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What's with Will Cain's "Podcast" Microphones?

For years we've observed that visible microphones are not necessary on TV.

But, Fox News's Will Cain uses them as a prop, probably to make his show look like a podcast. It started with a big phony mic, then transitioned to an EV RE20.

My immediate reaction was that the guy must be a phony so I've never watched his show. Today I was flipping through channels and noticed him sitting at a table, doing an interview with both he and the guest both behind highly visible microphones mounted on the desk!

Maybe I'm making too much of this, but I believe if you're going to be authentic, you should at least try to look authentic.
 
Not a fan of the mic either a few times I have watched Will Cain Show on FOX News, I think he does a podcast from the studio which should be removed in my opinion.
 
didn't Letterman and Conan have decorate mikes on their desks?
Every late night host, back to at least Johnny Carson, had a desk mic. In those early days, there were also boom microphones above his head, and in some cases a second boom to cover the guests. As lavalier mics, and then clip-ons, got smaller and better, those became the primary ways to capture sound. What's unclear is whether those desk mics were actually wired into the sound board, or if they were purely for visual effect. If a desk mic was a working unit, was it always live to capture a secondary signal, or was it purely for standby in case a primary mic died during the taping?
 
Good points about the early TV talk shows. I'd forgotten about that. I wonder if they were trying to emulate radio shows? šŸ¤”

I just tuned past the Will Cain show again and noticed that he's wearing a tie-tac mic that's clearly visible right above the RE-20!! I guess the Podcast Generation won't notice. 😌
 
Every late night host, back to at least Johnny Carson, had a desk mic. In those early days, there were also boom microphones above his head, and in some cases a second boom to cover the guests. As lavalier mics, and then clip-ons, got smaller and better, those became the primary ways to capture sound. What's unclear is whether those desk mics were actually wired into the sound board, or if they were purely for visual effect. If a desk mic was a working unit, was it always live to capture a secondary signal, or was it purely for standby in case a primary mic died during the taping?
Letterman’s desk mic was wired in.
 
I just tuned into Fox News (4:50 pm, during Will Cain's show) and, so far, NO VISIBLE MICS!!! Not on his solo shots or his interviews.

Does Fox monitor this forum??

There's still a phony mic in the show's logo, but this seems to be a step in the right direction.
 
For years we've observed that visible microphones are not necessary on TV.

But, Fox News's Will Cain uses them as a prop, probably to make his show look like a podcast. It started with a big phony mic, then transitioned to an EV RE20.

My immediate reaction was that the guy must be a phony so I've never watched his show. Today I was flipping through channels and noticed him sitting at a table, doing an interview with both he and the guest both behind highly visible microphones mounted on the desk!

Maybe I'm making too much of this, but I believe if you're going to be authentic, you should at least try to look authentic.
Uhhh maybe because his show is also simulcast on syndicated radio?
 
Will Cain is doing his show today from Iowa and interviewing POTUS live.

NO PHONY MIC! He's acting like a pro ... and LOOKS like a pro.

Will, PLEASE, grow up and lose the freakin' phony mic! It makes you lose all credibility.
 
Today they've lowered his phony mic so it doesn't show in many of the screen shots.

But Will and the in-studio guests are all wearing tie-tack mics! And in many shots, the real mic and the phony mic can be seen inches from each other. Really?

I don't mean to belabor this but I do find this nonsense amusing.
 


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