Althouse: C-SPAN host demonstrates the C-SPAN straight-face protocol, to be deployed when a serious caller turns out to be a joker.

February 13, 2016

C-SPAN host demonstrates the C-SPAN straight-face protocol, to be deployed when a serious caller turns out to be a joker.

The man's ostensible topic is why I support Donald Trump.

13 comments:

traditionalguy said...: Was that Putin calling in? The voice did not sound Russian. If it was, The Donald will not disavow the comment.; 2/13/16, 8:20 AM
Mid-Life Lawyer said...: Classic. I loved both the caller and the host.; 2/13/16, 8:25 AM
Wince said...: Trump is an enormous penis with a red hat?; 2/13/16, 8:26 AM
jr565 said...: The best example of this of all time was the news cast where the read off the pilots names of the chinese air craft that crashed without even realizing it was a joke. The names were:
Captain Sum Ting Wong
Wi Tu Lo
Ho Lee Fuk
Bang Ding Ow
After putting them on the screen the newscaster reads off the names completely oblivious to the joke.
https://youtu.be/AmclgO6w0C0

This was wasn't quite as good. But sometimes I wonder if the caller isn't right on in the reason some support Trump. Because it doesn't seem to be based on policy or smartness. It might just be the hat.; 2/13/16, 8:35 AM
traditionalguy said...: Jr...The Hat's message is The Protestant Work Ethic. It is the Hat. That is what attracts the Hispanics to the hateful Trump. The want construction jobs because they are so great at doing them., and he promises them real work and real pay, and real happiness.

Socialism says you can pretend to work and we will pretend to pay you, and real depression follows.; 2/13/16, 8:54 AM
robother said...: Trump. No pussy he.; 2/13/16, 8:58 AM
Ann Althouse said...: Ironically, the caller's comedy doesn't (as intended) hurt Trump. I'm sure it's funny to Trump. Trump is helped by all discussions of him. It's his superpower.; 2/13/16, 9:03 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "The best example of this of all time..."

Considering the context in which people died (and adding the racial aspect), that was something I would not even relay to one other person, let alone blog or memorialize in later posts.

Also that was an example of something else, the newsreader being given a script that should never have been approved and delivering it as if it wasn't wrong. This is an example of a caller saying something, the reporter knowing what's going on at every moment, and the following of a protocol that actually is the best way to handle this situation.; 2/13/16, 9:08 AM
rhhardin said...: Not sufficiently funny.

The format is you can say anything. It's better when a Howard Stern listener gets on a serious news disaster reporting show, which deserves the format breakup.

Disasters are entertainment.; 2/13/16, 9:20 AM
rhhardin said...: Mein Hut er hat drei Ecken; 2/13/16, 9:22 AM
MisterBuddwing said...: "The best example of this of all time was the news cast where the read off the pilots names of the chinese air craft that crashed ..."

South Korean jetliner, but who really cares. (Had I been on the news desk and looked at the story, my initial reaction would have been: These are not Korean-sounding names. My next reaction, I'd like to think, would have been: "Holy crap!"); 2/13/16, 9:26 AM
MisterBuddwing said...: "It's better when a Howard Stern listener gets on a serious news disaster reporting show, which deserves the format breakup."

Yes, I remember that happening on CNN the night Princess Diana died...; 2/13/16, 9:31 AM
Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...: The best C-SPAN pranks were by Buddy Gz working for Howard Stern. He had a low scratchy voice. You can find them by just searching "CSPAN pranks" in YouTube.; 2/13/16, 3:59 PM