Word that Obama wants to tap CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta for Surgeon General has been met with some goofing from, as the New York Times‘s Mark Leibovich puts it in his own contribution to the “parlor game,” “media types.”
Leibovich wonders:”What if Mr. Obama were to assemble his administration entirely from TV experts?” and then offers some “nominees” including, among others: Martha Stewart for Interior Secretary; Tony Soprano for Labor; Jim Cramer for Treasury; Tom Brokaw for Veterans Affairs; Bill O’Reilly for U.N. Ambassador; and, Nancy Grace for Attorney General.
Or, perhaps, another Fox Newser for Attorney General? “Greta may be attorney general,” Joe Scarborough joked on Morning Joe today during talk of Gupta (speaking, presumably, of Greta Van Susteren). Last night, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow followed a Gupta mention with, “Also, possibly, Magnum, P.I. for FBI Chief.”
And, The Daily Beast presents “12 alternate TV docs in case this one falls through” (bonus quip: “Up next, Jeffrey Toobin at Justice?”) Among the Beast‘s dozen: Dr. Phil, Dr. Ruth, Dr. J, and assorted fictional doctors from prime time hospital dramas (and yet, no Doogie Howser).
Liz Cox Barrett is a writer at CJR.