ABC: Pope Is ‘King, Attending His Own Funeral
Although the first pope to resign in 600 years, Pope Benedict XVI might as well be dead to the media as cardinals elect a new pope. On the day of the Roman Catholic pope’s resignation, February 28, ABC’s “Good Morning America” offered repulsive input and likened the monumental event to Pope Benedict XVI participating in his own funeral.
A voiceover described how Pope Benedict XVI bade…
NBC Allows 16 Seconds to White House Battle With Bob Woodward, Avoids
The Today show on Thursday allowed a scant 16 seconds, out of a possible four hours, to the claim by veteran journalist Bob Woodward that the Obama White House is trying to intimidate him and attack his coverage of the sequester cuts. The NBC program also avoided using the word "threat."
ABC's Good Morning America gave the most coverage to the battle, offering a full report and a news brief…
Bashing Benedict: Networks Make Pope Butt of Jokes, Center of Scandal
A frail, ailing 85-year-old man announces he doesn’t have the strength to continue as the spiritual leader of 1.2 billion people. With the humility of one whose entire life has been in service to God and his Church, he says he will retire to quietly live out his remaining years.
Cue the laugh track and gin up the scandal rumors. It was three weeks full of journalistic contempt for the Pope…
ABC Newscasts Mum on Editing Out Michelle Obama's Reference to 'Automa
Good Morning America on Tuesday edited out an inaccurate assertion by First Lady Michelle Obama that the gunman in a Chicago killing used an "automatic weapon." Regarding the death of teenager Hadiya Pendelton, Mrs. Obama claimed, "And she was caught in the line of fire because some kids had some automatic weapons they didn't need." This quote appeared online, but not on the February 26…
Hyperbolic ABC: 'Massive Spending Cuts' to Cause 'Meat Shortages
The reporters of Good Morning America, who on Monday briefly questioned Barack Obama's hyperbolic talk about the sequester cuts, have returned to promoting dire warnings of meat shortages and children losing vaccines. Guest co-host Elizabeth Vargas on Wednesday hyped "the grim countdown to the massive spending cuts that will kick in on Friday."
To underline the point, an ABC graphic…
ABC Thrills Over Michelle Obama's Oscar Appearance: 'Straight Out of A
Last week, ABC scored an exclusive "get." Barack and Michelle Obama appeared on Good Morning America to welcome back co-host Robin Roberts from a serious illness. On Tuesday, Roberts paid the White House back, fawning over the "trend-setting" First Lady and her "hot" bangs. The anchor asked not a single tough question during the two part, eight and a half minute segment.
Co-anchor George…
ABC Hypes Obama's Sequester Warnings, Spins Cuts as Sounding 'Like a D
ABC on Sunday continued to hype Barack Obama's hyperbolic claims about sequester cuts. World News reporter David Kerley played a clip of the President and then insisted that $85 billion in spending "sounds like a disaster movie." Kerley warned, "Child care canceled for tens of thousands of kids. Long airport security lines. Flight delays with a shortage of controllers. And military cuts that…
David Wright Huffs Over 'Ugly' Papal Election and 'Absolute Monarch' P
According to Good Morning America's David Wright on Monday, the upcoming "papal election campaign is getting ugly." The ABC correspondent then declared that Pope Benedict an "absolute monarch."
In a report live from Rome, Wright explained, "Pope Benedict is expected to issue new rules about the timing and procedures of the conclave [the meeting of cardinals to elect a new pope.]" He added…
Ad For New ABC Sitcom Includes Caption That Reads 'Bull
A few years ago, CBS briefly aired a sitcom called "$#*! My Dad Says."
Although it only lasted five months, ABC thought it wise to follow in its footsteps by creating an ad for a new sitcom coming out in April that included a caption that read "Bull#$%@" (video follows with commentary):
George Will: ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ Should Win As 'Rebuke To Senators
Syndicated columnist George Will on ABC's This Week Sunday made a marvelous observation about the upcoming Academy Awards.
In his view, “Zero Dark Thirty” should win as best picture as a “rebuke to Senators Levin, Feinstein, and McCain who have enough to do without being movie critics and falsely accusing that movie of taking a stand on torture it does not take” (video follows with…
What Objectivity? Three ABC Co-Hosts to Appear at a Political Fund-Rai
Apparently, objectivity just isn't needed on some issues. On March 16th, Good Morning America's Josh Elliott, Sam Champion and Lara Spencer will co-host the 24th annual Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) awards. The event will honor another journalist, Anderson Cooper, for being "an advocate for the LGBT community."
This isn't the first time Elliott, supposedly a neutral…
Panic! ABC Warns of Sequester 'Fiscal Emergency' to 'Cripple' Much of
The journalists of Good Morning America on Friday adopted White House talking points, foreseeing a "fiscal emergency" that will "cripple" flights in the United States. Jon Karl warned, "When it comes to air travel, the first thing we'll all see are longer lines at airport security. Expect ten percent fewer TSA agents on the job." An ABC graphic blared, "Seven Days to Fiscal Emergency: Air…
Big Three Network Double Standard on Labeling Scandalous Politicians
All too often when reporters are discussing Democrats caught in scandals, they develop a peculiar speech impediment that prevents them from uttering the "D" word. However, when members of the GOP stumble, the word "Republican" cascades out of the mouths of reporters.
When news broke on February 15 that former Democratic Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. was charged with improperly spending…
Michael Strahan Tells Jimmy Kimmel 'There Was Watermelon In My Dressin
Was this a gag or was ABC Live star Michael Strahan serious?
On ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live Wednesday, Strahan said there was watermelon in his dressing room when he got there (video follows with transcribed highlights and commentary):
