"Green Week" at "Today" came in with an Al Gore roar but went out with a travelogue whimper. What happened?
View video [from MSNBC site] here.
On Monday, "Today" kicked off Green Week with an Al Gore interview in which he proclaimed there was no room for dissenting voices on global warming. Over at MSNBC the same day, an NBC environmental "correspondent" urged viewers to vote for candidates with an environmentalist agenda.
But this morning, "Green Week" at "Today" went out on a mysteriously innocuous note. Gone, at least during the crucial first-half hour, was the environmentalist crusading, replaced by little more than a travelogue. Instead of global warming, the focus was Ann Curry's personal accomplishment in Antarctica [note the screen graphic].
The only recycling was that of footage broadcast earlier in the week of Ann's excellent adventure. The screencap shows the crew back in the studio giving Ann a standing 'O' yesterday as she excitedly gave them the news of her landing at the South Pole. The closest the segment came to the "Green Week" theme was a fleeting reference to the fact that a new station being built at the South Pole would contain facilities for climate-change research.
So what happened? What caused NBC, as it would appear, to retract its environmentalist claws? Could some of the honchos actually have been embarrassed by the over-the-top tone? Were they swamped by rising sea levels of viewer discontent? Did the Federal Election Commission inform NBC that it was on the verge of classifying the network's 150 hours of Green Week programming a contribution-in-kind to the DNC?
Keeping our ears, and inbox, open . . .
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at [email protected].
Comments Policy
Ann Curry's personal
November 9, 2007 - 08:33 ET by rimskyAnn Curry's personal achievement? Puh-leezze! Like she had to travel part of the distance by dog sled or something? What an absolute, over-the-top, carbon spewing junket. I'll bet she was super glad to beat feet outta there. Great looking Parka, Ann.. and those shades are to die for.
I wish....
November 9, 2007 - 09:48 ET by Justin538..that I was given personal achievements for sucking at my job. That would be grand.
Ann's an idiot
November 9, 2007 - 10:07 ET by fly navyDuring last night's report from MacMurdo, she stated that the scientists there endure total darkness for nearly the entire year.
HUH?????
When she says darkness....
November 9, 2007 - 10:14 ET by Justin538She's really talking about that crappy band.
She misread the prompter. It said "Scientists here endure "The Darkness" for nearly the entire year.
I believe in a thing called love.....sigh....f*$^ing hippies.
So what happened?
November 9, 2007 - 08:37 ET by jay_1975I am thinking that part of the issue was the fact that Ann Curry's little trip met with -53 degree temps. Of course we all know that the 1 degree temp increase will cause Antarctica to melt...oh wait, that estimate is just off by 84 degrees. On a side note, CNN gave Coleman's statements from Icecap about 5 seconds this morning.
If that's true...
November 9, 2007 - 08:53 ET by tater...then NBC executives are extremely dumb. Even in the warmest of the months Antartctica is routinely well below freezing.
Do you realize how much it costs to run for office? More than any honest man could afford. -Montgomery Burns
Jay, I saw that on CNN this
November 9, 2007 - 12:58 ET by DaBirdJay, I saw that on CNN this morning. I actually sent CNN an e-mail earlier in the week with a link to that Coleman story and "dared" them to cover it. Like you said, they gave it about 5 seconds of air-time. All they did was mention the article and read a breif part of his statements. Now had this been a Global Warming advocate, they would have interviewed that person, had follow up interviews with people who agreed with him, actually would have made a story about it. But seeing as it was a Global Warming "skeptic", CNN read the story that way, with skepticism. AAAARRRGGGGHHH I hate the media!!!!
Wait a minute!
November 9, 2007 - 09:07 ET by FastEdLittle annie goes south (no pun) and NOT one of these GREEN lovers mentions that she did not go there for research purposes, but as a publicity stunt, spoiling the planet with her carbon emmisions, never mind the other effects on the environment due to the waste stream she helped create (yes, ann has to poop too, or is that why her eyes are brown?) - and then everyone cheered? For what? Going on a vacation? The only difference between her vacation videos is that someone else pays for it, then the rest of us have to sit through the boring report - "Here I am on the souther most continent, oh, oh, here you'll see some of the scientists collecting data proving GW, and later we're going to see penquins!!"
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
You forget
November 9, 2007 - 09:46 ET by kbworkmanThese are our eco-warriors, they don't have to conserve. The ends justifies the means. Makes about as much sense as purchasing carbon credits to justify a wasteful life style. If they were really concerned, they would practice what they preach.
No room for dissenting voices?
November 9, 2007 - 09:11 ET by kbworkmanHmm...
Isn't that how Hitler and his brown shirts felt?
They also created a bogeyman and convinced the German people that they were the only ones who could save them.
That worked out well.
Demonize any dissenters and let your propganda (MSM) arm take care of the rest.
'Her Highness, Queen Hillary'
November 9, 2007 - 09:53 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsWasn't it 'Her Highness, Queen Hillary' who said dissenting voices are patriotic?
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
Haven't you been told?
November 9, 2007 - 10:05 ET by fosstenHaven't you been told? Dissent is only patriotic if you're dissenting against a conservative or a Rethuglikkkan.
And you're only a bigot if you're disagreeing with a liberal.
I hereby assign you to re-education camp No. RW-4716923XA.
Anybody else want to "speak truth to power?"
*crickets*
Forget 911, I dial 9MM.
Has anybody kept a
November 9, 2007 - 09:33 ET by Sick-n-TiredHas anybody kept a cumulative running total of NBC's collective sasquatch carbon footprint for this week??
Well, nothing exact, but clearly
November 9, 2007 - 09:56 ET by sarcasmoHenry Payne was looking into the future a couple of weeks ago.
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul.
Testing the National Gag Reflex?
November 9, 2007 - 09:43 ET by heldmywIs it possible that "Green Week" turned out to be a bit of a ratings fiasco? I know I deliberately did not watch NBC at any time (not that I'm a great fan of anything they do anyway) but I'm curious...
What are the numbers?
Don't know the numbers.....
November 9, 2007 - 12:08 ET by Seabeach4348.....but you can bet that the way NBC interjected "green" into last week's football game didn't help their ratings. I would have loved to see some of those e-mails from sportsfans!
Really NBC should rename themselves N-BS after that.
On a related note,
November 9, 2007 - 10:04 ET by Ruths husband BenOn a related note, Krakatau's little sister has erupted. The Democrats are expected to introduce a bill to pay it's carbon off-set cost (with a cigarette "fee").
And yes, it is Bush's fault.
I see that the Karl Rove's
November 9, 2007 - 10:14 ET by Roger the ShrubberI see that the Karl Rove's Seismological Triggering Device, or STD, is in its last stages of testing...
Oh, that Karl is a crafty fellow!
that Karl is a crafty
November 9, 2007 - 10:37 ET by Jack BauerAnd crabby!
Just you wait, Jackson. Just
November 9, 2007 - 16:49 ET by Roger the ShrubberJust you wait, Jackson. Just you wait until you witness the full, awesome power of STD!
Well that would put a potato in the tailpipe...
November 9, 2007 - 10:17 ET by tater...of the GW crowd if that thing erupts fully. Expect colder winters in the next 3-5 years if we get a decent eruption.
Do you realize how much it costs to run for office? More than any honest man could afford. -Montgomery Burns
Why did it go out with a whimper?
November 9, 2007 - 10:18 ET by bulbasaurNBC let the stunt die a quiet death because the alarmism isn't gaining traction. And it isn't gaining traction because we in America recognize by gut-feel that when someone tries to sell you snake oil about a state of planetary emergency, it's very likely there's more to the story, like a hidden agenda that involves you giving up your personal freedom.
Not in America. It won't work.
Because a better story came up "THE DOW DROP!"
November 9, 2007 - 11:36 ET by PawpawNWhy talk about something they can't prove, when the DOW dropping they can use to say "ALL HELL'S BREAKING LOOSE!!" THE SKY IS FALLING!!
WAG
November 9, 2007 - 10:49 ET by ForeverOnTheRightConservatives get accused of being "bushbots" and we know they have BDS. But I think that they also suffer WAG (Worship of Al Gore) which because of their zeal for Gore it causes a mental disorder called BDS. This Global Warming hysteria is caused by WAG, they follow Gore without question, it's political cult. This psychotic break was triggered from the 2000 election and Gore’s “fuss” over Florida. If Gore had conceded without the fuss this country would be better off. All this political crap, and divisiveness is Gore’s fault, in my opinion and now he and his faithful followers are screwing things up for all of us with faulty science of this GW nonsense.
WAG the dog
November 9, 2007 - 11:25 ET by JohnMSeeing your use of "WAG" in your message header, my thoughts immediately went to the idea that "Global Warming" is another case of the tail wagging the dog (making CO2 the culprit rather than the result, etc.), and setting all these "save-the-worlders" off on a quest for imaginary salvation through carbon credits.
I wish I had the writing talent to make that a really easy image for the general public to access - it might help the libs to see how far off the charts they've gone, and give the rest of us some peace in knowing that we're not outcasts just because we're not drinking the kool-aid; we're actually guardians of rationality.
If your serious...
November 9, 2007 - 11:42 ET by ForeverOnTheRightyou could have a "ghost writer" write for you, or you could do what Tim LaHay did with the Left Behind series co-write a book with someone. Now for the hard part, finding a talented writer that would team up with you. (I can't help you with that one.) Good luck.
Good thoughts, but it is
November 9, 2007 - 11:49 ET by JohnMGood thoughts, but it is far more likely that some talented writer will see the idea and run with it on his/her own. I could see Todd, Mark, Noel, or any number of other contributors here at NB doing a good job of it.
That would be OK with me, and I'd be happy to support their effort.
Your right, JohnM
November 9, 2007 - 12:29 ET by ForeverOnTheRightYour right. JohnM.
I was thinking about your wag the dog comment. In this case it's wag the donkey (libs).
So silly! Thank you NBC!!
November 9, 2007 - 11:30 ET by w0tmThe "Green Week" of NBC has been so silly that even the all emotion/no brains tree huggers feel as if they are being made fun of. NOT the intention of NBC who shot for what they thought was the lowest common denominator of the American public. But even the most mindless Algore groupies are not THAT dumb. Even the true idiots recognized this as pure propaganda. If only their programming would keep this up beyond one week! I posted this (see below) on their blog and it was there for four minutes and 32 seconds before being deleted. And, of course, replaced by dozens of blogs with even more praise of "all things green". No science but "the end justifies the means" to those where facts are not in their favor.
********************************************
My blog post on the NBC Web site that didn't last five minutes.
This entire week is sooo funny! Thank you NBC! I'm the non-emotional techie-nerd type who carefully read all data with no hidden agenda or predetermined outcomes and concluded the world's climate is actually more stable today than at almost any time in natural history.
I couldn't believe it when I heard an entire week of network programming was going to be devoted to blatant one-sided propaganda on this or any political issue.
Boy, was I wrong! This week has been sooo funny! All my "green friends", who have talked about this week of programming since it was first announced, are now walking around almost in tears believing they've been made fools of. I guess they have! The skit where Al Gore hears the sound of a distant whale in distress has been the peak (thus far). What can top that!? But I bet there are even funnier skits yet to come!
At the end of the week, I'm guessing Al Gore and many others will join hands on camera singing "We Are The World" then, in unison, yell "April Fool's" to the world as this week of brilliant programming ends.
In the very unlikely event this was meant to be serious (you aim for the lowest common demoninator but even the dumbest among us are not THIS dumb!) then I'd say your writers are not coming back, no matter how much you pay them!
Anyway, thanks for the funniest week of programming EVER! I'm watching NBC again from now on!
Good Work!
November 9, 2007 - 11:54 ET by JohnMNice job of letting them know!
I wonder if your 5 minutes set a record - "Longest Lasting Criticism" or some such?
Direct Action
November 9, 2007 - 11:57 ET by BlondeWell, you obviously got their attention.
Not even five minutes, huh? Excellent.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Last night's 30 Rock was
November 9, 2007 - 11:31 ET by balboaLast night's 30 Rock was pretty good with the "green" theme. David Schwimmer played an actor (stretch) who was the new mascot for going green, Greenzo, who was great until he started bashing NBC and GE, so they had to get rid of him.
maybe they listened?
November 9, 2007 - 11:44 ET by JohnMI don't think it's a fluke that they've racheted down the volume.
Companies know that few people tell them directly what they don't like - but they will tell their friends and acquaintences.
I forget where it came from, but many years ago I heard that one direct letter or call was considered to represent approximately 8 others who felt the same way but didn't communicate it directly.
While I enjoy discussions on blogs like NB, I figure that I have to do more than just express my opinions here to our community.
Doubting that NBC execs come here to read our positions, I called their "viewer services" line 3 times and left messages. I expressed my disgust with the way they were injecting politics into programming that shouldn't have it, and that I have other viewing choices.
No, I'm not taking all the credit for their shift (really!), but I have no doubt that concrete actions do contribute to the result. I figure that a lot of others must have communicated directly, too, and I think our direct actions are a lot more effective than maybe we realize.
I wrote an e-mail to
November 9, 2007 - 13:06 ET by ahusserI wrote an e-mail to national geographic about their blatant siding with the global warming alarmism and their political propaganda in supposed scientific shows. Haven't received a reply yet. Won't hold my breath.
What is wrong with a
November 9, 2007 - 13:13 ET by JasonCWhat is wrong with a network putting messages about good environmental stewardship into their shows? Especially when they're actively pointing to the fact that they're doing so (ie it's not like they're inserting 1/60 second frames that say "Stop Driving SUVs")? Some of the shows, after all, have actually openly ridiculed people who go over the top about this stuff (last night's Scrubs, for instance). Forget the hypocrisy of Hollywood activists and Al Gore for a minute. Ideology aside, what possible opposition can you have to the simple idea that humans try to be more careful about things like recycling and conservation? Basic environmental awareness isn't ideological, it's common sense and, frankly, a Christian virtue.
"He was, and is yet, most likely, the wearisomest, self-righteous
pharisee that ever ransacked a Bible to rake the promises to himself
and fling the curses on his neighbors." -Emily Bronte
1. I agree with you. It
November 9, 2007 - 14:00 ET by buddyc1. I agree with you. It is a Christian virtue to me a good steward.
2. I don't agree with you that being a good steward was their message.
Good stewards are also honest stewards...
November 9, 2007 - 17:39 ET by Parker1227...because if you put all environmental issues under the banner of human caused global warming (AGW), then AGW is proven to be a dishonest and manipulative political scam - what then?
Will people become so cynical as to drop support of even legit stewardship issues (like clean air and water)?
Ha ha
November 9, 2007 - 17:47 ET by JohnM"it's common sense and, frankly, a Christian virtue."
Interesting to see you try to play that card on me - I'm not a Christian. Hmm, I've seen someone post with this tagline:
"He was, and is yet, most likely, the wearisomest, self-righteous pharisee that ever ransacked a Bible to rake the promises to himself and fling the curses on his neighbors." -Emily Bronte
According to your own tagline, you brand yourself wearisome and self-righteous. Your own quote comes back to bite you on the arse ha ha!
</laughter> (well, OK, I admit it - I really haven't stopped laughing...)
Seriously, my point is simple: You want to hack a political issue? Put it on a show that's marketed as being about political issues.
Don't politicize stuff that's supposed to be entertainment; I don't like people preaching to me using the pretext of entertainment. Hypocritical and underhanded.
Wouldn't they be jumping mad if an entertainment show had embedded messages supporting something like a religion, or the second amendment? So, cut the crap and let's not pretend it's something it really isn't. (The end does NOT justify the means.)
Be honest: the whole "Green Week" fiasco should be considered a financial contribution to Al Gore's political ambitions. The IRS should be all over this to the tune of MILLIONS of dollars donated.
What Went Wrong - "NFL Halftime by candlelight"
November 9, 2007 - 12:14 ET by PopularTechSee once people saw that there was still ice in the Arctic, Antarctica and it was still cold as hell there combined with the amazing revelation that Polar Bears still existed they started calling for Gore's head. Gore on the other hand is embarrassed to learn that there is no 'Consensus' and the debate is NOT over: NO 'Consensus' on "Man-Made" Global Warming
But I think once Matt Lauer got laughed off the "NFL Halftime by candlelight" NBC executives knew this was ridiculous.
The Anti "Man-Made" Global Warming Resource
I still can't believe
November 9, 2007 - 13:17 ET by connmanThat there isn't more of an uproar over the lack of full disclosure on NBC's part to remind viewers that they are owned by GE. You know the Ecomagination Corporation, you know the one pushing the Windpower and all that primitive BS! You know the Corporation with more lobbying power than all the Major Oil Companies combined! Nooooooo Generous Electric has NOTHING to gain by pushing there propaganda to the uninformed! Nothing at all! And crickets chirp**
Oh and by the way, watching some of my favorite NBC comedies on Thursday night wasn't half as funny as the green team giving the viewers tips on how to be more responsible comrades!
I was at my parents home
November 9, 2007 - 13:58 ET by buddycI was at my parents home on Monday so I was stuck with watching NBC. I saw Curry's piece from Antartica. They asked her about signs of "global warmning damage" and she evaded, dogged weaved and finally said to the effect; "well on the other side of the continent 5 years ago a piece of ice as big as Rhode Island broke off". She did add that "there are real experts reaseaching that know".
I laughed for an hour. It was classic.
-
November 9, 2007 - 21:22 ET by dahliatraverswell on the other side of the continent 5 years ago a piece of ice as big as Rhode Island broke off
Oh the humanity!
tripe
November 9, 2007 - 19:04 ET by CatherwoodWhat pure and utterr nonsense. Pure Tripe. Tripe Face Boogie.
Buffalo'd in buffalo
Entertained in Houston
New York, yew nork,
You gotta choose one
Tripe face boogie
Boogie my sneakers away
I don't want your money
Don't want your time
Please don't hype me honey
Or I'll give you back your dime
Tripe face boogie
Boogie my sneakers away
I don't dig potato chips
A can't dig torts
Tripe my guacamole, baby
Tripe my shorts
Hype boogie
Tripe boogie
Hype boogie
All night Long
You bring your guitar and I'll bring the wine
We'll blow out our speakers, just one more time
Tripe face boogie -- Look Out!
Give tripe face his way
Look Out!
Give tripe face his day
Look Out!
Give tripe face his way
NBC Green Post -- Fair and Balanced! (for 4 min 32 seconds)
November 9, 2007 - 21:13 ET by w0tmI rarely watch NBC or any of the looney-left MSM. But I happened to click through NBC a few times this week and got hooked. EVERY show was flat out funny! Every show was so over the top eco-nutty, I assumed it was all a huge put-on. Much like the day Rush Limbaugh admitted the Left was correct and how he had been sooo dumb all these years. He took rants and raves from callers until one caught on it was a prank and called him on it.
I assumed what I was watching HAD to be a prank. NO ONE could be THAT dumb to be swayed by such rank comedy. After watching Algore rush off like the Caped Crusader declaring "I hear a distant whale in distress!" I KNEW the entire week was a Rush Limbaugh-type prank. It was so well done I felt I should compliment NBC on their masterpiece of high comedy. I found their "Green Week" Web site and posted the following sincere compliment. I then waited and watched. It stayed on the site for four minutes and 32 seconds. Wow! They really DO believe the average person is THAT dumb!
****************************************
""""
This entire week is sooo funny! Thank you NBC! I'm the non-emotional techie-nerd type who carefully read all data with no hidden agenda or predetermined outcomes and concluded the world's climate is actually more stable today than at almost any time in natural history.
I couldn't believe it when I heard an entire week of network programming was going to be devoted to blatant one-sided propaganda on this or any political issue.
Boy, was I wrong! This week has been sooo funny! All my "green friends", who have talked about this week of programming since it was first announced, are now walking around almost in tears believing they've been made fools of. I guess they have! The skit where Al Gore hears the sound of a distant whale in distress has been the peak (thus far). What can top that!? But I bet there are even funnier skits yet to come!
At the end of the week, I'm guessing Al Gore and many others will join hands on camera singing "We Are The World" then, in unison, yell "April Fool's" as this week of brilliant programming ends.
In the very unlikely event this was meant to be serious (you aim for the lowest common demoninator but even the dumbest among us are not THIS dumb!) then I'd say your writers are not coming back, no matter how much you pay them!
Anyway, thanks for the funniest week of programming EVER! I'm watching NBC again from now on! """"