This post is part of our Money Face-Offs feature. Let us know who you think comes out ahead in this head-to-head match-up, and check out our other Money Face-Off posts.
Who needs to worry about the subprime mortgage meltdown or the Iraq War when we can debate whether CNBC's Maria Bartiromo still is the "Money Honey" or if her crown has been taken by upstart Erin "Street Sweetie" Burnett.
Bartiromo's image has been tarnished by the Todd Thomson fiasco, the trademarking of "Money Honey," and her countless appearances at corporate events, while Burnett's star is on the rise thanks in part to hugely flattering articles by the likes of Howard Kurtz of the Washington Post. He recently wrote of Burnett, "Under the lights, in a smoky blue dress that matches her eyes as well as her shoes, her flowing dark hair perfectly teased, she is not exactly hard on the eyes." No word on whether he feels the same way about Mark Haines.
Yes, television is a superficial medium. Yes, discussions of the attractiveness of Bartiromo and Burnett are sexist, to say the least. I personally couldn't care less whether the anchors are best of friends or are constantly trying to stab each other in the back, as has been reported by the tabloids.
But as another of my Bloomberg colleagues, Jon Friedman of MarketWatch, points out, CNBC needs to find a way to make both alpha females happy as the General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) cable channel faces competition from the Fox Business Network that launches next month.
"Clearly, CNBC is relying on Bartiromo and Burnett more than ever," Friedman writes. "These anchors have helped it build an audience among the institutional Wall Street crowd."
Indeed, News Corp. (NYSE: NWS) Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch would love to lure either Bartiromo and Burnett (who also worked at Bloomberg, though I don't remember meeting her) to his fledgling business network. But if the network has to decide between keeping one or the other, the "Money Honey" would be shown the door because there's no star quite like a rising one. That's show business.
[Note: we replaced our original photo of Erin with a more current one after several comments alerted us to the fact that it was from a much more youthful time!]
Vote in our poll for Erin Burnett or Maria Bartiromo, and let us know in the comments why your choice has the financial edge in this match-up. Also be sure to check out our other Money Face-Offs.











Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
9-17-2007 @ 11:07AM
mj said...
Wish you had included more of the professional bio on Erin.
9-17-2007 @ 11:37AM
Bill Teommey said...
LUV EM BOTH. ALSO BECKY QUICK.
9-17-2007 @ 11:45PM
Alvin K Dickson said...
My vote is for Erin. Maria Bartoromo talks too fast, too loud , and her voice is unpleasant when she raises it . to a high pitch to make a point .Also I don't like it when she keeps interrupting investment experts she's interviewing. I would rather hear their opinions, not hers.
experts she's interviewimg
9-17-2007 @ 12:42PM
HTTP://C NOLL said...
I always ask myself " who would I marry--given the choice?", and given the chance--It is the terrific , georgeous, sharp, and mind boggling Erin.
9-17-2007 @ 12:43PM
allan lerner said...
Bartiromo is loud and shrill----plays to the camera. Burnett is much better as a focused reporter----has a most personable way and charm. It's not a beauty contest but if it were Maria comes in second with her constant change of hair-dos and tired jaded demeanor projecting "been there--done that!!"
9-17-2007 @ 12:49PM
ajfriedman2 said...
I'd like to check out Erin's portfolio...as well as her other assets.
9-17-2007 @ 1:41PM
Tattletale said...
What the hell does post #27 epistle got to do with the subject?
9-17-2007 @ 1:48PM
Jonathan Berr said...
Ted.
You raised a good point. I deleted that comment because it was obviously meant for another post.
Jon
9-17-2007 @ 1:49PM
Liz said...
Erin is being over-used and may wear out her welcome, if she's not careful. In any case, the two of them sure beat the daylights out of that over-exposed idiot, Cramer. He is taxing my mute button.
An idiot is one who can express himself only by using 4-letter words or screaming.
Maria and Erin, however, are winners.
9-17-2007 @ 1:48PM
jonathan berr said...
Folks:
We also changed the photo in response to the comments we received.
Jonathan Berr
9-17-2007 @ 2:39PM
rainbow00 said...
Maria has a twang to her voice that irritates me greatly, and I am also sick and tired of her patronizing attitude! I read this comment and agree 100% So patronizing!
9-17-2007 @ 2:46PM
zieglerfaf said...
Maria has those killer lips. I'd sop her up with a biscuit.
9-17-2007 @ 2:46PM
Tim said...
I have been a regular listener to Squawk Box or Squawk on the Street for years. You are going to lose me(and others) if you keep letting Creamer appear on the morning slot. For comparison, go back and listen to a tape of an old show when Emma(from the UK) was on for a while. Her voice is very soothing and Creamer is very irritating for someone from the Southwest. Tim
9-17-2007 @ 3:50PM
Tattletale said...
Jon....looks like one heck of a response to your poll Erin or Maria. Also so good observations concerning which of the two personalities wear best on we viewers. Compliments on the quick corrections .....your site is first class.
9-17-2007 @ 4:29PM
WOW said...
Maria is by far the best in all ways.
9-18-2007 @ 3:40AM
Anti-Celeb said...
What a pathetic promotional series by AOL Finance. You post photos of a group pf controversial public figures and then ask the viewing public -- most of whom can't find the US on a world map -- to vote on who is better, prettier, classier, etc.
Why not just post a couple of photos of the female business reporters and simply ask: Whose face would you prefer to blow your load into?
At least *that* poll my yield some interesting results.
Pathetic.
9-18-2007 @ 12:45PM
marilyn eslami said...
WHERE IS THE COMPARISON? ERIN HAS TO LEARN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.LISTEN TO HER USE OF ''VERY FUN ETC." LIMITED IS HER COMMAND OF BRILLIANT QUESTIONS TO ASK HER INTERVIEWEES.
MARIA IS BRILLIANT, KNOWS HER TOPICS, AND DOES HER HOMEWORK.SINCE WHEN ARE WE JUDGED ON OUR FACES?
9-18-2007 @ 1:52PM
Ted said...
I'd like to second Marilyn Islami's comment #37...anyone who saw the Alan Greenspan special with Maria Bartiromo.....saw a consummate class act. This was last night Monday 17th. You don't tug on Superwomans' cape....you don'd spit into the wind.....you don't pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger...and you don't mess around with...Maria,
9-19-2007 @ 9:29AM
Gail Adair said...
Maria, all the way! Erin is a common beauty. Everyone looks like her. Maria is exotic and extraordinary in her beauty, not to mention, you can clearly see, she has the passion for money news where Erin appears to be hired shearly for her looks and given news to read. It is not the same. Maria worked her way up to where she is, with her savvy for reporting stocks right on the Wallstreet floor. Erin just showed up one day. Maria is another Barbara Walters. Erin is just another pretty face.
9-24-2007 @ 9:17AM
Eric Soley said...
What about Alexis Christoforous at CBS?