Phoenix TV "News" - Here We Go Again

[landtuna]

We had a summer thunderstorm last night.  Lots of lightening and a bit of wind but not a lot of rain and certainly not anywhere near one of the worst storms we've ever had.  But you wouldn't know that by the TV coverage today.

First up this morning on the local news was in-depth coverage of the storm including tens of shots of lightening photos (in case none of us desert rats had ever seen an actual lightening strike before), a downed tree or two (desert trees are prone to snap in winds due to their large umbrella and small trunk) and, OMG!, the necessary shot of rain falling to the ground near a street light (rain happens so infrequently in the desert we all need to be reminded what it looks like).

That was this morning.

It is now mid-afternoon and the pre-evening-meal "news" programs on on the air and leading off with.....exactly the same old stories.

And the TV suits wonder (or not) why we make fun of their meager attempts at news coverage.

[formeraa]

(Spoken breathlessly) "And let's go first to meteorologist <insert name here> in the Doppler Storm Team Weather Center for the latest on the monsoon storms..."

(Standing in front of a huge radar picture of Arizona)  "Okay, <insert anchor's name here>, let's take a look at the radar picture right now.  Although the whole picture looks dark green and menacing, there are actually only a few sprinkles popping up around the Valley.  I'll have all the latest on the next round of monsoon action, coming up in just a few minutes."

(Spoken breathlessly) "And, for a look at the storm destruction around the Valley, let's go live to <insert reporter's name here>, who's been all over the Valley today, with the latest.

(Standing on the one flooded street in the Valley, next to a tree that fell over on a fence)  "Okay, <insert anchor's name here>, there is total devastation out here in <insert Valley city> at <numbered street or avenue> and <named street, road, or avenue>.  As you can see, this street is flooded and I've asked all these kids to gather around me for the live shot.  I'm talking to Jim Smith, whose desert tree fall over and completely demolished his fence.  Jim, what happened here?"

(Jim Smith) "Well, me and my wife were just eating lunch and we heard a loud bang.  I ran to the window and looked outside and saw the tree down on our fence..."

(Back to reporter standing in ankle-high water)  Well, <insert anchor's name>, this is just one of many areas of destruction throughout the Valley.  I'm <insert reporter's name> reporting live in <insert Valley city>.

(Spoken breathlessly)  Coming up next, we'll have viewer's video of a devastating mudslide in Globe, which temporarily closed Highway <insert random two-digit number here >, because we're too cheap to actually send reporters to cover these events...as <insert newscast name> continues.

And so it goes...

[oldiesfan6479]

Emmy awarding-winning newscasts here!

[sunspot51]

The joys of actually trying to make news out of the weather.

[landtuna]

One of last night's newscasts spent the entire first half on a storm (which affected only a small area of the Valley) then, after the break, went directly to.......the weather.

Is anyone paying attention?

Hello?  Bueller?

[formeraa]

Kim Covington has got to be the queen of "Overemphasis" during these types of weather events.  Lots of dramatic pauses, overemphasis on words, and exclamations! 

[Mike]

Don'cha think Ms. Kim would make a _____ kindergarten teacher?

Poor kids.  ;-)

[formeraa]

Don'cha think Ms. Kim would make a _____ kindergarten teacher?

Poor kids.  ;-)

Kim would make an excellent elementary school teacher!  They need to team her again with Brahm Resnick who added some amount of levity and seriousness to the newscast.  But why would 12 Cheap News have co-anchors anymre?

[Legend City]

I'm standing here in front of this adult dancing establishment.  Had lightning hit this place and started it on fire, and had a flood come into this establishment...I'd be surrounded by naked women.

Back to you Kent...