Great Question? Stupid Comment.

I've noticed there seems to be an increase in the number of interviewees who begin an answer with "That's a great (or excellent) question."

Well, maybe it was a great question, but saying so was a dumb response. (What's that you say? You've had media training and the trainer encouraged you to say that? For your sake, let's hope the trainer's other advice was a lot more accurate.)

Why is it dumb? Four reasons:

1. Most reporters consider it a) a stall; b) an attempt to ingratiate yourself; c) a wasted 3 seconds; or d) all of the above.
2. Who asked you to evaluate the quality of the reporter's questions? You are there as a source, not as a journalism professor.
3. If that was an excellent question, are you implying that the others were mundane or outright stupid questions? Or if you say that in response to a question from an audience, are you suggesting that the questions asked by other audience members weren't great questions?
4. If you're on Larry King Live, Larry might jump in and say, "Yes, I know it is. That's what I ask. That's why this show is so popular." (I'm not a regular viewer, but over the years I've counted at least 5 occasions when he has said exactly that, or some close variation.)

Lesson: If "That's a great question," or "I'm glad you asked that," (equally dumb for similar reasons) are in your response repertoire, get rid of them.