor for a while. Lately I’ve been doing funny pieces for CNN digital and various other platforms, so lots of viral videos. One of my favorite periods was when we did whimsical New York City stories — following plastic bags blowing around the canyons of NYC and putting their flight to music or highlighting the life of a traffic cone, how they give up their lives for ours, but at least they get laid a lot (this, as I was laying cones out the back of a Port Authority truck outside the Lincoln Tunnel). Of course, my favorite experiences tend to be with animals — almost having my arm bitten off while mopping the mouth of a slobbering hippo. And you haven’t lived until you’ve been hugged by a chimpanzee.

Are there any pitches or segments you couldn’t get CNN to sign off on doing?

Constantly. Don’t get me started.

How has social media changed your approach to these segments?

It’s the best of worlds and the worst of worlds. Viral videos enable us to turn a quick piece in a few hours. But licensing agencies have gotten so fast at representing videos and charging for their use that half of what we try to do gets killed because we can’t get rights to the video. The supply, though, seems inexhaustible. Every day I think, “This is the day we’re finally going to run out of oddball stuff to cover” — and yet every day something new and nutty is caught on camera. Twitter is a huge help. I’m amazed at how witty folks are with their tweets. I didn’t realize how many funny people there are out there.

What is one thing that your fans might be surprised to know about you?

I don’t fly. Haven’t flown in decades. Planes are too heavy to be up there. Yet my middle name is Vogel. It means “bird” in German. Only this bird is flightless.

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✊ Don Lemon on what to know ahead of CNN's Juneteenth concert

CNN will air "Juneteenth: A Global Celebration of Freedom" live this Sunday at 8 p.m. ET. CNN anchor Don Lemon will host pre-show coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET. He answered a few questions from Inside CNN ahead of the concert:

When Juneteenth became a national holiday last year, did that feel like a significant moment to you?

Yes, it was a significant moment and of course long overdue. However, like most Americans, I believe tangible changes like voting rights legislation and justice reform should accompany the holiday.

What are you most looking forward to for CNN’s inaugural Juneteenth concert?

I'm looking forward to witnessing the awesome talents of Black artists on display on such a momentous day. I just want to sit back and enjoy the concert like everyone else, popcorn, hot dog and burger in hand.

What can viewers expect to see in the show?

Of course there will be tremendously talented artists performing. But it will also be an educational, soulful and spiritual journey. We are taking you to church, where you are free to dance and sing along. Oh, you can shout, too!

What is the importance of this concert?

It is important to celebrate the independence of African American descendants of slaves. It is just as important as any July Fourth celebration.

Aside from anchoring the coverage leading up to the first global celebration of Juneteenth, are you planning to do anything personally to mark this year’s Juneteenth holiday?

I will spend the holiday in person and virtually with family and friends. Together, we will eat, pray and love.

CNN Business is hosting a discussion titled "A Juneteenth Conversation: Advancing Black Leadership," moderated by CNN correspondent Stephanie Elam, on Thursday at 9 a.m. ET. Register for the free event.

Is there something or someone at CNN you'd like to see spotlighted next? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you.