02-09-2010 TV SWEEPS PERIOD LARA MORITZ REPORTS ON LIVE TV TASERING Yes, we are in the midst of another TV sweeps period. The February sweeps period started February 4 and will mercilessly conclude on March 3. It is the time period when newspaper and radio people step back and chuckle at the antics of TV journalists in their desperate attempt to get viewers. It generally means that TV stations will do just about anything to get folks to tune in, no matter how inane the story. In Cleveland, a TV anchor appeared nude. One KC TV station sent an anchor out to a wooded area of KC to report on gay trysts (complete with reports of the area being littered with used condoms). In St. Louis during one sweeps period TWO rival TV anchors dressed as homeless people to show the challenges homeless have living on the street. KMBC-TV9, longtime Kansas City ratings leader, is proving that it is not above cheap ratings ploy by staging a "live" taser of a guy (right) moderated by anchor Lara Moritz, who pretended like the silly story is newsworthy and not one that has been done a thousand times before--generally during sweeps. Viewers were probably thinking how cool it would be for Moritz to zap meteorologist Bryan Busby or reporter Micheal Mahoney. Or tie it in with a story about the dangers of tasering pregnant women and zap Erin Little. March 4 cannot come fast enough...
Idiot being tasered (Photo links to video)
02-09-2010 SQUELCHING A GUFFAW? "And I thought KMBC had more class than that. It is hard to imagine what kind of discussion took place around the table when THAT idea was trotted out. Surely Ms. Moritz, someone, had to either speak up against it or squelch a guffaw, right? "This keeps up and they'll have a revolving door just like KSHB's. I'm with you John, March 4 can't come fast enough. - Mike T.
MAYBE NOT AN IDIOT "I agree that tasing a guy live is a cheap -- and recycled -- ratings ploy. But the guy who was tased may not be an "idiot." Something was in it for him. Trust me."
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