# Just watched the nightly news...umm, WTF? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 7, 2014, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996 "2014-08-07T00:32:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/1 "2014-08-07T00:32:57Z")
ABC’s, to be specific. And I was utterly appalled by what I saw. First two stories were about the hurricanes approaching Hawaii, and an Ebola outbreak. So far so good…but then… 2 pieces on accidents, a bus hit and killed a pedestrian, and a guy got his leg stuck in a subway. Things which wouldn’t be a big deal on a local news cast-wtf are they doing on a national news cast?? Then, only halfway thru the broadcast, a video. Of a shark. Grabbing some underwater buoy somewhere. THAT is remotely newsworthy?? Huh??? The rest of it wasn’t any better. Hey ABC, nothing on Russia, China, Israel, congress? Legitimate science (vs. Silly shark videos)? Anything? Nothing. Uncle Walt is spinning in his grave… ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/2 "2014-08-07T00:44:32Z")
I’m assuming this is your first time watching ABC’s fine flagship news program. It’s ALWAYS like that. Glurge and utter crap. Every night. Want real news? Read Buzzfeed. [Ukraine](http://www.buzzfeed.com/search?q=ukraine). [China Earthquake](http://www.buzzfeed.com/search?q=chinese+earthquake). Then listen to BBC Newsday at 10 PM on your local NPR talk station, for comet coverage and depressing Israel stuff. Down with David Muir! ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/3 "2014-08-07T00:55:54Z")
I think most news is like that anymore. The morning shows are worse. Kathie Lee and Hoda are presented by NBC news, but the hours before that are just a compilation of whatever they could find on Facebook or reddit. I think BBC has a better news show, and that’s what I watch. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/4 "2014-08-07T01:01:31Z")
they have skewed young with their newer format for a long time. significantly more feature, fluff and culture. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/5 "2014-08-07T01:59:47Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > ABC’s, to be specific. And I was utterly appalled by what I saw. > > First two stories were about the hurricanes approaching Hawaii, and an Ebola outbreak. So far so good…but then… > > 2 pieces on accidents, a bus hit and killed a pedestrian, and a guy got his leg stuck in a subway. Things which wouldn’t be a big deal on a local news cast-wtf are they doing on a national news cast?? Then, only halfway thru the broadcast, a video. Of a shark. Grabbing some underwater buoy somewhere. > > THAT is remotely newsworthy?? Huh??? > > … They mentioned right afterwards that Shark Week was coming up on Discovery. I commented to Pepper Mill that it was fortuitous that they happened to get shark footage _JUST_ in time for Shark Week. Neither ABC nor Disney seems to own The Discovery Channel, but there are connections between ABC and Discovery (ten Nightline staffers joined Discovery in 2006, for instance). I suspect the shark footage was highlighted to give Discovery’s Shark Week a boost, and for no other reason. Certainly ABC news frequently hypes ABC TV events and Disney events during what should be news time. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/6 "2014-08-07T02:16:33Z")
> [@Pai325](#): > > Kathie Lee and Hoda . . . Oh, I thought you meant YODA . . . a much more appropriate pairing with Kathie Lee. ---
**Author:** ![7e42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/7/51bf81/32.png) [@7e42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/7e42)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/7 "2014-08-07T02:30:50Z")
I watched it and can’t for the life of me understand how a grown man gets his leg stuck in between the subway and platform:confused: ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/8 "2014-08-07T02:33:45Z")
> [@LibrarySpy](#): > > I’m assuming this is your first time watching ABC’s fine flagship news program. > > It’s ALWAYS like that. Glurge and utter crap. Every night. > > Want real news? Read Buzzfeed. [Ukraine](http://www.buzzfeed.com/search?q=ukraine). [China Earthquake](http://www.buzzfeed.com/search?q=chinese+earthquake). Then listen to BBC Newsday at 10 PM on your local NPR talk station, for comet coverage and depressing Israel stuff. > > Down with David Muir! Top story on Buzzfeed for me is the [Definitive Ranking of 90s Australian Kids TV shows.](http://www.buzzfeed.com/jennaguillaume/the-definitive-ranking-of-90s-aussie-kids-tv-shows) Not much of an improvement… ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/9 "2014-08-07T02:42:45Z")
> [@7e42](#): > > I watched it and can’t for the life of me understand how a grown man gets his leg stuck in between the subway and platform:confused: He didn’t Mind the Gap. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/10 "2014-08-07T02:49:24Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Uncle Walt is spinning in his grave… I admit that I don’t know much about Disney. I did not know he was especially concerned about hard news. But I believe he was known as a master showman. And close up footage of a shark attack (especially if it was appropriately teased) would be the kind of [weenie](http://www.themainstreetmouse.com/2013/05/13/whats-a-weenie/) he might admire. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/11 "2014-08-07T02:51:27Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > He didn’t Mind the Gap. Hee hee. My Scottish uncle working in a factory in Ontario volunteered to put up a sign to warn workers about a step. His sign read “Mind your step.” No one knew what the fuck that meant, so he had to change it to “Watch your step.” Would you have recognized “Mind your step” as a valid instruction? ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/12 "2014-08-07T03:55:20Z")
> [@LibrarySpy](#): > > I’m assuming this is your first time watching ABC’s fine flagship news program. > > It’s ALWAYS like that. Glurge and utter crap. Every night. > > Want real news? Read Buzzfeed. [Ukraine](http://www.buzzfeed.com/search?q=ukraine). [China Earthquake](http://www.buzzfeed.com/search?q=chinese+earthquake). Then listen to BBC Newsday at 10 PM on your local NPR talk station, for comet coverage and depressing Israel stuff. > > Down with David Muir! Buzzfeed is probably the worst piece of media to ever exist. ---
**Author:** ![jerez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@jerez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerez)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/13 "2014-08-07T08:36:58Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Would you have recognized “Mind your step” as a valid instruction? Yeah, no problem. IMO, one really has to rely on several different news sources across the left/right spectrum and draw conclusions. Things used to be different, but nowadays the only option left is to read between the lines. Not exactly why one watches the news, is it? ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/14 "2014-08-07T10:21:01Z")
> [@jerez](#): > > Yeah, no problem. > > IMO, one really has to rely on several different news sources across the left/right spectrum and draw conclusions. Things used to be different, but nowadays the only option left is to read between the lines. Not exactly why one watches the news, is it? So you believe there is a left side of the spectrum in American media news do you? That’s cute. Well, there was Pacifica Radio once upon a time, but that has pretty much died. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/15 "2014-08-07T12:16:21Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > I admit that I don’t know much about Disney. I did not know he was especially concerned about hard news. That was my first thought on reading the OP, too, but then I realized he might have meant Cronkite rather than Disney. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/16 "2014-08-07T12:33:11Z")
It must be an age thing, Cronkite was my first thought. Disney did not even occur to me. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/17 "2014-08-07T12:39:16Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > … and a guy got his leg stuck in a subway. Things which wouldn’t be a big deal on a local news cast-wtf are they doing on a national news cast?? I think it was less a story about one Aussie’s inexplicable ability to do that and more about the fact 40 something passengers got off and collectively worked to rock the car so he could extricate his foot. Which admittedly still leaves it as little more than feel good fluff. > [@](#): > > The rest of it wasn’t any better. Hey ABC, nothing on Russia, China, Israel, congress? Seriously? That’s inexcusable. Years back I read that ABC News was shredding their annual budget. Haven’t watched them since. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/18 "2014-08-07T12:39:39Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > It must be an age thing, Cronkite was my first thought. Disney did not even occur to me. I first thought Disney as I’ve never heard Uncle Walt applied to Cronkite. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/19 "2014-08-07T12:55:43Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I first thought Disney as I’ve never heard Uncle Walt applied to Cronkite. …also, wasn’t Cronkite a CBS man? ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/20 "2014-08-07T12:57:48Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I first thought Disney as I’ve never heard Uncle Walt applied to Cronkite. I’ve never heard Disney called uncle either, but I don’t get out much. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996.md?page=2)