# Did Glenn Beck kill a frog on live TV, or is he just an idiot? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 24, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333 "2009-09-24T03:28:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333/41 "2009-09-24T12:05:28Z")
You know, if Beck had been a real showman, he’d have bitten off the head of the frog first. Conservatives just aren’t rock 'n roll. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333/42 "2009-09-24T12:10:39Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Yeah, I heard that too. I have no evidence that he did or did not rape and murder a girl in 1990, but I _fear_ that he did. > > I don’t know why he doesn’t just provide documentation proving that he did not rape and kill a girl in 1990, so this can be put behind us. Maybe he can’t find the long forms? More importantly, why doesn’t Glenn Beck want us asking these questions? I actually think the frog bit was sort of clever, and reasonably well executed. > [@Glenn Beck](#): > > You know the old saying if you put a frog into boiling water he’s gonna jump right out because he’s scalding hot, but if you place the frog in lukewarm water and gradually raise the temperature, the frog won’t realize what’s happening and die? > > Let me get the frogs. Ba-Dum-tsshhhhh. Also not terrible was his delivery of the “ok, forget the frogs” line. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333/43 "2009-09-24T12:43:40Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Better experience was my stint as a toad wrangler. So, how do you wrangle a toad? Or am I better off not asking? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333/44 "2009-09-24T12:51:07Z")
> [@conurepete](#): > > I watched it, I think it was an attempt at an homage to the WKRP Thanksgiving episode. That’s the first thing I thought of. _As God is my witness, I thought that frog would jump out._ ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333/45 "2009-09-24T13:26:38Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > … Jeezus Keerist, what a maroon… That’s moran, bubba. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333/46 "2009-09-24T13:53:43Z")
Yes, it’s a fake frog; yes, he knew it was a myth before he did it; yes, the “raped and killed a girl in 1990” thing is a fark meme that is copied directly from Gilbert Gottfried’s act at Comedy Central’s roast of Bob Saget. (“Why did we pick Bob Saget, who raped and killed a girl in 1990? Why should we waste 2 seconds on Bob Saget, who raped and killed a girl in 1990? First of all, it’s not true – that Bob Saget raped and killed a girl in 1990…”) ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333/47 "2009-09-24T14:03:32Z")
I don’t think I buy that it was fake. That would make absolutely no sense in context with the argument he was trying to make. The frog not jumping out completely _undermined_ his point. I think the fake frog was just some _post hoc_, CYA scrambling. Anyway, a guy who allegedly might have raped and murdered a young woman in 1990 is not going to care about a frog. ---
**Author:** ![Laudenum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333/48 "2009-09-24T14:06:24Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I haven’t done the experiment on frogs, but I’ve tested salamanders for their critical thermal maximum in Herpetology class. If you slowly heat a container of water with a salamander in it, the salamander will begin to move about once the heat becomes uncomfortable, then start to thrash around violently before it finally keels over. I’m sure a frog would do the same. The whole metaphor is bogus. (Note: We didn’t kill the salamanders in the experiment. As soon as they zonked out, we turned the heat off and cooled the container down again until they revived.) And then the Salamander was free to go? Right? Right? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333/49 "2009-09-24T14:11:40Z")
Thank you, lissener, for being the word usage Nazi so I didn’t have to. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333/50 "2009-09-24T14:15:20Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > That would make absolutely no sense in context with the argument he was trying to make. That’s a very valid point except _we’re talking about Glenn freaking nutbar Beck_. ---
**Author:** ![wierdaaron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eada6e/32.png) [@wierdaaron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wierdaaron)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333/51 "2009-09-24T15:54:52Z")
Attn all Nazis: Grammar rules stop being enforced after midnight. Spelling has until 2am. Everyone noes that. Anyway, how long until Beck accidentally drowns a horse while trying to prove that, while you can lead it to water, you can’t _make_ it drink? ---
**Author:** ![emcee2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emcee2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emcee2k)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333/52 "2009-09-24T16:08:04Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I don’t think I buy that it was fake. That would make absolutely no sense in context with the argument he was trying to make. The frog not jumping out completely _undermined_ his point. I think the fake frog was just some _post hoc_, CYA scrambling. > > Anyway, a guy who allegedly might have raped and murdered a young woman in 1990 is not going to care about a frog. The idea of the whole frog in the boiling water thing wasn’t to make a point. It was set up like he was trying to make a point, but that was part of the gag. It was just a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333/53 "2009-09-24T16:11:49Z")
Wait, did Glenn Beck rape and kill a frog on his show? And then is am I to beleive he boiled a fake girl in 1990? I wish he would deny these rumours if they aren’t true, which I assume they are false, but I understand if folks have questions. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333/54 "2009-09-24T16:17:24Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I have no witty retort, but it is against my personal by-laws to not acknowledge a _Shakes the Clown_ reference when I see one. They say that great minds think alike. Twisted minds as well, it would appear. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333/55 "2009-09-24T16:32:13Z")
> [@emcee2k](#): > > It was set up like he was trying to make a point, but that was part of the gag. It was just a joke. Actually, the same is true of his entire show. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333/56 "2009-09-24T16:41:40Z")
Do you know what happens to a frog when it’s struck into boiling water? The same thing that happens to everything else. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333/57 "2009-09-24T16:47:12Z")
> [@](#): > > Actually, the same is true of his entire show. Instant deniability. When/if he says something not even his rabid fans can support, he’s got his fall back position: funny clown, see the funny clown! ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333/58 "2009-09-24T17:45:27Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > Do you know what happens to a frog when it’s struck into boiling water? > > The same thing that happens to everything else. awesome ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333/59 "2009-09-24T18:04:04Z")
If only someone had slipped in a poison dart frog in place of the intended victim…now that would’ve been worth seeing. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333/60 "2009-09-24T18:10:15Z")
> [@wierdaaron](#): > > Attn all Nazis: Grammar rules stop being enforced after midnight. Spelling has until 2am. Everyone noes that. Well, now that it’s waking hours again, you’ve got a misspelling in your user name. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-glenn-beck-kill-a-frog-on-live-tv-or-is-he-just-an-idiot/511333.md?page=4)