'The Simpsons' Diss Fox News, MSNBC, CNN & New York Times in Episode About Reporting Tactics [VIDEO]
The Nov. 3 episode of The Simpsons took swipes at the news media by attacking Fox, MSNBC, CNN and The New York Times.
The installment featured a cameo by MSNBC's Rachel Maddow. The news channels were targetted via Kent Brockman's story arc when the local news broadcaster of The Simpsons made his way to New York City to be considered for a position at Fox News.
As he went to each building, the flashing neon described the state and nature of news at each network.
"The news your grampa watches," read the ticker that ran outside the Fox building. The billboard on the MSNBC building declared in bold, "Fox started it!"
The crumbling building of CNN suggested a depressing state of affairs, as its marquee read "Will trade news for food."
All of this made Brockman reconsider his motivations and move to New York. He thought to himself, "Is this really how I want to get back in the big leagues?"
The Springfield newscaster also thought of appraising the state of affairs in print journalism and thought he would see how things were going at the Times. He stopped by what seemed to look like a local newsstand, and asked the clerk if he sold the daily publication.
"Sir, we are the New York Times," came the response.
After assessing the industry he eventurally landed up at the News Corp. building and was exposed to the mud slinging and politicking that allegedly goes on at Fox. He eventually decided to head back home, telling the Fox News executive that he was sorry, but he discovered that he still had some scruples.
"I'm going back to my sweet little town where I can decide what news is like a God," he said.
The Simpsons airs on Fox every Sunday at 8 p.m. E.T.
Watch The Simpsons' take down of Fox here.
