Sorry Fox News Haters:Matt Groening was just joking - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Ustwo · 10-31-2003, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Doh! "The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening may have crossed the line with his comment last week to National Public Radio's Terry Gross that Fox media empire almost sued itself. (Now that takes some talent!)

The story goes that Fox News Channel execs were none too thrilled last year when the wildly popular cartoon, which is on Fox Broadcasting, featured a fake news ticker mocking the station's conservative rep. The headlines included gems such as: "Do Democrats Cause Cancer? . . . Study: 92 percent of Democrats are gay . . . JFK posthumously joins Republican Party . . ."

"Fox fought against it and said that they would sue the show," Groening told Gross. "And we called their bluff because we didn't think that Rupert Murdoch would pay for Fox to sue itself. So we got away with it," he said, proud of the accomplishment.

Fox News, however, denies reports that they ever threatened to sue. "We were all scratching our heads and thought it was hysterical," spokesman Rob Zimmerman told us yesterday. "It's not the first time we've been spoofed, you know."

Maybe not, but Groening told Gross during the interview that ". . . Now Fox has a new rule that we can't do those little fake news crawls on the bottom of the screen in a cartoon because it might confuse the viewers into thinking it's real news."

Nonetheless "The Simpsons" (the show, not the characters) issued an apology yesterday: "Matt was being satirical and certainly there was never any issue between the show and Fox News. We regret any confusion."

I heard the live interview (yes I listen to NPR from time to time) and he didn't sound like he was joking. Perhaps it was the serious nature of the reporter that made it come off that way.

Moskie · 10-31-2003, 05:42 PM

ha, nicely ironic.

it is ironic, right?

maximusveritas · 10-31-2003, 05:55 PM

I thought it was pretty obvious he was joking about that part. I'm not sure I believe the part about the Fox News executives just laughing it off. I doubt we'll see anything critical of Fox News from the Simpsons again.

MSD · 11-01-2003, 11:41 PM

Has anyone noticed that more and more real stories are beginning to sound like material from The Onion?

Peetster · 11-02-2003, 05:49 AM

"The truth is stranger than fiction".
You can't make stuff like this up. I love it!

The_Dude · 11-02-2003, 08:53 AM

now way...........are u telling me that fox news has a sense of humor??? what are u gonna tell me next? they're fair and balanced?

Killconey · 11-02-2003, 11:31 AM

Aww...and I was looking forward to Fox vs. Fox someday...

H12 · 11-02-2003, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Maybe not, but Groening told Gross during the interview that ". . . Now Fox has a new rule that we can't do those little fake news crawls on the bottom of the screen in a cartoon because it might confuse the viewers into thinking it's real news."

Yeah, what the hell ever. Fox is mad and just doesn't want to admit it.

Aesik · 11-02-2003, 04:49 PM

Heh, if you believe that Fox would be dumb enough to even consider sueing itself, then do I have a deal for you on a used Chevy!

filtherton · 11-03-2003, 07:55 AM

There were dumb enough to try to sue al franken of satire. Maybe that was groening's point, just a jab at fox news trying to solve its p.r. problems through frivolous lawsuits.

KWSN · 11-04-2003, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MrSelfDestruct
Has anyone noticed that more and more real stories are beginning to sound like material from The Onion?

FAR too true

Nizzle · 11-05-2003, 01:29 AM

Do you think you could provide a source, Utswo.

losthellhound · 11-07-2003, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MrSelfDestruct
Has anyone noticed that more and more real stories are beginning to sound like material from The Onion?

I agree.. Its kinda scary. (also scarier when there seems to be more balance in the fake Onion articles.) Maybe thats why more and more foriegn press is accidently reporting Onion articles as truth.. First time it happened it was a laugh, now I might find it ironic

10-31-2003, 05:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
Moskie Pure Chewing Satisfaction Location: can i use bbcode [i]here[/i]?	ha, nicely ironic. it is ironic, right? __________________ Greetings and salutations.

11-02-2003, 08:53 AM	#6 (permalink)
The_Dude The GrandDaddy of them all! Location: Austin, TX	now way...........are u telling me that fox news has a sense of humor??? what are u gonna tell me next? they're fair and balanced? __________________ "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

11-02-2003, 11:31 AM	#7 (permalink)
Killconey Crazy Location: Various places in the Midwest, all depending on when I'm posting.	Aww...and I was looking forward to Fox vs. Fox someday... __________________ Look out for numbers two and up and they'll look out for you.

11-03-2003, 07:55 AM	#10 (permalink)
filtherton Junkie Location: In the land of ice and snow.	There were dumb enough to try to sue al franken of satire. Maybe that was groening's point, just a jab at fox news trying to solve its p.r. problems through frivolous lawsuits. Last edited by filtherton; 11-04-2003 at 12:56 PM..

11-05-2003, 01:29 AM	#12 (permalink)
Nizzle God-Hating Liberal Location: Silicon Valley, CA	Do you think you could provide a source, Utswo. __________________ Nizzle

10-31-2003, 05:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
maximusveritas Winner	I thought it was pretty obvious he was joking about that part. I'm not sure I believe the part about the Fox News executives just laughing it off. I doubt we'll see anything critical of Fox News from the Simpsons again.

11-01-2003, 11:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	Has anyone noticed that more and more real stories are beginning to sound like material from The Onion?

11-02-2003, 05:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
Peetster Right Now Location: Home	"The truth is stranger than fiction". You can't make stuff like this up. I love it!

11-02-2003, 04:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
Aesik Tilted	Heh, if you believe that Fox would be dumb enough to even consider sueing itself, then do I have a deal for you on a used Chevy!