Stressing the money side of stories

Mackenzie Carpenter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes Sunday about Eric Bolling, the host of the new “Money Rocks” show on Fox Business Network.

Carpenter writes, “It will, he says, stress the ‘money’ side of politics, entertainment, celebrity, business and sports — and have a good time doing it.

“Nonetheless, there’s a slight trace of wistfulness when the 47-year-old Chicago native, who made his name as a Wall Street commodities trader before being lured to cable television, talks about playing for a Pittsburgh Pirates minor league team back in the 1980s.

“It’s a part of his resume that he and Fox publicists like to stress, to be sure — even if the Pirates are at the bottom of the standings these days. There’s just something about having once been a professional baseball player, however briefly, that impresses people, perhaps even more than being a hugely successful commodities trader on Wall Street.

“‘Money Rocks’ comes at a time when the Fox Business channel is rejiggering its schedule — dropping some shows, adding others — in an ongoing effort to cut into CNBC’s ratings dominance. Mr. Bolling says he aims to keep the program ‘upbeat’ and ‘irreverent.’ Its first week’s guest lineup included Sir Richard Branson, billionaire founder of Virgin Airways; legendary rocker Ted Nugent, who discussed what BP should have done to prevent the oil spill in the Gulf; and former ‘Friends’ star Lisa Kudrow.