Inside Move: Thompson photos emerge

Topless pics, news of 'Gigolo' stint stir controversy

By PAULA BERNSTEIN

Thompson

When CNN Headline News tapped former "NYPD Blue" actress Andrea Thompson last week, the company's toppers were hoping it would bring some star power to the 24-hour cable net. They may have gotten more than they bargained for.

The hiring of Thompson, a high-school dropout with little journalism experience, just months after the news net laid off 400 employees raised the ire of both CNN staffers and media critics. "It sends a signal that star value goes above credibility," said Carl Gottlieb, deputy director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism.

The controversy heated up when CNN execs got wind that topless pics of Thompson were on the Internet.

The former actress and model -- whose credits include "Wall Street" (she played a hooker), "Falcon Crest" and "Babylon 5" -- also appeared nude in a 1986 Italian erotic film called "Manhattan Gigolo."

Thompson's first and only news stint after "NYPD Blue" was as a reporter at a CBS affiliate in New Mexico.

While CNN stands behind its decision, saying Thompson's "excellent reporting skills have earned the respect of her colleagues," network staffers are joking about what it takes to get ahead at the cable news net.

"There's a skill set necessary to being a journalist and it doesn't include 'NYPD Blue' or 'Manhattan Gigolo,' " said Gottlieb. "Ultimately, the viewers will decide whether she's credible.