10 chapters across the catalog
The hosts compare their lean production to the extensive staff list of The Wall Street Journal's "The Journal" podcast. They revisit the infamous 2013 KTVU news prank where a newsreader read fake, racially insensitive pilot names for the Asiana Flight 214 crash. The segment highlights the robotic nature of modern newsreaders who follow teleprompters without scrutiny.
A KTLA reporter mistakenly states that the news team reached out to a man who died in a police pursuit for comment, noting he was "unavailable." The hosts award this a "Clip of the Day" for the absurdity of the reporting error.
The "Blooper of the Month" features a news anchor accidentally saying "check your panties" instead of "check your pantry" while reading from a teleprompter. The hosts laugh at the anchor's immediate realization of the mistake. This is compared to other recent political gaffes and "word salad" moments in the media.
KTVU Broadcast Blooper, Mike Isaacson "Dead Cops" Tweet
A technical error in a KTVU broadcast left in a "3, 2, 1" countdown from a reporter. This leads to a discussion about Mike Isaacson, a John Jay College professor who was suspended after tweeting about "teaching future dead cops" and advocating for a "post-police world."
No Agenda Episode 968, Knighting Ceremony, Sir Stavard Ironbrand
Marvin Britten of Bellevue, Nebraska, is knighted as Sir Stavard Ironbrand following a $400 donation. The ceremony includes a request for a specific audio clip of Adam Curry from a 1988 MTV blooper reel. Britten, known as "Spot the Spook" in the chat room, is recognized for his support of the show's sound quality and deconstruction efforts.
Spielberg's Lincoln, Historical Inaccuracies and Casting
Specific cinematic choices in the movie Lincoln are critiqued, including the performances of Daniel Day-Lewis and Tommy Lee Jones. Historical inaccuracies are highlighted, such as the unlikely presence of Mary Todd Lincoln in the House gallery during the amendment vote. The film's ending, involving a romantic subplot for Representative Thaddeus Stevens, is characterized as a fictionalized addition to the historical record.
A news anchor for King 5 in Seattle commits a verbal slip during a live report, stating that protesters are set to "pinch tits" instead of "pitch tents." The segment also references viral YouTube footage of topless protesters in New York City. The hosts mock the robotic nature of local news drones who fail to process the absurdity of their own scripts.
Global News Teleprompter Failure and Mark McAllister
Global News reporter Mark McAllister suffers a significant on-air teleprompter failure while attempting to report on fighter jet deployments in Libya. The hosts play the clip of McAllister speaking nonsensical phrases and compare it to the infamous "South Carolina Junior Miss" viral video.
UNODC Video Blooper, Yuri Fedotov and Puppet Politics
Adam Curry highlights an unedited video from the UNODC website featuring Executive Director Yuri Fedotov. The footage includes a blooper where Fedotov asks to restart his speech from a specific paragraph after a teleprompter error. The hosts use this as evidence that high-ranking international officials are "puppets" who simply read scripted messages.
David Letterman Post-Production Edit, Survivor Promo Gaffe
A noticeable audio overdub on the Late Show with David Letterman is analyzed, where Letterman's voice was clearly edited to correct the premiere date of the show "Survivor." The hosts discuss the technical clumsiness of the edit and Letterman's history of experimental television tropes. They suggest the network forced the fix to ensure the promotional plug was accurate.
