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Downgrading of Lili wreaks damage in the millions for CNN, MSNBC
Borowitz Report ^ | 10/03/2002 | Andy Borowitz

Posted on 10/03/2002 8:33:34 AM PDT by Constitutionalist Conservative

DOWNGRADING OF LILI WREAKS DAMAGE IN THE MILLIONS FOR CNN, MSNBC


Viewers Flee Wall-to-wall Coverage of Boring Non-disaster

The ratings of the cable news networks suffered a savage blow today as Lili was downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane, rendering their wall-to-wall coverage of the non-emergency disastrously tedious.

CNN and MSNBC were both expected to suffer losses in the millions as a result of hurricane Lili’s abject failure to produce footage of houses, cars, and other personal property being blown away or smushed.

Fox News, which largely avoided Lili coverage and instead featured footage of conservative pundits shouting at liberals, avoided the devastation caused by Lili’s lack of devastating power.

Of the millions of dollars in losses estimated by CNN and MSNBC, most of it was in the form of money wasted on ominous music and graphics relating to Lili’s widely anticipated destructive havoc, which never occurred.

Unfortunately for the networks, the most riveting footage that Lili produced was MSNBC’s fleeting shot of anchor Brian Williams’ hair being blown about in a goofy manner.

In Washington, President Bush declared the ratings for both CNN and MSNBC a disaster area, authorizing FEMA funds to be dispatched to parent companies AOL/Time Warner and General Electric immediately.

Meanwhile, news executives were already girding for next week, when tedious coverage of the Senate debates over Iraq are expected to deliver yet another roundhouse punch to their already battered ratings.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons
KEYWORDS: humor; lili; mediacoverage

1 posted on 10/03/2002 8:33:35 AM PDT by Constitutionalist Conservative
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To: Constitutionalist Conservative
Too freakin' bad. I call it a blessing in disguise.
2 posted on 10/03/2002 8:37:00 AM PDT by brewcrew
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To: Constitutionalist Conservative
A good rainy morning chuckle! Thx...
3 posted on 10/03/2002 8:37:55 AM PDT by BlessedAmerican
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To: Constitutionalist Conservative
Not if I lived in New Iberia. The eye-wall just past over. I hope you have a stock of Tabasco for your Bloody Marys because this 'Non-storm' just made a mess of the place.

Idiots like you should not post this until the news is complete. Morgan City has not been reporting for hours and with out power it maybe a while before the true story comes out.

4 posted on 10/03/2002 8:41:20 AM PDT by Quick Shot
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To: Constitutionalist Conservative
Yeah I couldn't help but noticing that the newsies seemed disappointed that Lili was downgraded. It's all about them you know.
5 posted on 10/03/2002 8:42:20 AM PDT by Rightwing Conspiratr1
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To: BlessedAmerican
OH! What Carnage!

Isn't there anything these poor defenseless news organizations could do? Couldn't they seed the eyewall or something to get it to spin back up to Cat-4?

6 posted on 10/03/2002 8:43:09 AM PDT by C210N
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To: Constitutionalist Conservative
Yesterday evening Shepherd Smith was in convultions and near panic mode when telling of the utter devastation about to be inflicted on Louisiana. It grew wearisome, and I live in Louisiana.
7 posted on 10/03/2002 8:45:44 AM PDT by Skooz
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To: Quick Shot
Idiots like you should not post this until the news is complete.

Your screen name is quite appropriate. You shoot first, ask questions later.

Ever heard of satire? Borowitz's piece is a commentary on the news media, not on the storm itself.

8 posted on 10/03/2002 8:46:45 AM PDT by Constitutionalist Conservative
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To: Constitutionalist Conservative
What a stupid piece of tripe!

Everyone ought to be grateful that Lili lost steam. FOXNEWS is, in fact, on the scene in Louisiana, with Shepherd Smith on the roof of the FOX affiliate there.

When we went to bed last night, this looked like a major disaster in the making. I didn't notice anything but relief on any network I've watched this morning.

Borowitz is, well, boring.

9 posted on 10/03/2002 8:47:51 AM PDT by sinkspur
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To: Quick Shot
*Idiots like you should not post this until the news is complete.

What's your snit? The article has nothing to do about whether the news is "complete". It only talks about CNN and CSNBC losing money. So the story is complete.
10 posted on 10/03/2002 8:58:02 AM PDT by jwh_Denver
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To: Constitutionalist Conservative
Unfortunately for the networks, the most riveting footage that Lili produced was MSNBC’s fleeting shot of anchor Brian Williams’ hair being blown about in a goofy manner.

I treasured this shot--pretty boy Williams all wet & messy.

11 posted on 10/03/2002 9:02:33 AM PDT by Catspaw
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To: Constitutionalist Conservative
This is true for the CBS as well.

Dan Rather was broadcasting live from New Orleans. He mentioned that the storm had been downsized to a category 2 BUT was still an EXTREMELY DANGEROUS storm. He was wearing a bright yellow rain slicker, hood down. Unlike Hurricane Carla in 1961, he was not strapped to a tree!

12 posted on 10/03/2002 9:22:33 AM PDT by NYer
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To: Constitutionalist Conservative
It's times like these the networks miss Clinton the most.

I'll never forget seeing Sam Donaldson covering the Pope's visit to Cuba, only to drop the story like a hot rock as the 'Monica' scandal broke.

Oh well, they can always go with news stories like "3000 year-old Mummy is Pregnant!"

13 posted on 10/03/2002 10:46:44 AM PDT by Crowcreek
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To: Constitutionalist Conservative
From Don Henley's song, Dirty Laundry, about the great American Press Corps:

We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who
comes on at five
She can tell you 'bout the plane crash with a gleam
in her eye
It's interesting when people die-
Give us dirty laundry!

Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're stiff
Kick 'em all around

Dirty little secrets
Dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pie
We love to cut you down to size
We love dirty laundry

We can do "The Innuendo"
We can dance and sing
When it's said and done we haven't told you a thing
We all know that Crap is King
Give us dirty laundry!

14 posted on 10/03/2002 10:53:51 AM PDT by Alas Babylon!
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To: Alas Babylon!
Re: Dirty Laundry (Which I LOVE, BTW), you left out the BEST line!

"GET THE WIDOW ON THE SET - we love dirty laundry!"

15 posted on 10/03/2002 10:57:32 AM PDT by WIladyconservative
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