# CNN: Let McDonalds buy a damn commercial already **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 4, 2002, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-let-mcdonalds-buy-a-damn-commercial-already/126902 "2002-09-04T02:00:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-let-mcdonalds-buy-a-damn-commercial-already/126902/1 "2002-09-04T02:00:33Z")
In our newsroom at school we have several TVs tuned to CNN and other news outlets in order to see what’s going on and get satellite feeds. The upshot of this is that when we do newscasts, we see a LOT of CNN. This afternoon, their huge story was this: McDonald’s is using a less-fatty oil for their french fries! I wish I was kidding. They had multiple live hits in front of McDonalds restaurants. They had newspeople holding up boxes of fries. There was everything except a reporter chiming in, “I’ve got the new McDonald’s fries right here, and dang if they aren’t just as tasty!” Now, I know just as well as anyone that like it or not, without advertisers, news would be a dead industry. But please, people–let’s keep the ads in the commercials and not in the content, mkay? This is far from the first time the line between news story and advertisement has been blurred if not blatantly trampled. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-let-mcdonalds-buy-a-damn-commercial-already/126902/2 "2002-09-04T03:31:07Z")
Ah, yes. Just like how they spend 20 minutes every morning blabbing about whatever happened on that “American Idol” show. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-let-mcdonalds-buy-a-damn-commercial-already/126902/3 "2002-09-04T14:49:21Z")
The news channel is only as inquisitive as it’s corporate owner allows. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-let-mcdonalds-buy-a-damn-commercial-already/126902/4 "2002-09-04T14:56:29Z")
I even saw (i forget what chanel) the guy throwing fries into the audience. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-let-mcdonalds-buy-a-damn-commercial-already/126902/5 "2002-09-04T14:59:06Z")
Our local news station has an “Lance Bass Update” on their morning show. No, he’s not a local boy or anything. It’s just become a running gag. Forget war, pestilence, and strife - what I need to know is that latest gossip about teen idols! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Wrong\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b782af/32.png) [@The\_Wrong\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Wrong_Girl)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-let-mcdonalds-buy-a-damn-commercial-already/126902/6 "2002-09-04T15:08:58Z")
Our local news station covered the new french fries too, except they put a totally moronic twist on it–“Coming up: A change for the healthier at your local McDonalds. Why Supersizing your fries may actually be _good_ for you.” I, too, wish I were kidding. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-let-mcdonalds-buy-a-damn-commercial-already/126902/7 "2002-09-04T16:51:55Z")
I don’t rely on the Corporate News Network for anything but the headlines and basic commentary. For real news, I go to places like the Washington Post website, or NYTimes, or Slashdot for techie pieces, or other specialized news vendors for specialized news. In short, relying on one news provider is dangerous, and unnecessary if you have an Internet connection. ---
**Author:** ![Diff\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@Diff\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diff_T)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-let-mcdonalds-buy-a-damn-commercial-already/126902/8 "2002-09-04T18:28:21Z")
Well, I really think it’s all in what you consider “relevant” news. McDonald’s new recipe (gimmick?), may be important to some people. Not just fries fans, but people who are in business with the company. If you ran a news station, I’m sure there would be people out there complaining about what your station considered relevant. Aside from that, you have to break in with a lighter news story now and then. Very few people want to watch a news station that is all ‘hard-core’ news, (if that’s what you want to call it), and nothing else… it’s too depressing and boring. A lot of people like American Idol and McDonalds. I don’t, put at least I recognize that others do. ---
**Author:** ![dave316](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dave316](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dave316)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-let-mcdonalds-buy-a-damn-commercial-already/126902/9 "2002-09-04T22:09:50Z")
yesterday was a big day at my local station, a new McDonalds dinner opened up AND the new fries came out ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-let-mcdonalds-buy-a-damn-commercial-already/126902/10 "2002-09-05T05:11:25Z")
Diff T: I’m not saying it should be ignored, but I do think it was way overreported. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-let-mcdonalds-buy-a-damn-commercial-already/126902/11 "2002-09-05T09:42:35Z")
I despise this trend. I stopped watching the local news when Survivor came out . It was just too disgusting watching some bozo being voted off an island for a gameshow lead the 6 o’clock news. Although for celebrity news I think the Brits still have it worse. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-let-mcdonalds-buy-a-damn-commercial-already/126902/12 "2002-09-05T13:03:54Z")
I dunno. I watch the news channels, and I see plenty of substantive news stories. Are you guys sure the important stuff isn’t just going under your radar? It’s funny how people who complain that frivolous aspects of the media are always in their face never take the time and effort to seek out quality entertainment or info. Which is not **that** difficult to find, either. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-let-mcdonalds-buy-a-damn-commercial-already/126902/13 "2002-09-05T22:51:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Osiris \* > **I despise this trend. I stopped watching the local news when Survivor came out . It was just too disgusting watching some bozo being voted off an island for a gameshow lead the 6 o’clock news.** I couldn’t agree more. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-let-mcdonalds-buy-a-damn-commercial-already/126902/14 "2002-09-05T22:56:38Z")
I used to love Mickey D’s French Fries. Really love 'em. Then they stopped using beef tallow to fry 'em in. Can stand 'em now. Don’t order 'em, don’t want 'em. I seriously doubt the newest version of their FF’s are any tastier. Bring back beef tallow!