Earlier in the week, NBC News announced that Michael Douglas would be the voice you hear on many of their teasers and voice-overs. We didn't think much of the news, but apparently someone did. "Damn that NBC Nightly News," writes Anderson Cooper on his blog. "For about six months now we've been working on having someone with a very distinctive voice introduce 360 every night." Anderson goes on to explain that he formed an "exploratory committee" that met in "a backroom at Michael's" to discuss the issue. "Week after week, cobb salad after cobb salad, we argued over whose voice to use," he explains. "Sometimes the discussions got very heated, and eventually we were asked not to return to Michael's." The silver fox continues:

While we have not made a final decision, I thought I'd let you know about our four finalists, and if there is anyone else you think should be considered, please let us know. In no particular order, the four people we are considering hiring to introduce 360 every night are:

Fran Drescher
Clint Eastwood
Paul Reubens (aka Pee Wee Herman)
Cher

Personally, I'm arguing for Fran Drescher, but I'm keeping an open mind.

Wow, so deadpan. And with a Cobb salad reference! After that whole "drunk girl" story he told on Live, we're beginning to suspect that we could maybe be friends with Anderson. Like, not in the way we pretend to be friends with him, by sending reporters to ask him personal questions. But, like, real friends. Except, friends don't let friends make jokes about Cher. In public, at least.

Anderson's View [CNN]