September 02, 2008

Most Important NBC 10 Slideshow Ever

This, my friends, is what we call "service journalism."

Foods That Help Fight Gas [NBC 10]

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August 19, 2008

This Is One Way To Put It

This is the strangest way possible to headline a story about a local Olympian who won a gold medal.

Local Olympian Stops Rowing Before End Of Race [NBC 10]

Posted by D-Mac at 08:12 AM | Comments (0)

August 15, 2008

Wimps

Aw, suck it up.

Raw Sewage In Water Ruins Beachgoers' Plans [NBC 10]

Posted by D-Mac at 09:39 AM | Comments (1)

August 13, 2008

NBC 10's Midnight Newscast

Did you happen to catch the 11 o'clock news on NBC 10 last night? You probably didn't, because (1) it was the local news and (2) thanks to Olympics coverage, it was delayed 'til sometime after midnight.

Man, did you miss a great show.

It was a little late, so I'm a little fuzzy on the details (and I wasn't home and couldn't capture it). But some of the segments last night were simply amazing. Bookended by commercials were these three stories: A man from Ohio fired from Burger King for sitting in bubble bath in industrial sink and putting it on Myspace, a local swim team who watched Michael Phelps win, and a local kid from some Catholic school who "Goes for the gold!"

This last one was the part of a series, and was of course the longest. It featured glowing interviews with his mom, his aunt and even a nun. The reporter (I think Jamison Uhler) let us know that the little Catholic kid's biggest passion was "supporting the troops."

Anyway, all of this took up a pretty big chunk of the broadcast; the rest was pretty much just weather and sports. And maybe a little on those parents who filed the lawsuit against the city but are also charged their a baby's death. But mainly it was about supporting the troops and Ohio Burger King location scandals. I must say, I hope this 12 o'clock news is a regular thing if it's going to be like this.

Posted by D-Mac at 02:14 PM | Comments (0)

July 29, 2008

Great Moments In Late-July Programming

Yes, that is NBC 10, owned by General Electric, promoting the promotional week of a cable network not owned by GE. I think? Weird.

This photo is from the brief time when the Philadelphia 76ers were flirting with a name change to the Philadelphia 4Mers.

NBC 10

Posted by D-Mac at 11:00 AM | Comments (3)

June 24, 2008

Nothing Ever Gets Old On The Internet

Although it got a little windy last night (at least in Center City), at least we avoided any scat storms. Phew.

Posted by D-Mac at 08:17 AM | Comments (1)

June 10, 2008

It's Still Hot Today, Reports Everyone

Yes, it's a slow news week -- everyone is too hot to do anything newsworthy -- so there is news about the weather everywhere! It's allegedly going to be 99 degrees today (and is currently 78 with "Haze," whatever that is).

Those lucky schoolkids get off at noon again today. NBC 10, meanwhile, exposes the seedy underworld of swimming where no swimming signs are posted.

Despite the "no swimming" signs posted along the creek, they were still going in the water. "Well I don't consider this swimming. I consider it wading," one man told NBC 10.

One girl was asked, "Is it safe out here?" "Yeah, kind of. … It's sort of safe out here, if you watch what you're doing," she said.

The station also gives a helpful tip: "Do not leave older people, children or pets alone in cars." Look, I don't think you should be doing that even in the winter.

Apparently, all of this is going to break sometime tonight; tomorrow will be a more pleasant 87 degrees.

Posted by D-Mac at 08:33 AM | Comments (2)

May 30, 2008

Daily News' Photoshop Use Under Attack

The Daily News once again put Jocelyn "Bonnie" Kirsch on its cover yesterday, after she got in trouble again and was put on house arrest. The paper used one of the shots of her lounging at poolside, only they Photoshopped in an ankle bracelet on her. Get it?

This didn't sit well with Kirsch's lawyer, Ron Greenblatt, actually released a statement on the cover:

The Daily News continues to sink to a level below tabloid journalism. The use of a doctored photo on the cover of the second largest paper in the city of Philadelphia to give a deliberately false impression is disgraceful. I understand their job is to sell papers, but they should at least be held to minimal journalistic ethical standards.

And then NBC 10 did a whole story on it, complete with person-on-the-street interviews. DN Editor Michael Days -- no stranger to answering controversy about political cartoons that are accidentally funny -- said "[i]t's just that kind of a story." Yes, that's about as good of a response as you can get.

Redlasso clip after the jump; NBC 10's site has a clip too.

Continue reading "Daily News' Photoshop Use Under Attack"

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May 28, 2008

Shop Selling (Gasp) Sex Toys

NBC 10 also spent a few minutes early in its 6 p.m. newscast last night to cover a "scandalous sex shop" in West Chester. Apparently, there's a store with lingerie that has sex toys in the back, and people are not happy because it's near an ice cream shop, a pizza place and a school.

"I think anytime you take something like that -- something involving human sexuality and pervert it -- that's wrong," the Rev. Edward Deliman told NBC 10. The "sexologist" is unbowed, ready and willing to fight for her shop's right to sell vibrators. Redlasso video after the jump.

Continue reading "Shop Selling (Gasp) Sex Toys"

Posted by D-Mac at 02:12 PM | Comments (0)

NBC 10 Eliminates Town's Fire Co.

Way back in 2004, NBC 10 ("The Investigators!") broadcast a report alleging that firefighters in Colwyn, Delaware County, were operating an illegal bar, and the mayor and others were going there. Colwyn is a dry town, and Lu Ann Cahn actually said this, "Are you all above the law?" OMG IRL drama.

Then for some reason earlier this month all of Colwyn's firefighers resigned at once. Cops also raided the "speakeasy" and killed seven members of the Hogan gang, as well as confiscating illegal video poker machines and alcohol.

Then last night the town council ended its relationship with the fire company. The head of the Colwyn Fire Co. was dramatic: "God, heaven forbid, someone gets hurt or really killed. Then it's really going to hit the fan." And this is also pretty much the best government plan ever:

Colwyn borough officials said the borough would have fire protection from surrounding Darby and Collingdale until they can re-open a fire company with a core of volunteer firefighters who didn't go to the firehouse bar.

So thanks to your local media, residents of Colwyn, Pa., you no longer have a fire company. Be sure to thank NBC 10 for the service.

Posted by D-Mac at 12:14 PM | Comments (8)

May 21, 2008

NBC 10 Says Bye To Sen. Kennedy

NBC 10 has a nice little feature on its website today that basically says Ted Kennedy is going to die soon. As you no doubt have heard, Sen. Kennedy has a brain tumor. And NBC 10 went to a local surgeon at Jefferson -- I"m sorry, "Jeff" -- who said Kennedy might as well be dead.

"It's a terminal illness with no cure, unfortunately," [Dr. David] Andrews said. "It'll be a victory if he can function independently and get through the day." Andrews said the prognosis for a person suffering from this type of cancer is grim.

"I don't think he could ever return to the Senate, not with a tumor like this," he said. "It's too debilitating."

Geeze, quite a buzzkill. Though I do hope one day I am famous enough to get an article saying I will die soon.

Local Brain Surgeon Gives Kennedy Grim Prognosis [NBC 10]

Posted by D-Mac at 10:32 AM | Comments (3)

May 20, 2008

NBC 10 Reports NBC 10 Can't Get Answers

"Only NBC 10 was there as [Marvin] Harrison arrived back in Philadelphia Monday after leaving mini camp in Indianapolis." Wow, what a scoop!

Unfortunately for NBC 10, NFL Player Avoids NBC10 Questions In Connection With Shooting, as the headline says. That didn't stop this from being the lead story (apparently) on the 6 o'clock news yesterday:

"Hey, Marvin, do you want to clear anything up," NBC 10's John Clark asked.

Clark met Harrison at the Philadelphia International Airport Monday.

"Hey Harrison," Clark said.

Harrison talked on his cell phone and suddenly changed directions several times to avoid a single question from NBC 10. Moments later while still on his cell phone, he walked into an office and closed the door.

After coming out, Harrison got creative. He faked running down a set of stairs in an apparent attempt to confuse the NBC 10 photographer.

He won't even take questions from John Clark, the happiest man in Philadelphia? Whoa, you know something is wrong, then.

NFL Player Avoids NBC10 Questions In Connection With Shooting [NBC 10]

Posted by D-Mac at 10:18 AM | Comments (0)

May 14, 2008

OMG! College Kids Drinking Outside Ballpark!

The Pennsylvania state police didn't have anything to do yesterday, so they invited NBC 10 along with them and busted around 100 underage drinkers outside Citizens Bank Park yesterday. The only good thing is that a bunch of Natty Light was poured out onto the ground.

Ninety-one people over the age of 18 but under 21 were written up, while 9 people under 18 were also cited. One of the cited teenagers -- he's 19 -- told NBC 10 he would be able to fight in a pointless war but can't get plastered outside the ballpark so he can fight other drunks inside. Or something like that.

Anyway, we're all safer now, and the state has a bunch more money to bust more 20-year-olds drinking beer. Erhm.

Posted by D-Mac at 10:32 AM | Comments (2)

May 13, 2008

Cougar Cat Sighted Once Again

NBC 10's big 6:15 report yesterday was about a cougar roaming Chester County! There have been cougar sightings in Philadelphia pretty much since William Penn got here -- though I don't think anyone has actually ever but this one is certainly one of the best ones.

If you look at the photo... um, it's a house cat. Not even a particularly large one. Right?

A while back, Charles Henry discovered the paw prints but a few days ago, he ran into the big cat who left them. "There's no doubt in my mind that's not a house cat," Henry said. Henry said it's a cougar roaming the fields behind his house. "That's where it was sitting," he said.

He has now videotaped the animal a bunch of times. A couple zookeepers at Wilmington's Brandywine Zoo and a Pennsylvania Game Commission official do not think it's a cougar. A retired New Castle County police officer and former cougar hunter [isn't that a porn site?--ed.] said he does think it's a cougar. [...]

"Put out a cage and trap it. Put some raw meat in a cage and capture it. Put it where people can see it, and also where we don't have to worry about it as a concern for neighbors and everyone around us," Brady said.

Oh, I see: The guy just wants him all caged up... uh, so he can start a zoo, I guess.

Cat Or Cougar Roaming Neighborhood Fields [NBC 10]

Posted by D-Mac at 10:41 AM | Comments (2)

May 07, 2008

NBC 10 Investigates Miracle

I know the NBC 10 investigators are good, but are they good enough to investigate a miracle from St. John Neumann? Yes, that's what Lu Ann Cahn did the other night during a nearly five-minute piece: Investigate a miracle.

A woman has cancer, her husband just happens to be a previously-featured-on-NBC 10-forensic sculptor, he makes a new mask for St. John Neumann, a priest does some prayin' and -- wham! -- no more cancer. These people aren't religious, of course, and they don't say "yes" when Cahn asks them if they're going to go back to church. Score one for the nonreligious!

"Was there divine intervention?" Cahn asks, but NBC 10 can't get comments from her doctors, who are all Know-Nothings. But everyone interviewed said it's clearly a miracle, and Neumann will totally get another notch on his sainthood belt for this one. Video after the jump.

Continue reading "NBC 10 Investigates Miracle"

Posted by D-Mac at 02:58 PM | Comments (6)

March 28, 2008

Ravers Fight Back Against NBC 10

Just two days after NBC 10 exposed -- honest to God -- a rave where people were drinking, smoking marijuana and taking "the designer drug ecstasy" (gasp!), there has now been an apparent change of heart.

Last night, Lu Ann Cahn allowed ravers to "defend their way of life" to the NBC 10 Investigators, and it was somehow about 500 times funnier than the first one. The first report went undercover at the Tru Skool Rave in a basement rented out by a church in West Philadelphia. The building's a charter school during the week; administrators say they have to clean up condoms every Monday morning. And a mother who has her face blacked out says raves are bad!

In tonight's report, party promoter Mickey Fronick waxes about how ravers are marginalized:

"We're forced to go into venues like this because the mainstream doesn't accept it, and it sucks," Fronick said.

NBC 10 also reported that the ravers said it's about the music and the love, and not the drugs -- which means this is one boring rave scene.

Both videos embedded after the jump.

Continue reading "Ravers Fight Back Against NBC 10"

Posted by D-Mac at 11:46 AM | Comments (11)

February 25, 2008

TV News Reports On Beer, Women

Above, NBC 10's weekend report on In Pursuit of Ale, the Philadelphia women's beer club. (Friends of Philadelphia Will Do!) With so much incredible editing during this report, you'll wonder whether you're watching the local news or a movie!

[via Foobooz]

Posted by D-Mac at 11:48 AM | Comments (2)

February 21, 2008

TV News Not Bastion Of Journalism

Dan Gross -- are we all calling him "The Mighty" now? -- has an interesting story about NBC 10's Monique Braxton's recent suspension:

Braxton, sources say, had been suspended for making calls and inquiries about the criminal case of Steve DiDonato, of Lower Salford Township, who happens to be the husband of NBC 10 Managing Editor Lisa Spinosa.

Last month a judge sentenced DiDonato, 47, to a probation-like program over charges that DiDonato set a fire in January 2006, outside a Lehigh Valley bar. The fire was set to distract police from the fact that he was about to get in his car and drive under the influence, Debbie Garlicki of the Allentown Morning Call reported. DiDonato was not arrested until seven months after the blaze, which he allegedly drove through.

But The Mighty Dan Gross also reports Braxton was paid during her suspension, and didn't have to do any reporting. Which means it sounds more like a "vacation" to me.

NBC10 boss to Braxton: Don't investigate my husband [Phillygossip]

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February 20, 2008

Breaking: Homeless Sleep In Warm Place

NBC 10 ran another in a long line of important exposes by the NBC 10 Investigators™ last night; this time, the social ill was homeless people sleeping at the airport.

The real highlight of the story is the interview with the self-proclaimed "newest homeless person to arrive at the airport." Take it away, Doug Ryan:

"I think they should worry about their own business," said 18-year-old Doug Ryan, who believes he's the newest homeless person to arrive at the airport. "It's warm. It's warm, they don't kick you out, so it's not the worst place," Ryan said.

"What are you doing for food?" Cahn asked.

"Trash cans," Ryan answered. "As you can see, there's like a pretzel store right there. Some people throw away their food, and I'll eat it."

The airport pays $150,000 a year to deal with the homeless population there... you think somebody could quietly slip them food. But they do have homeless counselors come in, though, so, y'know.

Airport's Unofficial Welcoming Party Upsets Frequent Fliers [NBC 10]

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February 16, 2008

But Who Did He Call First?

A man said he was so upset to find a hangman's noose at his job he felt he had to contact not only local authorities.

He also had to call Harry Hairston and the NBC 10 Investigators.

It's okay, PECO says, because the man who showed the noose was just practicing tying knots. Oh, and they've hired a "diversity consultant."

Man Reports Finding Hangman's Noose At PECO Facility [NBC 10]

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February 15, 2008

High School Hoopster Loves Hurricane

I'm becoming more and more fascinated with Tim Furlong's "6:15" reports, which run (surprise!) halfway through the 6 o'clock news. Sure, there's the infamous 4:20 report, where Furlong reported the time 4:20 p.m. almost killed someone.

But not all his reports are the modern day equivalent of Reefer Madness. While there does seem to be a tone of "What you don't know about your kids could kill them!" in Furlong's reports, damn if they're not usually somehow entertaining. (The 4:20 report was pretty much the best thing on TV all last year.)

And last night? Oh, just a story about a local high school basketball player who likes Hurricane Schwartz. "I was watching you since I was like 9 and I love you," said Jamal "Hurricane" Wilson, who goes to Newman-Goretti. He's also going to Rhode Island to play basketball (D-I, congrats) and study meteorology.

Clearly, this is TV news at its finest. But I suspect the other schools' fans are going to have some fun come Catholic League playoff time.

High School Basketball Star Idolizes Hurricane [NBC 10]

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January 24, 2008

NBC 10 Running All Over Nation's Laws

Oh, no, noted sex educator and Power 99 DJ Golden Girl lost her ring at the airport! She says it was stolen while going through airport security at PHL. Oh no! Scandal.

Well, apparently not. NBC 10's Lu Ann Cahn went down to the airport and got the scoop! And not only did she get the scoop, the cops just let her do whatever the hell she wanted to, apparently.

The NBC 10 Investigators looked at surveillance video of Power 99 radio host Golden Girl walking through security, and concluded that her ring probably wasn't stolen. The footage cannot be released to the public, but after police showed the NBC 10 Investigators the video, it appears the host lost her ring at a security checkpoint.

It is also clear, from two camera angles, that security or some other passengers did not take it, according to NBC 10's Lu Ann Cahn.

Wait, what? The footage can't be released to the public, but it's perfectly okay for police to show it to reporters. I didn't know that's how the law worked; thanks for cluing me in, NBC 10! I'm totally going to find out just who really shot JFK now.

Police, Reporter: Golden Girl's Bling Wasn't Stolen At Airport [NBC 10]

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January 08, 2008

NBC 10: People Searching For Anonymous Sex Online Not Always Truthful

NBC 10 interviewed a "computer and Internet safety expert" last night to let people know that when you're searching for anonymous, no strings attached sex online, you could be the victim of blackmail!

The chief story the report used was that of Jessica Wolcot, who tried to blackmail a Pepsi executive after hooking up with him over Craigslist. Of course, Gary Wandschneider was married, so perhaps the advice should be amended: If you are in a relationship and have anonymous sex over Craigslist, you might be blackmailed! (Me? I plan on sharing all my anonymous Craigslist sex stories on this blog sometime. Can't be blackmailed if you're proud of it!)

The Internet security expert also said the Internet is "like Candy Land" for scammers, which means they really want to go to Gum Drop Mountain, I guess.

Posted by D-Mac at 01:01 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

November 28, 2007

CBS 3, 6 ABC In Dead Sweeps Heat (I Guess)

Have the rumors of Alycia Lane bikini photos brought Alycia Lane and Larry Mendte -- the photos are of Alycia -- to the top of the news charts? Laura Nachman has the preliminary sweeps numbers as of Tuesday and CBS 3 trails 6 ABC by just 1 share point (whatever that is) on the 11 p.m. newscast.

Action News -- who seems to have been amping up its Erin O'Hearn commercials recently, if you've noticed -- leads in the 11 p.m. ratings with an 8 rating/16 share, while CBS 3 trails just behind with an 8 rating/15 share. (Each ratings point equals one or two old people falling asleep after the weather. Each share equals nothing.) NBC 10 has a 5 rating/10 share. (The lead-ins are important, too, with CBS beating ABC beating NBC. I'm pretty sure the Peacock doesn't even have a prime-time lineup anymore; it just runs infomercials.)

At 6 p.m., Jim Gardner (6 ABC) is way ahead with a 12 rating/22 share; Tim Lake (NBC 10) has a 4 rating/8 share and Mendte and Lane have a 4 rating/7 share. Obviously, viewers know if Alycia's going to show her bikini, it'll be at 11 p.m.

The Nach Attack: NBC 10 Muffs 11 p.m. Sweeps [The Daily Examiner]

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November 16, 2007

420 Is A Joke

Sometime yesterday, NBC 10's website posted video for their already-infamous report on the time 4:20. (The report that's bringing competitors together in gleeful mockery!)

What was left out of the written transcript yesterday was where Evan, who claimed 4:20 nearly killed him, is what he's doing now: Studying at New York University. NYU, of course, has been ranked #1 in the "Reefer Madness" category from the Princeton Review.

4:20 is Dangerous Time For Kids [NBC 10]
Yesterday: NBC 420

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