The Day The Local News Died

If you didn't see it, I can't do it justice. The finals of American Idol were tonight which I have absolutely no interest in. But many of you do, and apparently Fox 4 News believes that 99% of its viewership cares about nothing else.

I always TIVO Fox 4's 9:00 o'clock news and watch it about an hour later. Dear lord, was it a disaster. Not only did they dedicate the first half hour whole hour (!) to this AI crap, but it was a technological meltdown of biblical proportions. Audio out, video feeds of stuff even the anchors couldn't explain, and the absolute train wreck that is Maria Sotolongo (who was placed in an incredibly difficult position of doing impromptu reporting that even a 20 year old veteran would have trouble doing - and she's a freaking weather girl thrown into reporting live from AI.)

I have never felt sadder for anchor Steve Eager who, at the 9:18 mark, was left hanging. "Alright, where are we going now?" he begged a producer. "Help me out . . . [silence]. We just wrapped up Celena [the last segment] . . . [insert fist mildly hitting desk with a look of absolute disgust in his eyes.]"

It was TV gold.