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FLASH: NBC to go off air next week; affiliates scrambling

***HEADLINE***
***NBC to Leave Airwaves After Over 60 Years***

A spokesperson for NBC Universal announced today that the NBC television network, one of the "Big Three" providing memorable programs for many years, such as "Bonanza," "Sanford and Son," "Cheers," "Friends," "ER," "The Today Show," and "Supertrain," will discontinue operations next week. This is a landmark development in the history of American television, marking the greatest shift in the industry since the development of the remote control.

The spokesperson went on to say that since Comcast, who brought the broadcasting behemoth last year, figures that the average viewer is 69 years old, wears false teeth, and does not know how to text his or her grandchildren, the company, which built its fortune on persuading people that infomercials on cable channels were worth their attention, decided simply, "Ahhh, what the hell ... no kids are watching, and we haven't figured out how to make 'World's Greatest Loser' into an interactive video game, and on top of that, research is behind on fitting TV sets inside coffins, so we thought it was about time to hang it up. Things are so tight at 30 Rock that we can't even afford bagels and coffee for our scheduling meetings--and also pay for Hoda and Kathie Lee on that last hour of 'Today' that only your weird Aunt Susie watches. People shouldn't get so upset about it, anyway. They need to spend less time in front of the boob tube, and more time cheating on their spouses, which is something that made America the great place it is today."

The over 200 affiliates across the country who rely on NBC for most of their programming, though, are not so sanguine. One, WHO-TV in Des Moines, figures it will have to plug up the holes in its schedule with a camera situated in the middle of a farmer's cornfield. KSNV in Las Vegas says that it might consider producing its own reality shows covering the area's numerous brothels. And WVLA in Baton Rouge, Louisiana has in the works a Cajun cooking show that will feature ways to deep fry a turkey without starting a back yard fire, to make gumbo and sauce piquante with roadkill, and explanations about what a mirliton is. The station is, however, not in negotiations to have Emeril Lagasse host, since he does not know where Baton Rouge is on a map.

Eventually the famed studios at Rockefeller Plaza in New York will be sold, probably to some firm who received government bailouts in 2009. However, the fate of the famed Radio City Rockettes has yet to be disclosed, such as whether they will become the official cheerleaders for the White House.
 
Mr. Mike said:
Today's April Fools Day, and the message is an April Fools joke, isn't it? :D ;D ::)

As they say in Merry Olde England, "Bob's your uncle."

And by the way, Brian Williams will probably wind up on the weekend desk at ESPN, where he will attempt to teach the other sportscasters to talk in a slower but more dramatic tone of voice. As for Matt Lauer, Al Roker, and the gang on "Today," they will be assigned to the customer service department at Comcast, to give their telemarketing operation somewhat more credibility with irate customers.
 
Mike Stroud said:
***HEADLINE***
***NBC to Leave Airwaves After Over 60 Years***

A spokesperson for NBC Universal announced today that the NBC television network, one of the "Big Three" providing memorable programs for many years, such as "Bonanza," "Sanford and Son," "Cheers," "Friends," "ER," "The Today Show," and "Supertrain," will discontinue operations next week. This is a landmark development in the history of American television, marking the greatest shift in the industry since the development of the remote control.

The spokesperson went on to say that since Comcast, who brought the broadcasting behemoth last year, figures that the average viewer is 69 years old, wears false teeth, and does not know how to text his or her grandchildren, the company, which built its fortune on persuading people that infomercials on cable channels were worth their attention, decided simply, "Ahhh, what the hell ... no kids are watching, and we haven't figured out how to make 'World's Greatest Loser' into an interactive video game, and on top of that, research is behind on fitting TV sets inside coffins, so we thought it was about time to hang it up. Things are so tight at 30 Rock that we can't even afford bagels and coffee for our scheduling meetings--and also pay for Hoda and Kathie Lee on that last hour of 'Today' that only your weird Aunt Susie watches. People shouldn't get so upset about it, anyway. They need to spend less time in front of the boob tube, and more time cheating on their spouses, which is something that made America the great place it is today."

The over 200 affiliates across the country who rely on NBC for most of their programming, though, are not so sanguine. One, WHO-TV in Des Moines, figures it will have to plug up the holes in its schedule with a camera situated in the middle of a farmer's cornfield. KSNV in Las Vegas says that it might consider producing its own reality shows covering the area's numerous brothels. And WVLA in Baton Rouge, Louisiana has in the works a Cajun cooking show that will feature ways to deep fry a turkey without starting a back yard fire, to make gumbo and sauce piquante with roadkill, and explanations about what a mirliton is. The station is, however, not in negotiations to have Emeril Lagasse host, since he does not know where Baton Rouge is on a map.

Eventually the famed studios at Rockefeller Plaza in New York will be sold, probably to some firm who received government bailouts in 2009. However, the fate of the famed Radio City Rockettes has yet to be disclosed, such as whether they will become the official cheerleaders for the White House.

Wrong, it is not going off the air after sixty years, it's just an April Fools joke!
 
I knew this was an April Fool's joke. But down the line, the affiliates might have to find something else, if Comcast decides to make NBC a cable only channel.
 
When I read the mention of "Supertrain" alongside the likes of "Friends" and "Cheers" as one of the most memorable NBC shows (while no mention of the Cosby Show), I knew this thread was a April Fool's Joke.

Then again, it was two years ago today (Apr. 1, 2009) that there was no joking at CBS daytime in regards to that day's announcement of the cancellation of "Guiding Light."
 
Speaking of April Fool's, did anyone watch The Price Is Right earlier today? There were lights falling, cars crashing, etc. I kinda wish (seriously) that the overbid buzzer sounded after the final contestant (the one who got to play Lucky 7) bid $1. That would've been HILARIOUS!
 
anabate said:
Wrong, it is not going off the air after sixty years, it's just an April Fools joke!

Maybe it will after 65 years, though.
 
I heard Brokaw is coming out of retirement...TO CBS! Apparently, he will replace Katie Couric as anchor of The CBS Evening News after she steps down in June.
 
ercjncpr said:
would have liked the story better if the joke had been "NBC TV puts back schedules from the 1960s"

Or better yet--"This summer NBC will be giving a second lease on life to some of their legendary shows from the '70s and '80s that didn't quite make it in the ratings. Among those shows coming back this summer on NBC are such icons of American television history as 'Waverly Wonders,' 'Who's Watching the Kids,' 'Jennifer Slept Here,' 'Manimal,' the classic 'Supertrain,' and America's favorite comedy, 'Hello Larry.'"

Believe it or not--that is what would get me watching NBC again--at least just to see what the fuss was all about back then about those shows. :D :D ;D ;D
 
Tim from Springfield said:
ercjncpr said:
would have liked the story better if the joke had been "NBC TV puts back schedules from the 1960s"

Or better yet--"This summer NBC will be giving a second lease on life to some of their legendary shows from the '70s and '80s that didn't quite make it in the ratings. Among those shows coming back this summer on NBC are such icons of American television history as 'Waverly Wonders,' 'Who's Watching the Kids,' 'Jennifer Slept Here,' 'Manimal,' the classic 'Supertrain,' and America's favorite comedy, 'Hello Larry.'"

Believe it or not--that is what would get me watching NBC again--at least just to see what the fuss was all about back then about those shows. :D :D ;D ;D

I take it that's an April Fool's joke, too!!
 
Mike Stroud said:
The spokesperson went on to say that since Comcast, who brought the broadcasting behemoth last year ...

And, of course, I would screw up my post by confusing "bought," as in "buy," with "brought," as in "bring." Dyslexia is contagious, I suppose. Sorry about that.
 
Corky Marlowe said:
If there's no NFL this fall, the joke may be a lot close than anyone thinks.

Heck, it probably would have happened by the end of the 1980s had RCA not put Grant Tinker in charge of NBC. (One must always wonder if NBC would ever have reached number one had Tinker not taken over and Fred Silverman stayed on?)
 
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