Anderson Cooper Slams NYT's Tom Friedman: 'He's Smart, But He's Not "Jeopardy!" Smart'

May 23rd, 2012 10:30 AM

As NewsBusters previously reported, three time Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman got his butt kicked by CNN's Anderson Cooper on Jeopardy! last Friday.

Cooper told NBC's Jimmy Fallon Tuesday regarding Friedman's performance, "He's smart, but he's not Jeopardy! smart!" (video follows with transcribed highlights and commentary):


After some gratuitous introductory chitchat on NBC's Late Night, Fallon mentioned Cooper's recent appearance on Jeopardy!.

"I beat Tom Friedman from the New York Times, the three time Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist," Cooper proudly said.

After Fallon congratulated him – “That’s what I'm talking about, buddy” – the host asked, “How'd you celebrate that win?”

“Just smug satisfaction all weekend,” Cooper responded. “I read a lot of his old columns, and I kept reading them thinking to myself, 'Yeah, that's a good column. He's smart, but he's not Jeopardy! smart!’"

Obviously not.