There are many things to discuss in regards to the clip below, which shows Chicago-based news anchors, Larry Potash and Robin Baumgarten, reporting on a staged plane crash for NBC’s Chicago Fire that they think is real — like how local news is pointless and how it would have taken literally 15 seconds of research before going live to verify if the accident was real or not and the snotty “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?” reaction by Robin — but I want to focus on one aspect: do all news shows have a sad trombone sound effect handy?
I watched two separate clips of the broadcast, and neither appear to be doctored and both feature a sad trombone. If this is standard practice, why aren’t more local news teams using sound effects? I would sit through five minutes of an exposé about Local Resident Tina Stanwich’s Giant Green Tomatoes if instead of saying, “Back to you…,” every anchor signs off with, “Back to *FART NOISE* *TOILET FLUSH*.” Instant ratings bump.
(Via)
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Tune in tonight at 5 when we have exclusive footage of the real life Batman stopping crime! Its incredible who would have thought that batman is real?!?! oh wait what they’re just filming a movie. Maybe they should tell us news folks next time so we dont make asses out of ourselves.
That was the saddest trombone I have ever heard.
Ah yes, the good ol’ “unconfirmed report” does it every time.
I worked in local news (behind the scenes in production) for almost 13 years. I did run audio and we definitely had the sad trombone saved in the digital players as well as several other sound effects. I can’t speak for other stations, but the one I worked for for 12 years had a lot of South Park bits saved as well. These were for our enjoyment only and not meant to go out over the air.
That being said, this was an embarrassing example of the report first, facts later mentality that burned me out of the business. I guarantee that as soon as they were off the air, the anchors flipped out at the producer. There was a lot of screaming and name calling.
Then some intern probably found the press release that was sent out the day before announcing the road closure and they all felt like fools. As they should because they are all just awful at their jobs.
This news station is the morning joke station, and the best news in Chicago. Off course they have a trombone queued up they have to use it like everyday. These are the guys who missed the bridge collapse. Check that one out on YouTube.
the worst part about this is their reaction after it’s discovered to be a tv shoot. just call yourselves morons, apologize, and move on. don’t hem and haw and get all defensive about it.