CNN Yanks Ad That Refers to Anchor Paula Zahn as 'Sexy'

Embarrassed Cable News Network executives on Monday yanked an on-air promotion that referred to anchorwoman Paula Zahn as "sexy," accompanied by the sound effect of a zipper.

The 15-second spot promoting Zahn's morning news show aired about a dozen times on CNN Saturday and Sunday, the network said.

In the ad, a narrator asks, "Where can you find a morning news anchor who's provocative, super-smart (and) oh, yeah, just a little sexy?"

"CNN, yeah, CNN," the narrator answers.

The words "provocative," "smart" and "sexy" are flashed on the screen, followed by a picture of Zahn. The zipper is clearly audible just as the narrator is about to call Zahn "sexy."

CNN said the advertisement was created and put on the air by its promotions department -- by a woman -- and not approved by top executives.

Jamie Kellner, chairman of CNN parent Turner Broadcasting, ordered it removed from the air as soon as he saw it, spokesman Brad Turell said.

"It was a major blunder by our promotions department," CNN Chairman Walter Isaacson said. "I was outraged and so was Paula, who has spent more than 20 years proving her credibility day in and day out."

Zahn said she was offended by the promotion when she saw it.

"CNN management has apologized to me and has assured me that a mistake like this will not happen again," she said.

The former CBS News personality was hired to anchor CNN's new morning news show last year from Fox News Channel, where she was host of an evening talk show.

CNN received some criticism last year for hiring former NYPD Blue actress Andrea Thompson as an anchor for CNN Headline News, then was red-faced when risque pictures of her turned up on the Internet.

Kellner, a former Hollywood-based executive who started the Fox and WB networks, has repeatedly said CNN had to be more aggressive in promoting itself.

"A promotion like that is unrelated to her professional abilities and you can't help but think it's a promotion we would be unlikely to hear about a male anchor," said Barbara Cochran, president of the Radio and Television News Directors Association.

Turell characterized the promotion's statement that Zahn is sexy as an error in judgment, "whether it's true or not."

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