Tom Shales Apologizes To Alison Stewart

Washington Post television critic Tom Shales apologized to PBS “Need To Know” co-host Alison Stewart in a Q&A with readers today.

Kathy Lee never whimpered about the reviews, I don’t think friends of the “Need to Know” gang should claim grievous bodily harm either. I do however want to apologize to cohost Alison Stewart for the line about her looking as tho she’d have been more at home in Bill Clinton’s lap. That was seen by some as a graphic sexual reference (it was not meant that way, but c’est la vie); I was talking about cozying up, nothing more sinister than that.

Shales panned “Need To Know” in his review, saying that Stewart “looked as though she would have been much more comfortable in [show guest Bill] Clinton’s lap.”

That drew a sharp rebuke from Stewart, who told TVNewser:

Mr. Shales’ is certainly entitled to his own views about our program but in most work places it would be simply unacceptable to make this kind of public suggestive insinuation about a colleague. I’m surprised it got by his editors.

Shales also responded to accusations that he is sexist.

I will tell you with a hand on the Bible or any other widely respected book that several years back, Marlo Thomas wrote to me from an airplane yet, “Tom Shales, you are a feminist,” and I have proudly considered myself one ever since. Of course, some may disagree………..

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