# Did a CNN reporter leave her mike on in the bathroom? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 31, 2006, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-cnn-reporter-leave-her-mike-on-in-the-bathroom/370918 "2006-08-31T14:01:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FormerMarineGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/65b543/32.png) [@FormerMarineGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FormerMarineGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-cnn-reporter-leave-her-mike-on-in-the-bathroom/370918/1 "2006-08-31T14:01:27Z")
Some guy at work just told me that a CNN reporter left her microphone on in the bathroom around/during the presidents speech? Personally I don’t see how this could have happened. Did anyone else hear of this? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-cnn-reporter-leave-her-mike-on-in-the-bathroom/370918/2 "2006-08-31T14:03:58Z")
I saw a report on this on the TV in the gym yesterday; I don’t know if it was on CNN. They were reporting it as a big funny thing, so it probably wasn’t one of their reporters. She said something about having an affair with a sister-in-law’s spouse, and he infected her with something. Christmas will be a little strained this year, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Ludy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Ludy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludy)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-cnn-reporter-leave-her-mike-on-in-the-bathroom/370918/3 "2006-08-31T14:07:49Z")
I find that hard to believe seeing that in order for the mic to be amplified anywhere it would have been run through a sound board. If a sound board op is good enough to be running at a Presidential speech they are good enough to know to mute any mic that is not on. When things like that happen don’t blame the person with the mic, blame the person who put it on them\* \*Ok I know that the person running the sound is not often the one who puts lav mics on but it just sounded better that way. ---
**Author:** ![Puzzler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d07c76/32.png) [@Puzzler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Puzzler)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-cnn-reporter-leave-her-mike-on-in-the-bathroom/370918/4 "2006-08-31T14:08:57Z")
I have also read about it in an Israeli newspaper (printed, so no cite). It seems that she left the mike on during the speech. She gossiped about how great her bother is, and how \*not great \* her SIL is. It was also mentioned that “noises similar to bathroom noises” were heard. ---
**Author:** ![Puzzler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d07c76/32.png) [@Puzzler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Puzzler)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-cnn-reporter-leave-her-mike-on-in-the-bathroom/370918/5 "2006-08-31T14:10:15Z")
[QUOTE=Puzzler] bother [/QUOTE] brother ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-cnn-reporter-leave-her-mike-on-in-the-bathroom/370918/6 "2006-08-31T14:11:24Z")
As you might guess, you can watch the relevant part of the speech with her audio on [YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fjxSoHgSN4). ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-cnn-reporter-leave-her-mike-on-in-the-bathroom/370918/7 "2006-08-31T14:11:31Z")
[CNN Apologized For Kyra Phillips’ Bathroom Break](http://www.playfuls.com/news_0002119_CNN_Apologized_For_Kyra_Phillips_Bathroom_Break.html) ---
**Author:** ![vertizontal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ad7895/32.png) [@vertizontal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vertizontal)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-cnn-reporter-leave-her-mike-on-in-the-bathroom/370918/8 "2006-08-31T14:22:16Z")
Here’s a transcript. > [@](#): > > Kyra Phillips: “–assholes–Yeah, I’m very lucky in that regard with my husband. My husband is handsome and he is genuinely a loving, you know, no ego–[unintelligible] you know what I’m saying. Just a really passionate, compassionate great, great human being. And they exist. They do exist. They’re hard to find. Yup. But they are out there.” > > [unidentified woman]: ‘We’ll see. He’s going to come, you know, he’s set for an extended visit–[unintelligible]" > > Phillips: “I mean, that’s, that’s how you figure it all out, those extended visits. [laughter]” > > [unidentified woman]: “Yeah, but my mom, I think she really likes him.” > > Phillips: “Mom’s got a good vibe? Good.” > > [unidentified woman]: “Yeah, my brother’s the one that–[unintelligible]” > > Phillips: “Brother–of course, brothers have to be, you know, protective. Except for mine. I’ve got to be protective of him.” > > [unidentified woman–unintelligible] > > Phillips: “Yeah. He’s married, three kids, but his wife is just a control freak.” > > Phillips: “Yeah, baby?” > > unidentified woman #2: “Your mic is on. Turn it off. It’s been on the air.” > > Seconds later, Daryn Kagan stumbled through this awkward transition: > > Daryn Kagan: “Alright, we’ve been listening in to President Bush as he speaks in, uh, New Orleans today. This is the one year anniversary of Katrina making land shore there. President Bush saying if another natural disaster hits, our country–we must, uh, react better than that. Let’s listen in once again to President Bush.” ---
**Author:** ![Puzzler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d07c76/32.png) [@Puzzler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Puzzler)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-cnn-reporter-leave-her-mike-on-in-the-bathroom/370918/9 "2006-08-31T14:24:55Z")
Another [cite with video](http://hotair.com/archives/2006/08/29/potty-break-mic-snafu-cnns-phillips-chats-in-the-loo-during-bush-speech/) ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-cnn-reporter-leave-her-mike-on-in-the-bathroom/370918/10 "2006-08-31T14:36:31Z")
Didn’t Leslie Nielson do this in a Police Squad movie? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-cnn-reporter-leave-her-mike-on-in-the-bathroom/370918/11 "2006-08-31T14:37:56Z")
Huh. Guess the bit I saw about an affair wasn’t accurately reported. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-cnn-reporter-leave-her-mike-on-in-the-bathroom/370918/12 "2006-08-31T15:09:43Z")
[QUOTE=FormerMarineGuy] Some guy at work just told me that a CNN reporter left her microphone on in the bathroom around/during the presidents speech? Personally I don’t see how this could have happened. Did anyone else hear of this? [/QUOTE] Don’t lay all the blame on Kyra Phillips! Just as the TC operator at Lexington didn’ follow up on take off, the CNN control room didn’t maintain both video and audio control. OTOH Maybe TV is different and remote mics are left on off stage. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-cnn-reporter-leave-her-mike-on-in-the-bathroom/370918/13 "2006-08-31T15:16:58Z")
[QUOTE=spingears] Don’t lay all the blame on Kyra Phillips! Just as the TC operator at Lexington didn’ follow up on take off, the CNN control room didn’t maintain both video and audio control. OTOH Maybe TV is different and remote mics are left on off stage. [/QUOTE] And maybe there are other ways in which that comparison is inadequate. Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-cnn-reporter-leave-her-mike-on-in-the-bathroom/370918/14 "2006-08-31T15:17:07Z")
Ahhhh…Kyra Phillips in the bathroom! Thats the stuff! ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-cnn-reporter-leave-her-mike-on-in-the-bathroom/370918/15 "2006-08-31T15:24:18Z")
[QUOTE=spingears] Don’t lay all the blame on Kyra Phillips! [/QUOTE] Why not? Lav mics have an on/off switch. If you don’t want to be broadcast, you shut it off. I walked into a bathroom with my wireless lav mic turned on once. Luckily, I remembered it before I even reached the stall and turned it off. It’s easy to forget you’re wired when you’re wearing the mic all day long. ---
**Author:** ![Puzzler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d07c76/32.png) [@Puzzler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Puzzler)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-cnn-reporter-leave-her-mike-on-in-the-bathroom/370918/16 "2006-08-31T15:27:36Z")
[QUOTE=spingears] Don’t lay all the blame on Kyra Phillips! Just as the TC operator at Lexington didn’ follow up on take off, the CNN control room didn’t maintain both video and audio control. OTOH Maybe TV is different and remote mics are left on off stage. [/QUOTE] > [@transcript](#): > > Phillips: “Yeah, baby?” > > unidentified woman #2: “Your mic is on. **Turn it off.** It’s been on the air.” Bolding mine. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-cnn-reporter-leave-her-mike-on-in-the-bathroom/370918/17 "2006-08-31T15:46:59Z")
[QUOTE=Ethilrist] She said something about having an affair with a sister-in-law’s spouse, and he infected her with something. [/QUOTE] Wow, that telephone game is amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-cnn-reporter-leave-her-mike-on-in-the-bathroom/370918/18 "2006-08-31T15:55:42Z")
[QUOTE=BMalion] Didn’t Leslie Nielson do this in a Police Squad movie? [/QUOTE] It was one of the “Naked Gun” films, probably the first one. A case of reality imitating fiction! ---
**Author:** ![Papermache\_Prince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Papermache\_Prince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papermache_Prince)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-cnn-reporter-leave-her-mike-on-in-the-bathroom/370918/19 "2006-08-31T15:58:45Z")
Simpsons had this gag as well. Homer is wearing a suit which translates his movements onto an animated character; he continues wearing the suit while in the bathroom. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-cnn-reporter-leave-her-mike-on-in-the-bathroom/370918/20 "2006-08-31T16:02:44Z")
Homer Simpson did it once, too. Well, actually he was fitted with a motion-capture suit, but same idea. I was at a class once at church when the priest who was speaking took a break and went into the kitchen, forgetting to turn off his mike. We could hear him clearing his throat, running the sink and pouring some coffee. Someone ran in to tell him to turn of his mike before he went to the men’s room… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-cnn-reporter-leave-her-mike-on-in-the-bathroom/370918.md?page=2)