Back in the day, a TV network SPECIAL REPORT was a noteworthy event. Something big was about to be shared. Sadly, since Brit Hume has claimed "special report" as his program title, the term has lost all of its stature.
There is a game to be played while watching cable news shows which helps stop things from becoming boring. The game is very easy. Turn on any news channel and hold your remote control in your hand. Whenever anyone on a cable news channel says "frankly," turn the channel to the next news network. Whenever anyone starts using the metric system, turn the channel to the next news network. When there is an advertisement containing a blaring siren, klaxon, or a talking lizard with a grating voice; turn the channel to the next news network. Special to CNN, when a pre-recorded week-old news report is repeated yet again (with the live introduction also repeated word-for-word), turn the channel to the next news network. Also only with CNN, when a live interview of a fellow network employee is scripted and seems painfully over-rehearsed, turn the channel to the next news network. Last, when the exact same words in an advertisement are repeated three times in a row, turn the channel to the next news network. Try it, you might enjoy watching TV news again.
