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Kent Brockman News: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}}
{{quote|''"[[Memetic Mutation|And I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords]]. I'd like to remind them as a [[Delusions of Local Grandeur|trusted TV personality]], I can be helpful in [[The Quisling|rounding up others]] to toil in their underground sugar caves."''
|'''[[Trope Namer|Kent Brockman]]'''|''[[The Simpsons (animation)|The Simpsons]]'' }}
If TV writers need cheap exposition, the easiest way is to have a news [[Show Within a Show]] do it. Usually, the news anchors provide a [[Practical Voice Over]]. Sometimes, they do more than that (see [[Coincidental Broadcast]] and [[News Monopoly]]).
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* Are unable to finish their story because of sudden [[Dead Line News|crises within the newsroom]].
Though live-action comedies do them occasionally, these routines are much more common in animated shows. This may have to do with the fact that animated shows usually use multiple characters per actor, and can afford to have a diverse supporting cast (and also, of course, because it's infinitely easier to have [[Canon Discontinuity]] in a show which everyone already knows isn't supposed to be realistic). Another barrier to live-action use is that some countries restrict how fictional news can be displayed, likely to prevent another ''[[The War of the Worlds (radio)|The War of the Worlds]]'' type incident (for example, British TV requires fictional news be displayed on a TV screen within the show). Even if a show isn't made primarily for such a country, production companies are loath to throw away potential export markets or be required to make local versions to air there.
{{examples}}▼
▲{{examples}}
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
* The characters on ''[[Cowboy Bebop]]'' sometimes got their info on new bounties from a news show called "Big Shot", which was ''aimed at bounty hunters''. The cowboy hosts were a black man with a Mexican accent ("Punch") and a blonde bimbo ("Judy"). In one of the last ''Bebop'' episodes, it's revealed this was all an act:
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'''"Judy", in a very different tone''': WHAT?! }}
** In the next episode, Faye sees Punch picking up his mother at the spaceport, but she cannot figure out why he looks familiar. Probably has difficulty because he doesn't have the weird accent. Note that [[Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping|Punch's weird accent shifted from Mexican to Texan whenever he said the show's various catchphrases]] - in the sub, he simply said the catchphrases [[Gratuitous English|in English]].
* In ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V]]'', Melissa Claire is a ditzy type who dresses in a Fanservicy cowgirl outfit (with [[Bare Your Midriff| a midriff]] and [[Who Wears Short Shorts?| short skirt]]) and talks in a Southern accent; her job as a reporter seems to be tracking down interesting duels in Neo Domino and commenting on them, although it doesn't matter to her if she's covering a pair of "Dueltainers" in the city park or one of Sector Security's Duel Chasers trying to apprehend a fugitive - reporting from a helicopter for the second situation. No matter what the situation, she's always bubbly and cheery, but doesn't work very well with the rest of her production team.
== Fan Works ==
* ''[https://www.wattpad.com/story/173566505-final-stand-of-death Final Stand of Death]'' has [[Jackass|Johnny Knoxville]] in this one.
== [[Film]] ==
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* In ''[[Groundhog Day]],'' this is usually Phil Connors' style of reporting. He has nothing but contempt for Punxsutawney, its people, its festival, and anyone in his TV audience who actually cares about the festival. Part of his [[Character Development]] involves him growing out of this, and he eventually gives a genuinely heartwarming speech.
== [[Live
* On ''The [[Weird Al]] Show'', while flipping through channels, Al would always pass by a newscaster (also played by Yankovic) who would be reporting on a mundane, nonsensical, or just plain pointless "story". ("This just in...Ping-Pong spelled backwards is Gnop-Gnip.")
* ''[[Red Dwarf]]'' used 'Channel 27' News to explain the Better Than Life game. Featured subtle jokes such as having a month called 'Geldof'.
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* Brandy Barber (Gina Phillips) from the ''[[Monk]]'' episode ''Mr. Monk and the Man Who Shot Santa'' definitely qualifies. For one thing, most of her reports are emotionally charged rather than done rationally, and often has her skewing the story to humiliate the interviewee. It's because of her that Monk and Natalie get harassed by people jeering at Monk for shooting and wounding a [[Bad Santa]] with his own gun. For some reason, despite this, pretty much everyone seems to [[Idiot Ball|believe this broadcaster]].
* ''[[Parks and Recreation]]'' has Joan Callamezzo, host of the morning show ''Pawnee Today'', who often tries to undermine or snark on her guests on air. (There's also Perd Hapley, who's just kind of a doofus.)
* The French puppet show ''[[Les Guignols De L Info]]'', running since 1988, is entirely about this trope. The anchor Patrick Poivre d'Arvor never misses an occasion to make snarky comments just after interviews or shows naive agreement when explained horrible things by "officials" (like the marketing plan to sell… the War in Irak). He is not above bullying (puppets of) journalists of other channels who have been fired or suspended for some reason, like David Pujadas or recently Harry Roselmack, treating them like trainees who must learn from him. And sometimes, we switch to Kent Brockman News ''inside'' the show, presented this time by Jean-Pierre Pernaut, the anchor of the 13 o'clock news on TF1 (a channel considered blatantly rightwing, pro-government, anti-strikers and anti-public servants) which has a tendency to show anecdotes about the "deep traditional France" or the holiday departures rather than important news.▼
* On an episode of ''[[The Armstrong and Miller Show]]'', there is a sketch wherein a reporter in the Middle East speaks over satellite, while the presenter in the studio uses the delay as an opportunity to accuse him of various unsavoury things.
* ''[[Attention Scum]]'' had a recurring skit starring [[Johnny Vegas]]: 24 Hour News, As Read By a Man Who Has Been Up for 24 Hours. It started as a reasonably coherent, if tired and slightly drunk sounding location anchor, but gradually devolved until it was just Johnny Vegas in a rumpled and soiled business with a bottle of cheap booze yelling "NEWS!" over and over again.
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== [[Newspaper Comics]] ==
* Roland Hedley from ''[[Doonesbury]]''.
== Puppet Shows ==
▲* The French puppet show ''[[Les Guignols
== [[Radio]] ==
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== Toys ==
* ''[[Transformers]]'' has "[http://transcomics.deviantart.com/favourites/38977170 Around Cybertron]", an [[Transformers Timelines|Official Fanclub]] mini comic about the eponymous in-universe newscast. It features the various [[Intrepid Reporter|journalist]] [[Paparazzi|characters]] from the franchise, typically reporting humorously on the major events of whatever the latest Fanclub storyline is. The comic (and show) thus spans [[Transformers:
== [[Video Games]] ==
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{{quote|'''Anchor''': Los Angeles was left shocked today, following a vicious gun battle between the LAPD...and you. They were all like, "BANG! BANG! Ya filthy varmint!", and you were all like "POW! POW! Oooh, you [[Looney Tunes|wascally wabbit!]] You got me!"}}
* There was an old FMV PC game about art trading that would end each level with a news report on current events that would affect the values of certain paintings. The news anchor would smirk triumphantly while delivering tragic news and scowl while delivering upbeat news.
* [[GTA Radio]] is full of this, especially WCTR in ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]''.
* ''[[Disgaea]] 2'' has a news show with two anchors - one of whom is entirely mute, between each chapter of the game, talking about demon-interest pieces or actual plot relevant information. Inverted in one such "episode", where only the mute character is present; the entire episode is spent in silence, giving absolutely no information at all.
* Trivia game ''[[You Don't Know Jack]]'' would often have fake bumpers for Kent Brockman News over the credits. "Coming up: I couldn't string two sentences together to save my life. Tonight."
* ''[[Midtown Madness]] 2'' had at least one announcer like this (out of three or four); one of their race-opening lines ended in "...probably because I'm not wearing any pants!"
* PC space shooter ''[[Galactix]]'' opened with this report: "In today's news, Brazilian lumberjacks cut down the last tree in the rainforest. A spokesman for the Acme Toothpick Company said, 'Gee, that's too bad.'" only to be interrupted by the alien overlord announcing his intention to conquer and enslave humanity. The anchor even looked a bit like Kent Brockman.
* ''[[
* The news show seen at the beginning of ''[[Metal Gear Solid]] 4'' doubles up as a fairly straightforward marine biology documentary, with the news relegated to bouncing, barely readable tickers displaying the weirdest stories ever (such as describing an accident victim as 'beheaded but in stable condition' and mentioning a 'Ghengis Khan impersonator spotted near Vancouver armed with an automatic machete').
* ''[[
* Jane Valderama in ''[[Saints Row]] 2'' speaks in the weirdly smarmy monotone and a WASPish accent that only slips when she says her Hispanic last name. Also indulges the tortured metaphors, especially while giving running commentary as an embedded reporter in the Gang War—she rides shotgun with the Boss, bringing her own shotgun.
* The second ''[[Oddworld]]'' game, Abe's Exoddus, has the "Magog On March" news bulletins, where a Slig anchor (yes…) presents the latest crimes of the terrorist Abe and the declarations of Glukkon directors. Not forgetting the advertisement about Glukkon products sponsors.
{{quote|''Although Soulstorm Brewry's profits are plumetting, Mudokkons keep on disappearing here and there [[Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking|and the toilets are flowing back]], our direction assure us that everything is alright! Huhun… I'm off.''}}
== [[Web Comics]] ==
* ''[[Penny Arcade]]'' occasionally features stories by anchorman Randy Pinkwood, who will report on gaming news with the comic's characteristic farcical style. He ends each one by making some sort of reference to his incredible, and often bizarre, sexual escapades. (His name itself is, of course, a [[Double Entendre]].)
* ''[[Something
* The [http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=980202 Nifty News 50] team from ''[[Sluggy Freelance]]'' fits this trope pretty darn well (one of them is even named "Qwirky").
{{quote|'''Reporter:''' We have just received word that news is breaking on the set of ''Sluggy Freelance''. We are not sure what the news is at this time, but we wanted to beat the other networks to it. I'm sure we will have more information ''any'' moment.
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* [http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=20 This] ''[[VG Cats]]'' strip.
{{quote|'''Anchor:''' In other news, I'm not wearing any pants. More on this after the weather.}}
* Kelly, editorial cartoonist for ''[[The Onion]]'', is close to one of these. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100223081542/http://www.theonion.com/content/cartoon/dec-08-2008 This] is a good example.
* The news reports from ''[[El Goonish Shive]]'' sometimes seem to fall into this trope. The best examples are [http://egscomics.com/?date=2009-02-13 here] and [http://egscomics.com/?date=2010-01-21 here.]
{{quote|'''Carol:''' And once again I am reporting live but have nothing new to report. In the interest of filling time I will be interviewing students who are still here with the hope of appearing on TV.}}
* A news anchor in ''[[Tales Of Gnosis College]]'' shifts from a national security story to a discussion of deep issues about the meaning of human life to the local sports report, treating all as being about equally serious.
* ''[[Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal]]'' presents: "[http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1623 How Science Reporting Works]".
== [[Web Original]] ==▼
* Act III of ''[[
* Segments on the ''[[The Onion|Onion News Network]]'' tends to run with this, especially ''In The Know'' and ''Today Now!''.▼
* Rod Putman in ''[[Bite Me (web video)|Bite Me]]''.▼
* From ''[[Fenspace]]'', ''The Chewy Gristle Commentary Hour'' featuring Momo von Satan and The Cock, in the ''best way possible.''
== [[Western Animation]] ==
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** In the episode ''You Kent Always Say What You Want'', it is also subtly implied that he was not happy about having to interview Homer in regards to winning his 1,000,000th Ice Cream cone at the ice cream parlor, especially when it forced him to abandon doing a heated discussion on the War in Iraq, but he ended up having to do so due to one of his show's sponsors being the same Ice Cream company that Homer won the contest in.
* ''[[Futurama]]'' has co-anchors Morbo and Linda. Morbo claims to be a scout for his species' upcoming alien invasion, and regularly voices his hatred and contempt for all things - especially humanity - on air. His co-anchor, Linda, always responds to his threats with an empty-headed laugh.
{{quote|'''Morbo:''' ''(all the time)'' "[[Third Person Person|Morbo]] WILL DESTROY YOU!"
'''Morbo:''' (presiding over a presidential debate) "I now present puny human #1, puny human #2, and Morbo's good friend [[President Evil|Richard Nixon]]" }}
** The casual attitude taken to his threats could be explained by his behaviour with his wife - at a party she adjusts his bow-tie and he snaps at her, "Stop it, it's fine, I will DESTROY you!" This would suggest that's just the way his species acts normally. Then again, he has also stopped reporting to take a note about human weaknesses and referenced his people's mighty space fleet readying for an attack in the near future. You can't help but love him though; indeed, Fry said as much when seeing the news back in the 20th century in Bender's Big Score. "I miss Morbo."
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{{quote|'''Tom:''' With the cable out in Quahog, it doesn't really matter what we say. I'm the Lord Jesus Christ. Think I'll go get drunk and beat up some midgets. What about you, Diane?
'''Diane:''' Well, Tom, I just plain don't like black people. ''(the two chuckle)''
'''Camera Operator:''' [[Is This Thing Still On?|Uh, guys, we're still on in Boston.]]
''Cut back to Tom and Diane, who have [[Oh Crap]] looks on their faces.'' }}
** Then there was when the transmitter was fixed:
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** Drunk Billy was the Quahog 5 News Traffic Cam helicopter pilot. In the episode "Dial Meg for Murder", Drunk Billy tragically dies in a fatal collision with a highway overpass. In anticipation for this moment, colleagues Tom Tucker and Diane Simmons present a pre-prepared collection of accidents and near misses from Billy’s career.
* In ''[[The Oblongs]]'', the local TV news show is completely biased in favor of the mayor, who in turn is completely biased in favor of the town rich.
* ''[[A Pup Named Scooby
* ''[[Darkwing Duck (animation)|Darkwing Duck]]'' features news anchor Tom Lockjaw, arguably inspired by the same real life personality as Kent Brockman, the famous Tom Brokaw. Lockjaw is considerably less often used than Brockman, but is nonetheless very much a whimsical addition to the show.
* ''[[The Fairly
* [[Those Two Guys|Johnny Gomez and Nick Diamond]] in ''[[Celebrity Deathmatch]]''.
* ''[[Sheep in The Big City]]'' had two anchors, one of whom would give "unrelated" stories that were obviously related, once repeating the same story.
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* ''[[The Proud Family]]'' has Marsha Mitsubishi, who very clearly hates her job and frequently comments about it on air.
* Tovah Hernandez Carlson on ''[[Clerks the Animated Series|Clerks: The Animated Series]]'' is a newscaster of the monotone variety.
* Mike The TV from ''[[
* ''[[Planet Sketch]]'' has Mike Today and Sally Van who have gender related arguements when they do their newscasting.
* Hector Ramirez, the parody of investigative reporter Geraldo Rivera from ''[[G.I. Joe]]'', ''[[Transformers Generation 1]]'', ''[[Jem]]'' and ''[[Inhumanoids]]''.
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{{quote|With only a short time before the comet "Dad's Ball" flattens us all into pancakes, people all over the world are doing things they always wanted to do. Today, a man married himself (cut to the Red Guy marrying himself). And I always wanted to do THIS! (climbs on the desk and takes off his suit to reveal a weenie costume underneath) Look at me! I'm Weenie Suit Man!}}
* ''[[Generator Rex]]'' has the tabloid news show "Ultimate Exposure", which is also the focus of the episode "Exposed."
* Shandra Jimenez from ''[[Gravity Falls]]'' would, in most settings, be an Inversion of this Trope, as she would much rather focus on news that is important and believable. Unfortunately, she is stuck in a town that is notorious for rampant supernatural activity.
▲== [[Web Original]] ==
▲* Act III of ''[[Doctor Horribles Sing Along Blog]]'' gives us two rather hammy TV news anchors whose coverage of Captain Hammer's "inspirational acts of heroism" segues neatly into the following gem -- "Next up, who's gay?" (For extra humor, the [[Gilligan Cut|next line]] is sung by Captain Hammer's [[Camp Gay]] [[Fan Boy]].) They are later shown weeping uncontrollably on the air over {{spoiler|<s>Penny</s> What's-her-name's death}}.
▲* Segments on the ''[[The Onion|Onion News Network]]'' tends to run with this, especially ''In The Know'' and ''Today Now!''.
▲* Rod Putman in ''[[Bite Me (web video)|Bite Me]]''.
== [[Real Life]] ==
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** Smith didn’t let Jane Skinner on the hold for this [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLkQeuU1LmM fail]
* This reporter should’ve [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYAMDhVT50I watch her language]
{{reflist}}
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