Jeez that other woman shouts alot. I couldn’t listen to the whole, shrill thing.

I’m not gay. I love Ellen’s show and I am truly happy that she will be able to get married. I saw no negatives in her making this annoucement on her show. For Laura to compare Ellen to Star Jones – please there is no comparison. Ellen is class all the way. Star Jones has had her 15 minutes of fame and I wish she would just go away.

Any advertiser who doesn’t know Ellen is gay is a moron. :)

I agree that her marriage will help her show.

Oh man, is it me or Laura Ries really has a need to express herself? Laura… please stop shouting.

Peter, I think you’re absolutely right, it IS her niche :)

Laura is a twit. Why the need to shout?

If you talk louder does that make your opinion better?
It was hard to watch the whole clip with that shreeek of a voice.
Congrats to you for staying calm and not talking over her.

You’re absolutly right, Ellens show will get stronger as time goes on, and who the hell cares if she decides to use HER SHOW to platform HER opinions?
(however I dont think she will- not to the degree Laura made it sound)

Being gay is not taboo anymore, in most states, provinces etc it is socially exceptable.

Dear Laura,

Use your inside voice.

Thanks,
Paige

So many people scream on this show – was glad to hear you speak in a normal voice…
Does Laura watch Ellen? We know Ellen’s mom (who’s in the audience frequently or she calls her), we saw her crying over the puppy incident, she did a show from a hospital bed on stage when she hurt her back, she dances and interacts constantly with audience… She has always been this way and I don’t think she’s going to change her entire show because NOW she can get married in California – I’m not sure it will raise her ratings but I doubt it will hurt them; I’m sure it’s no surprise that she’d get married if she could.
Green room sounded cool – part of your success is due to the fact that you’re so interested in other people and their stories!
Congrats on the race!
V-

Talk about PR. Laura outta stay off the talk show circuit. Cold day in hell before I’d ever hire here.

Peter,

I mostly agree with you, but Ellen’s sitcom did tank when she made it “too” lesbian. Pro or con, her announcement will be just a blip in the big picture. Ellen will continue to succeed because she is talented and likeable.

And like others said here, Laura Ries (who I believe built her career on the back of her dad, the marketing guy who wrote about Marketing Warfare) is a shrill ranter … just the type of person that Fox News and O’Reilly love. Makes for good TV. Maybe she can battle Ann Coulter in a follow-up segment.

Peter, you were great. And yes, I agree with everyone’s comments above…Laura needs a voice coach and a PR person to help her be more appealing. Peter, offer her your services and find her a voice coach.

Great job, Peter. It saddens me that someone’s marriage announcement necessarily becomes a subject of this kind of conversation at all.

(Or maybe I’m just jealous. I had my big gay MA wedding last year and there were no debates on Fox! *huff*)

Looked like the rise of Peter Shankman and the fall of Laura Ries to me….

chris

It truly amazes me that someone with the voice quality and technique (or should I say lack thereof) can make it to a nationally syndicated news show. Every time she opened her mouth, I couldn’t help but think of the old SNL carachter who continually voiced “I SUFFER FROM VOICE IMMODULATION DISORDER”

Peter – great job man!

Go Peter Go!
Your focus on the real topic (Ellen’s people love her and want to know everything about her) kept this interview alive. Your debate opponent was blinded by the gay issue, totally a non-issue here. It’s about disclosure being part of the brand and people wouldn’t expect anything less from Ellen. Whether she talks about getting married, being gay, or hating glitter, she’s all about verbalizing the mental chatter. Congrats to you!!!

Nancy

Like others who have commented before me, I barely made it through the entire clip. What an annoying broad.

Kudos, to you, Peter, for not jumping up and unplugging the monitor Laura was on……as I would have done……which is why I will never appear on television… :)

My ears are bleeding from Laura Ries’ voice…

Well done! Man, that Ries person is the definition of shrill. You both kept the discussion on the topic at hand instead of each other, so I give each of you credit (even though she did try to talk over you a couple of times).

Peter,

You are right on with this one. Who in the world is shocked that Ellen is gay? Why shouldn’t she express herself? She is getting married, and should feel free to talk about it. Not to do so would be inconsistent with her image, and the brand she has created. Her honesty is part of what people like about her. The fact that she risked her career to come out on her sitcom, only lends credibility to her, and thus makes her all the more appealing to advertisers. Those who are turned off by Ellen being gay have already left the party or never came to begin with. Is Ellen right for all companies? No. Of course not. The fact that people are discussing this is a win in and of itself. Beyond that, I think it is a brilliant move. If a company drops her, she will be front and center again. If companies choose to stay with her, that will make news too. Well done Peter.

Great job, Peter.

I still think it’s sad that some who preach family values want to prevent a segment of our society from having the right to demonstrate those values.

I hate to dump on a sister, but yow, girlfriend did not plead her own case very well. (And by “very well”, I mean “at all.”)

You, of course, were magnificent–all relaxed calm and charm. Let ‘em come to you, baby; let ‘em come to you…

Holy cow, I thought Ann Coulter was shrill. Fran Drescher sounds downright tranquil compared to her. Nice job Peter and thanks for bringing a sensible voice to the right side of the table.

Hi Peter,
I’m new to your blog and had to have a look. You did a great job stating your points without appearing personally involved to the point of a shouting match, Just one person in this clip was battling– you were discussing. Well done!
Warmly,
Felicia Slattery
Communication Consultant

WOW – Laura, calm down my friend! She could learn a thing or two from you Peter.

Sheesh. Kathie Lee Gifford, moms loved her. We love disclosure. Laura is not a mom and she’s totally not getting that.

“IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH SHE TALKS ABOUT IT!” Um, ok, thanks Laura, how ’bout “IT DEPENDS ON HOW LOUD YOU SAY IT!” Because I’m thinking Laura didn’t do herself any favors here… her voice made me want to turn this off, no matter what she was actually saying.

I lied. Laura has kids. I think they might be deaf though.

Being the loudest is only second best to being right