Local NC TV Crew Pranked on Live TV During Irene Coverage
- Posted on August 30, 2011 at 8:25am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
- Print »
- Email »
If you were anywhere near the East Coast this past weekend, you know that local news broadcasted Hurricane Irene coverage non-stop from Friday night through Sunday evening. Because of that, many stations were scratching to pull together guests and fill air time. After all, you can only show a weather map so many times.
One such station was WRAL-TV in Raleigh, NC. WRAL has produced a number of quality stories that we’ve featured on this site, but there was one point during its hurricane coverage on Saturday that made many do a double take. What do I mean? Well, the station was pranked on live TV when they thought they were interviewing a hurricane expert who turned out to be a Howard Stern fan.
The station thought it was talking to Ernie Seneca from the states emergency management office (who does really exist). And for the most part, “Seneca” acted like it, giving people tips on how to stay safe during the storm. But then he made a comment that left the newscasters dumbfounded: “This storm was caused by a draft of wind from Howard Stern’s a***ole.”
Say what? The newscast went silent for what seems like an eternity before the anchors came back and pretended like nothing happened:
The Miami Herald has reaction fromt he station and the real Ernie Seneca:
Nimble WRAL engineers hit the mute button, and the anchors immediately went on to another topic.
Tom Cipriano, better known as “Captain Janks” from the Howard Stern radio show, claims credit for the call. Video of it is making the rounds online.
The real Ernie Seneca said he began getting calls shortly after the interview, including from a co-worker who said the caller did not sound like him. Seneca said he has a good sense of humor and took it stride.
“There are a lot more important things in life than some jokester,” he said.
WRAL was not amused. Jim Rothschild, director of station operations, said, “It’s unfortunate that at a time when we are trying to get emergency information out to viewers who need that information, that someone would attempt to take the situation lightly.”
(H/T: TV Spy)
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 705 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 545 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 364 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 359 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 358 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 358 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 364 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 278 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 149 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 358 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (55)
hillbilly777
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 10:35amReally? You weren’t sure what you were going to do to prepare for the storm before the guys on t.v. told you what to do? Sounds like he was giving good advice, but he was just misinformed of what the cause was from. It was obviously from a massive vortex caused by Washington D.C. sucking the life out of the country. Geez, so obvious
Report Post »SplendidIsolation
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 10:32amIt shows what kind of people “ARE” on the blaze. Not “IS” on the blaze. And just to state the obvious … YOU are on the blaze. Sorry, you IS on the blaze!
Report Post »bluntforce
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 10:27amNow THAT is some funny stuff. I despise Howard Stern, but I have to hand it to his cohorts. The look on the male anchors face was priceless. The networks deserve this pranking for their idiotic 24-7 coverage of a rain storm. Too bad they can’t spend the same amount of time and money on some investigative reporters to look into the Obama regime, Fanny and Freddie, the DOJ, etc.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 10:19amI’m not a Stern fan, but this sensationalism and drive to “make” news by the media is ridiculous. So, you’ve gotta love when the elites are challenged and made to appear like the bottom-feeding scoundrels they are.
Report Post »True_American_2008
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 10:12amLighten up. I am no fan of Howard Stern or his show, but this is just plain laugh-out-loud funny.
Report Post »joey g
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 9:48amthis is top prank of 2011…we need more of this…
Report Post »plunderpower
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 4:01pmYou obviously haven’t heard about the new Turd Tax. The govt is passing legislation requiring all bathrooms to install the Algore Pay Toilet. The government will sell Obama toilet tickets which can be purchased from kiosks around the country or by mail. The Toilet Tickets have a 10% tax added to the cost. State and Local governments are planning to also add sales tax. Liberals support the new Obama Relief Plan. Michelle Obama says she’s proud her husband is forcing all fat people to drop their food consumption. Farmers plan a protest. Environmentalists are excited over the sewage waste savings potential. Naturalists plan to use leaves wherever possible, so it will be interesting indeed. Meanwhile Biden states another million jobs will be created when the Kiosk sales positions are filled. The Kiosks will be fully automated.
Report Post »joey g
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 9:47amup here in the north country we heard this crazy weather was caused by a guy named Al Nemi…
Report Post »Jim in Houston
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 10:47amNah, It was Al Sharpton.
Report Post »joey g
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 9:43ami heard the news reporters called the national wether service for confirmation of story….
hahahhahahahahhahah
Report Post »joey g
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 9:40amword was that a bunch of libs called sterns bum racist when they thought story true….
hahahahahhahahahhah
Report Post »Brents Torts
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 9:36amThat was funny.
Report Post »joey g
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 9:36amCBS was wrong too…they said it was Rosie o’donnels assh–le!!!
hahahahahhahahahhahahah
Report Post »werbaz neutron
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 9:34amOur culture is not unlike a town that has chosen to have their news and comment delivered by their Villiage Idiot.
Given the nature of journalism schools, poor qualifications and education of news readers and opinion givers.
Report Post »joey g
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 9:31amNBC was wrong they said it was a combonation of al sharptons and jesse jacksons assh–e’s
hahahhahahahhahahahahh
Report Post »Jim in Houston
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 10:49amThat would be the one under their nose, right?
Report Post »joey g
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 9:24amI surley thought it was Nancy Pelosi’s assh–e……hahahahahahhahahahah “Resist We Much”
Report Post »denispaul
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 8:59amCome -on now that was funny.so was the S. Smith screw up.
Report Post »AMERICA4EVER
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 8:58amWhat’s with the error crap under some of the posts?
Report Post »joey g
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 8:56amhahahahahahahah i cannot stop laughing hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
Report Post »DanWesson455
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 8:52amStern, because of his idiot wanna-be’s, should be sanctioned by SIRIUS radio. Someday someone is really going to get hurt cause of these DIP WADS!
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 8:49amThe vacuum in BO’s head caused the storm to hit New England when he was on vacation up there!
Report Post »Mainer forever
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 9:32amyou hit the “nail on the head” there.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 8:46amThe NEXT time, these jackwads will make sure the person on the other end of the phone is who he says he is. Too bad that we didn’t get to see their faces right after he said that.
Report Post »Disabledvet
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 8:43amThat is funny, more people should have fun like that. Good job
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 8:40amBlame Bush… Everything else is his fault
Report Post »NJTMATO
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 10:24amOOOOOOHHHH! Someone gave me a bumper sticker the other day, and I swear…it says…ready? It says……………………..IT‘S OBAMA’S FAULT!!!!!!!!!!!! :-) (some capitalist is making some dough printing these!!!)
Report Post »Thighmaster
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 8:33amI always wanted to do something really immature like that…
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 8:32amI’m sorry, but Shepard Smith’s Jenny from the block blooper was better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIOREqBcFuY
Report Post »DADA
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 11:13pmOMG, that is funny.
Report Post »hempstead1944
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 8:29amPossible explanation……….no?
Report Post »