Partners Project: Shira Lazar Interviews Cenk Uygur Of The Young Turks

One of the channels that I have been following recently is the Partners Project with Shira Lazar. She interviews some of the top Youtube Partners and gets some of their back stories and how they became top performers of the Youtube and online community.

In this recent video, Shira talks with Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks which is the biggest online news program in the world. I am personally subscribed to The Young Turks who cover everything from politics to sports to the latest in the entertainment world. Their political news is the channel's bread and butter, told with a refreshing honesty. They will not shy away from pointing out the hypocrisy and downright lies that those in the world of politics will try to foist upon an unsuspecting public. But they also are willing to discuss the funny and absurd stories that bubble up on the Internet.



You can follow both the Partners Project and The Young Turks on Youtube by subscribing at the links above. You can also follow The Young Turks elsewhere on the Internet:

Facebook: facebook.com/tytnation
Twitter: @theyoungturks

And check out their website (they call it the "Rebel Headquarters"): theyoungturks.com

Cenk Gives Some Youtube Protips

Here's a second video where Cenk discusses how to be successful on Youtube. There's some good advice in this clip:



I liked that in this video Cenk gives some great advice for those trying to make Youtube partner. "Just do it" is his basic message. It doesn't matter where you start as long as you make that start. Look at the old (almost archival lol) footage in the video and you can see Cenk sitting at a table just speaking into a microphone when he started TYT.

ProTip From Cenk: Don't try to make things perfect, just start and improve as you go along.

They are now a massive online presence getting over 18 million views every month. Do you think Cenk thought they would be where they are today when they started broadcasting? He probably hoped it would turn out like this, but like anyone just starting out there are doubts. Each month TheYoungTurks just keeps getting stronger and stronger. Make the start and continue bringing your enthusiasm every day for each video you post and eventually you will find a level of success.

If you want to see Cenk in action, here's a clip from when he was on MSNBC discussing the Egyptian situation.



You can see Cenk Uygur on MSNBC weekdays at 6pm Eastern, 3pm Pacific.

TheYoungTurks: The Largest Online News Show And Why You Should Be Watching It

If you are on Youtube you most likely have stumbled across a video by TheYoungTurks. The channel is primarily hosted by Cenk Uygur and their bread and butter is coverage of political news events of the day but they also take a look at other news stories that are sure to catch you attention. And before all you 18 and under folks allow your eyes to glaze over at the thought of "politics" and news coverage, you should watch at least some of their videos.

Personally I love the way they absolutely skewer and deflate the falsehoods and rhetoric that are foisted on the public by those trying to bamboozle people - which includes politicians of every political stripe. They are not afraid to call a liar out and regularly pull those trying to shape major stories to their own ends onto the carpet demanding an explanation. But they also delve into stuff that is fun. It seems like the set of The Young Turks would be a great place to work as even with the worst stories, humor is allowed to exist unlike what you see on most of so-called major news shows. Here's an example of a fun story that they posted recently about actress Raven Symone.



One aspect of the show that is particularly appealing is the interaction of the main hosts, Cenk Uygar and Ana Kasparian (both of whom you can follow on Twitter). Cenk has lately been doing a lot of work over at MSNBC, sometimes as a commentator as well as filling in for the host Dylan Ratigan from time to time. I have other posts here where I mention how the ratings go up when Cenk hosts (hopefully we won't lose him from TYT to MSNBC fulltime), but as far as "ratings" go, I think their show has found a home on Youtube as they have a vocal and rabidly supportive audience on that website.

Altogether, the Youtube videos of The Young Turks have garners about 375 million views which can only be termed an astounding success especially on a site given more to personal vlogging and humorous skits as well as music videos. The channel is more like an actual television show in its format and presentation, but it is their content that is generating these huge views. The "TYT Army" is growing and that is one of the reasons that MSNBC chose Cenk to appear on their network - he can bring in viewers.

Ana Kasparian is another definite plus for the show as she plays against Cenk. She is able to formulate interesting points when discussing anything from politics to celeb gossip. Of course she is also a bit better looking than Cenk which draws in viewers (okay, she's hot and she's got a brain, which is deadly sexy lol) and is a fan favorite.

Here's an example of another clip they posted about Cenk accepting an award:



At the start he mentions that their show is now "the largest online news show in the world" which is no mean feat. People are tuning in and watching this as an alternative to the generic news that you get on the various national newscasts although they do of course gets some flack from those of a more conservative persuasion because they are willing to go hammer and tong against FOX News with their highly-conservative slant on the news.

As an example of that conservative bias, following the shooting of Democratic congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, FOX went live to a candle vigil and a young man was talking about the shooting and he said "and I tell you this Sarah Pali-" but FOX crush cut the feed to a commercial. It seems like they have a bit too much tied up in furthering the Palin image and wouldn't allow any message that might cast shadow and doubt on the Palin brand that FOX has invested so much time trying to build up. Personally I would have liked to have seen what the guy wanted to say. Maybe I wouldn't have agreed with it, but it is up to the viewer to decide whether they agree or disagree with what someone is expressing, not a large media company. Just my 2 cents.

But TYT does get its share of flack from those on the righthand side of the political spectrum, which is fine and totally expected. Usually it is comments about "liberal, socialist, progressive, un-american, anti-church" this or that. As far as I can tell neither party has a monopoly of truth, virtue or patriotism. It seems that those negative comments are an attempt to marginalize and demonize all opposition to what the Right believe which is not a path I would like to see the U.S. go down. Any individual who believes they are the sole possessor of all that is good and any who offer an opposing viewpoint is a fool. Anyone running for elected office who believes that, is a dangerous fool. But that is why I enjoy reading the comments on the various TYT videos because although there are the expected trolls espousing mindless garbage, there is also some reasoned debate and thought-provoking comments. Of course there are also comments appraising Ana's physical attributes, so you take the good with the bad. But my little rant ends here lol.

You can go to The Young Turks channel (link at the top) to check out their HUGE catalog of videos that they have posted since joining Youtube way back late 2005 and maybe subscribe. You will laugh, become angry, be puzzled, get some clarity, and see that not all that you read or see on television should be taken at face value.

Also, if you are on Twitter or Facebook you have the option of following them there as well. If you want intelligence, actual insight into the motivations of those in power and those trying to obtain it, and if you want to know what Kim Kardashian is doing, it's all there.

Cenk Ugyur And The Young Turks Beat Fox News In Ratings

Here Cenk Uygur gets the chance to crow a little bit about MSNBC actually beating Fox News in the ratings. Love it. The Young Turks is huge on Youtube and the show with Cenk and Ana Kasparian is a great source for non-biased reporting, unlike Fox News with their well-known right wing slant. Actually it's more of an overhang than a simple "slant".



Uygur has been a regular guest on The Dylan Ratigan Show on MSNBC and this past October the network announced he had been hired as a substitute anchor, which is what he was discussing with Ana in the clip above.

Apparently the ratings for a portion of the time Cenk was hosting the show bested Fox News which is hard to do at the best of times. It shows the viewers and listeners of The Young Turks are willing to come out in force to listen to a balanced reporting of the days news events and intelligent dialogue rather than hammering away at their ideological talking points and right-wing hobby horses as their competitors seem to do.

The Young Turks have a large audience that they have grown since about February 2002 and garner as many as 18 million views for their Youtube channel alone.

Man Makes Over $600,000 Selling Virtual Real Estate

I usually watch the YouTube channel TheYoungTurks which features Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian pointing out the ludicrous statements made by politicians and others, but this story caught my eye. You looking to make money online? Try selling virtual real estate.



First off, have you ever even heard of this game called Entropia? The website is entropiauniverse.com and I took a quick tour around the site. There's also almost 5,000 "Entropia" videos on Youtube, so if you want a closer look, check Entropia on Youtube.

All this sounds like that other virtual world game called Second Life which you don't really hear much about any more, or maybe I'm just not moving in the right circles. That was also a virtual world where you could make money in a virtual world and somehow transfer it into the real one. And of course there's the whole World of Warcraft genre that I won't go into here.

Still, you probably laugh about the guy buying that virtual real estate in the ether that is the Internet, but more likely you are thinking "I'd like to get in on that action" of selling something intangible that only exists in the collective minds and computers that make up the Web. Maybe it is laughable now, but with the ever changing aspect of the Internet and how we work with it, is this the future?

And the guy probably laughing loudest is the dude who sold the Entropia property in the first place.

Dylan Ratigan Discusses 2010 Election Results With Cenk Uygur And Glenn Greenwald

I have to say that this is an awesome clip. Cenk Uygur from TheYoungTurks and Glenn Greenwald from Salon.com discuss the results of the 2010 election results with MSNBC's Dylan Ratigan.



Greenwald actually posted a longer version (including what looks like a pre-2012 Sarah Palin presidential ad) before they launch into this lively exchange.

You cannot fault Uygur for his passion on this and all make very good points. Even if you strongly disagree with the facts they put forward, this is 100 percent better political debate than just about anything you will see with Glen Beck or Limbaugh.

Joy Behar & Whoopi Goldberg Walk Off Set During Bill O'Reilly Interview

Here is some analysis of what happened when Fox commentator Bill O'Reilly came on "The View" leading to Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar storming off after O'Reilly's comments about 9/11.



What do you think about the exchange? Bill O'Reilly did state that "muslims" attacked the United States, but didn't qualify his statements that it was "extremists" rather than muslims in general who caused 9/11. Some may see that as a fine point, but I have to agree with Barbara Walters on this: you CANNOT demean and lump all persons of any religious group for the actions of an extreme portion of that group.

Cenk Uygur (host of TheYoungTurks) makes a good point - the person who bombed the Olympics was a christian fundamentalist and we do not state that because he was a christian that "christians bombed us" or lump all christian fundamentalists as somehow the cause of that incident, how can all muslims be automatically guilty by association?

Republican Supporters "Allegedly" Fund Incredibly Racist Obama Billboard

This is just in very bad taste. A group of right-wingers have put up a billboard sign in Colorado depicting President Barack Obama as a Mexican bandito, a gay man, and as an Islamic suicide bomber. You can almost feel the idiots who put this sign up rubbing their hands in glee about the publicity they are getting for this. Nothing says class like using racism as a political tool.



It's bad enough that they think this is a good idea, but they are also entirely gutless because they won't reveal who actually paid for the sign. The owner of the billboard, the "artist" and others involved won't say who funded it. Once again - gutless. It is one thing to make a political statement, but the omission of who made the statement further undermines those who made the statement.

Apparently to these "privately funded" groups, showing Obama as a Muslim, which to these people equates terrorist, Mexican, meaning an illegal immigrant, and gay which is somehow automatically negative in their minds. How is this not seen as racist?

I guess they're getting those dirty democrats back after all the signs they put up about former president george Bush being a Gay-Mexican terrorist. Oh wait they never did any of those sort of dirty political tricks.

Is Kim Kardashian Hypocritical For Being "Upset" About Mad at New Playboy Pictures?

What do you really think Ana? Lol. Ana Kasparian of The Young Turks raises some legitimate gripes about Kim Kardashian once again being upset about pictures of the tele-celeb getting published. Sure, Kimmy, sure. "Wow, those must be some hot pictures of a naked Kim Kardashian!" people will no doubt be whispering.

Did You Hear Jersey Shore's The Situation Will Get $5 Million This Year?

Wow, there is definitely something wrong with THAT picture. Mike Sorrentino aka "The Situation" is gettin' PAID! According to TheYoungTurks he's supposedly going to earn up to $5,000,000 this year because of this idiotic show on MTV show called Jersey Shore. Personally I've never watched the show. Wait, let me correct that. The night the first episode aired I saw the first 10 minutes or so of the this really lame excuse for a television series as all the girls and guys were introduced and were hootin' and a hollarin' about the fact they were heading for "The Jersey Shore" and they were gonna meet hot ginos and hot girls etc. At that point I switched the channel. But it is apparently a big hit in the ratings.

And The Young Turks are saying that Sorrentino is making some big bucks out of this and there's another story that he might be asked to appear on Dancing With The Stars. See this article: 'The Situation' adds 'Dancing With the Stars' to his GTL 'Jersey Shore' schedule.

I did like the part where Cenk Uygur announced that he would now be known as "The Conversation."

I have to agree with co-anchor Ana Kasparian that it is extremely unlikely that I will ever buy any "vitamin water" or any "supplements" of any kind from this dude. And as far as a so-called biography, I'll pass on that as well. Of course some folks will be thinking that this is all the coolest thing ever, but after his moment in the sun passes and he slithers back to Jersey he'll fade from our memory.

But of course he'll pop up from time to time for those "ya remember when I was a somebody" interviews like on that show "Whatever Happened To so-and-so". In the meantime I'll continue to try to ignore this "situation" and all his Jersey Shore castmates.

Cenk Uygur And The Young Turks Clobber CNN In Ratings

It's okay to gloat a little Cenk lol. Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks has been hitting it out of the park for MSNBC as shown by the Cable News Ratings for Wednesday, August 18, 2010. Uygur is filling in on MSNBC's The Ed Show. There's also a favorable review at mediabistro.com: Cenk Uygur's Daily Show Cameo.

It just goes to show what getting a strong following on YouTube and elsewhere can do for you. Fans of The Young Turks are tuning in to watch Uygur tear into the GOP stalwarts over at FOX News and elsewhere.

Oh yeah, here the Huffington Post article Cenk mentions in the video: 'Professional Left' Saga Says More About Media Than Obama.