CNBC’s Jim Cramer tapes show at OU
Celebrity visit
BY DON MECOY
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Published: October 31, 2009
NORMAN — Jim Cramer, the bombastic host of CNBC’s "Mad Money,” taught some classes at the University of Oklahoma on Friday. Then he went on the air and taught some more.
Cramer, whose outlandish style has made him an easy target, concedes that his show has changed "radically” as markets soared and soured over the past several years. Gone are the high-flying days of picking stocks. Cramer said his job now is to educate entertainingly.
With CNBC playing in his dressing room — "sheesh,
the Dow’s down 260” — Cramer talked to
The Oklahoman about his current job, which comes after careers as a journalist, hedge fund manager, money manager, Web start-up entrepreneur and television personality.
"I’m an entertainer about business — a business entertainer,” he said a few hours before taping his show while at OU. "I’m a televangelist for money. I do a one-man sports show about business.”
When asked about his regrets, Cramer immediately recalls some bad recent market calls.
"I try to do a good show every night, but I’m very critical of myself,” he said.
He believes he was humiliated during a confrontational appearance on "
The Daily Show With
Jon Stewart” but is proud that he maintained his composure — and that his spot produced a bump in "Mad Money” ratings.
"(Stewart) apologized to me immediately after the cameras went off,” he said. Cramer said he would appear on the show again only if Stewart would make his apology public.
Cramer is more concerned with ratings than critics.
"If the people felt that I was a huckster or a fraud, they would turn me off,” he said. "If they turn me off, then I’m fired. But that’s OK. That’s the risk you take in life. I’ve failed at many things.”
For a guy who talks loud and confidently, Cramer can be racked with doubt.
"I’m scared every day,” he said. "I’m scared that I’m not ready. I’m scared that I won’t do a good job with my guests. I’m worried about everything.”
He’s unapologetic about the multitude of mistakes that the format of his daily show essentially forces him to make.
"My on-base percentage is about .550,” he said. "That’s a win.”
About 800 people attended Friday’s taping, which was scheduled to include interviews with the chief executive officers of local energy giants
Devon Energy Corp. (
Larry Nichols) and
Chesapeake Energy Corp. (
Aubrey McClendon).
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I did not know any of this until I helped bring in a special episode of "Win Ben Stein's Money." I thought it would be something fun and just off the cuff. It was not going to be political but just some hijinx and such. The Union Programming Board was very opposed as they said Ben Stein is to much of a Republican activist. They said it would have to be funded under the Student Republican Club's budget allocations. I thought that was the most ludicrous thing I had ever heard in my life.
I then proposed something that they could not digest or reply. I said what if I brought in Ben Stein as "The actor from Ferris Buller's Day Off?"
That perplexed the scheduling staff at the programming board. It took them two weeks to reply as they had to consult O.U. legal counsel. In the end, "Win Ben Stein's Money" did happen on campus. The funny thing is that near that appearance the programming board had no problems allowing Michael Moore to show his movie "Bowling for Columbine" in the Meacham auditorium. It was a slam dunk and had Boren's full support although they did have to fund it independently as many people were watching how it was financed after the Ben Stein thing.
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