# Even Fox News can't be this stupid- right? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 27, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889 "2003-10-27T19:14:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/1 "2003-10-27T19:14:19Z")
> **[Fox News Threatened to Sue The Simpsons](https://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/3745/fox-news-threatened-sue-the-simpsons)** > > Over a Parody Segment > [@](#): > > October 24, 2003 > During an interview broadcast today on NPR’s Fresh Air, Simpsons creator Matt Groening revealed that the Fox News Network had threatened to sue The Simpsons over a parody of the right-leaning news channel. The highly sensitive news organization, which is headed by Roger Ailes, made headlines this summer with an ill-starred lawsuit against humorist Al Franken’s book, Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them. The Fox suit was thrown out in court and only succeeded in making Franken’s book a bestseller. According to Groening, the Simpsons team refused to cut out the segment, which Groening told Fresh Air he “really liked,” figuring that Rupert Murdoch wouldn’t allow the Fox News cable network to sue the Fox Broadcast Network, which carries The Simpsons. The Fox News Network did back down on its threat, although it has told The Simpsons creators that in the future, cartoon series will not be allowed to include a “news crawl” along the bottom of the screen, which might “confuse the viewers.” As first seen on [www.fark.com](http://www.fark.com). Here is the NPR link: > **[Fresh Air for Oct. 19, 2021: Actor Billy Porter](https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air?showDate=23%2F2003-10%2F23%2F2003-10)** > > Hear the Fresh Air program for October 19, 2021 Listening to it now. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/2 "2003-10-27T19:20:17Z")
Yep, he said it. Man, I should be surprised— but I am not. The interview intself is pretty good. Enjoy! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/3 "2003-10-27T19:26:56Z")
Simpsons 1 Pravda 0 Tip for Faux News execs: If you want to continue being taken seriously, don’t piss off one of the greatest groups of comedy writers ever assembled. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/4 "2003-10-27T19:41:46Z")
Fox News viewers must be idiots. Either that or Fox News perceives its viewers to be idiots. This is the second time they’ve used the ‘it might confuse the viewers’ line. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/5 "2003-10-27T19:55:55Z")
Old newspaperman’s saying: “It is never wise to annoy a cartoonist.” ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/6 "2003-10-27T20:41:43Z")
Maybe Matt G. was joking. You know “Fox News is so sue happy I heard that they were gonna sue themselves. Ha ha.” It’s gotta be that. ---
**Author:** ![cmason32](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@cmason32](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmason32)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/7 "2003-10-27T20:45:32Z")
Here is the “news crawler” that ran during the Simpsons episode: > [@](#): > > POINTLESS NEWS CRAWLS UP 37 PERCENT … DO DEMOCRATS CAUSE CANCER? FIND OUT AT [FOXNEWS.COM](http://FOXNEWS.COM) … RUPERT MURDOCH: TERRIFIC DANCER … DOW DOWN 5000 POINTS … STUDY: 92 PERCENT OF DEMOCRATS ARE GAY … JFK POSTHUMOUSLY JOINS REPUBLICAN PARTY … OIL SLICKS FOUND TO KEEP SEALS YOUNG, SUPPLE … DAN QUALYE: AWESOME … ASHCROFT DECLARES BREAST OF CHICKEN SANDWICH “OBSCENE” … HILLARY CLINTON EMBARRASSES SELF, NATION … BIBLE SAYS JESUS FAVORED CAPITAL-GAINS CUT … STAY TUNED FOR HANNITY AND IDIOT … ONLY DORKS WATCH CNN … JIMMY CARTER: OLD, WRINKLY, USELESS … BRAD PITT + ALBERT EINSTEIN = DICK CHENEY … RIGHT WING OF CHICKEN ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/8 "2003-10-27T20:58:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Biggirl \* > \*\*Maybe Matt G. was joking. You know “Fox News is so sue happy I heard that they were gonna sue themselves. Ha ha.” > > It’s gotta be that. \*\* I listened to the interview myself to be sure- he was dead serious (well as serious as he gets). After the Al Franken thing (which happened after the Simpson’s “Fox” episode) this sounds about right- I guess Fox News is that stupid. After what Fox did to Futurama I guess Matt didn’t mind pointing it out. ---
**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:** [October 27, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/9 "2003-10-27T21:02:59Z")
:::Shakes head::::: ---
**Author:** ![robertliguori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@robertliguori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robertliguori)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/10 "2003-10-27T21:15:44Z")
For all X, yes, X can be that stupid. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/11 "2003-10-27T23:28:55Z")
I love this line from the Fark link: > [@](#): > > The Fox News Network did back down on its threat, although it has told The Simpsons creators that in the future, cartoon series will not be allowed to include a “news crawl” along the bottom of the screen, which might “ **confuse the viewers.** ” (emphasis mine) So…they really do think their viewers have the brains of a limpet, huh? ---
**Author:** ![hermann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b487fb/32.png) [@hermann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hermann)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/12 "2003-10-28T00:25:26Z")
Oh, come on now. Maybe Fox News was only thinking of it’s viewrs in Palm Beach, florida. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/13 "2003-10-28T01:56:18Z")
The **Onion** is scooped by reality yet again. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/14 "2003-10-28T03:55:49Z")
> [@](#): > > - After what Fox did to Futurama I guess Matt didn’t mind pointing it out. \*\* OK, so what did Fox to Futurama? _Ale, living on a thermo…_ ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/15 "2003-10-28T04:08:09Z")
Clearly Fox news and Groening together have whooshed you all. Fox News has shown how cool and with it they are with a brilliant piece of self-parody, that of course all you uptight lefties don’t understand because of your embittered ways. Hey, don’t look at me it’s the best I could come with. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/16 "2003-10-28T04:40:36Z")
I opened this thread only to say, Yes, they can. But now I must add that, from my personal experience of those who watch Fox News (as news), they might be right. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/17 "2003-10-28T10:27:48Z")
> [@](#): > > Here is the “news crawler” that ran during the Simpsons episode: > > ## quote: > > ## POINTLESS NEWS CRAWLS UP 37 PERCENT … DO DEMOCRATS CAUSE CANCER? FIND OUT AT [FOXNEWS.COM](http://FOXNEWS.COM) … RUPERT MURDOCH: TERRIFIC DANCER … DOW DOWN 5000 POINTS … STUDY: 92 PERCENT OF DEMOCRATS ARE GAY … JFK POSTHUMOUSLY JOINS REPUBLICAN PARTY … OIL SLICKS FOUND TO KEEP SEALS YOUNG, SUPPLE … DAN QUALYE: AWESOME … ASHCROFT DECLARES BREAST OF CHICKEN SANDWICH “OBSCENE” … HILLARY CLINTON EMBARRASSES SELF, NATION … BIBLE SAYS JESUS FAVORED CAPITAL-GAINS CUT … STAY TUNED FOR HANNITY AND IDIOT … ONLY DORKS WATCH CNN … JIMMY CARTER: OLD, WRINKLY, USELESS … BRAD PITT + ALBERT EINSTEIN = DICK CHENEY … RIGHT WING OF CHICKEN That is hilarious. I’m sorry I missed that episode. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/18 "2003-10-28T10:55:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ale \* > \*\*OK, so what did Fox to Futurama? > > _Ale, living on a thermo…_ \*\* Moved it’s time around and prempted it so much that people stopped watching, then canceled to due to the poor ratings that ensued. AFAIK it’s an open secret that they did it in retaliation to Groening insisting on too much creative control or something. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/19 "2003-10-28T15:59:38Z")
Umm, not to be cynical, but could this just be cheap advertising for the Simpson’s? ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/20 "2003-10-28T16:12:56Z")
why would the Simpsons need any additional advertising? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889.md?page=2)