# 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:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**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, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/21 "2003-10-28T16:37:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TwistofFate \* > \*\*why would the Simpsons need any additional advertising? \*\* Advertising leads to viewers, viewers lead to ratings, ratings lead to addtitional revenue for Fox. The circle of death is complete. The Simpson’s is occassionally in the top 20 for ratings (that POS show JAG somehow gets in the top 20 instead,WTF?!) The cost of this type of advertising (suing) is fresh, new and cheap and has been proven by Fox News suing Franken. If I were a member of the Fox board and saw how it worked on Amazon for Franken and shot his book through the roof, why not try it on one of your own shows. (I’m not saying that’s Fox News’ motivation at all, but it just seems suspect to me). ---
**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, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/22 "2003-10-28T16:40:45Z")
I don’t think Fox are too concerned with the advertising for The Simpsons, as it earns a hell of a lot more in syndication than it would from advertisers. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/23 "2003-10-28T18:05:41Z")
I recently caught the end of a Simpsons rerun where Homer inadvertently saves the residents of Springfield from a UFO cult. At the end, the Simpson family is watching TV and talking about what had happened. Lisa says, “it’s so good to think for ourselves again.” Then the TV intones, “You’re watching Fox News.” The four of them respond in monotonic unison, “We’re watching Fox News.” I cracked up. Sounds like Groening has a fun time needling the hand that feeds him. More power to him! ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/24 "2003-10-28T18:22:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RTFirefly \* > **I recently caught the end of a Simpsons rerun where Homer inadvertently saves the residents of Springfield from a UFO cult. At the end, the Simpson family is watching TV and talking about what had happened. Lisa says, “it’s so good to think for ourselves again.” Then the TV intones, “You’re watching Fox News.” The four of them respond in monotonic unison, “We’re watching Fox News.” I cracked up.** Slight nitpick - they were merely watching Fox, not Fox News specifically. ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/25 "2003-10-28T18:26:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stpauler \* > \*\*Advertising leads to viewers, viewers lead to ratings, ratings lead to addtitional revenue for Fox. The circle of death is complete. The Simpson’s is occassionally in the top 20 for ratings (that POS show JAG somehow gets in the top 20 instead,WTF?!) The cost of this type of advertising (suing) is fresh, new and cheap and has been proven by Fox News suing Franken. If I were a member of the Fox board and saw how it worked on Amazon for Franken and shot his book through the roof, why not try it on one of your own shows. > (I’m not saying that’s Fox News’ motivation at all, but it just seems suspect to me). \*\* Well, as a matter of fact, the top three nonfiction books on the NYT list this week are by Michael Moore, Al Franken, and… Bill O’Reilly, who just happens to have a television show on Fox News. I wonder how the O’Reilly Factor ratings are doing this month? ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/26 "2003-10-28T19:07:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ElvisL1ves \* > \*\*Old newspaperman’s saying: “It is never wise to annoy a cartoonist.” \*\* [Homer]It’s funny because it’s true…[/Homer] 😃 ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/27 "2003-10-28T22:55:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JuanitaTech \* > \*\*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. \*\* All news media think their viewers are idiots. Same goes for advertising agencies. ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/28 "2003-10-28T23:33:07Z")
But covering celebrity news and their entertainment divisions’ new shows is a crucial part of any 24-7 news network. Dammit, it’s not like you can find out about celebritys anywhere else. If there was only some channel about entertainment or some way to find celebrity news in magazines or on the Internet. I’m gonna get rich! ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/29 "2003-10-29T08:19:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stpauler \* > \*\*Umm, not to be cynical, but could this just be cheap advertising for the Simpson’s? \*\* So, Fox Corp. let’s Fox News look like complete assholes to advertise a show of Fox Entertainment? So, if Fox News aren’t the idiots, then Fox Corp. is. If Matt is just making this up to advertise the Simpsons, do you think that Fox News is just going to keep quiet and let its image slide? No, they’d sue him… and… well, there you go. ---
**Author:** ![RobuSensei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@RobuSensei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobuSensei)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/30 "2003-10-29T08:46:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by aryk29 \* > \*\*All news media think their viewers are idiots. Same goes for advertising agencies. \*\* According to Molly Ivins, as she wrote in her book [“Molly Ivins Can’t Say That, Can She?”](http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0679741836/ref=sib_aps_pg/002-8213045-6738413?p=S070&checkSum=86DeXUWMWSI%2FUUNlS9fD3uJjMSiQVpWwi2DJYPFdEIk%3D&keywords=mythical%20average%20reader#reader-link): > [@](#): > > Every newspaper I’ve ever worked on has had a Mythical Average Reader. In Minneapolis, our MAR was the retarded wife of a North Dakota farmer. In Houston, I am told, the MAR is an Aggie sophomore. ---
**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 29, 2003, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/31 "2003-10-29T09:15:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jinwicked \* > \*\*[Homer]It’s funny because it’s true…[/Homer] 😃 \*\* Minor nitpick. Wasn’t that Fat Tony? ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/32 "2003-10-29T14:24:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spooje \* > \*\*Minor nitpick. Wasn’t that Fat Tony? \*\* Well _obsoyrved!_ Although, I’m sure Homer said that at one point. I think it was while he was watching a hack comedian on late-night cable. _Don’t you hate it, when you go to the bathroom, and there’s no toilet paper?_ ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/33 "2003-10-29T19:11:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Slacker \* > \*\*Well _obsoyrved!_ > > Although, I’m sure Homer said that at one point. I think it was while he was watching a hack comedian on late-night cable. > > _Don’t you hate it, when you go to the bathroom, and there’s no toilet paper?_ \*\* Wasn’t Homer watching a black comic poke fun at white people? ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/34 "2003-10-29T19:16:31Z")
Yes he was. About how we drive, no less. Oh and **RobuSensei** , ROTFLMAO I believe it! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lucki\_Chaarms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lucki\_Chaarms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucki_Chaarms)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2003, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/35 "2003-10-30T00:07:55Z")
Groening rocks. He and his team have mopped the floor with Fox many a time. My personal favorite is the Futurama episode with the network execu-bots. I have no idea how they actually got that thing funded, produced and released, but bless 'em for doing it. LC ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/36 "2003-10-30T01:31:23Z")
After reading the news crawler items from _The Simpsons_ episode listed above, the reason Fox News was pissed off, possibly threatening to sue, and claiming viewer confusion becomes obvious: They wanted those particular items for their real news crawl. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2003, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/37 "2003-10-30T04:05:52Z")
Isn’t Fox basically shooting itself in the foot? ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2003, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/38 "2003-10-30T15:57:18Z")
Isn’t Fox basically gnawing off its own foot that’s caught in its own steel trap? :: D&R :: ---
**Author:** ![Zoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/6de8d8/32.png) [@Zoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoff)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889/39 "2003-10-31T17:52:22Z")
The show issued an [apology](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44898-2003Oct30.html). Fox didn’t threaten to sue. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-fox-news-cant-be-this-stupid-right/209889.md?page=1)