Five months after WTWO made national news for refusing to air a controversial NBC series, the Terre Haute TV station is again getting attention outside the Wabash Valley.
This time the subject is WTWO’s dramatic commercial pitch for its weather coverage, which includes pointed criticism of its competitor, WTHI. Monday the commercial found its way onto “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” on Comedy Central.
In a short piece that had audience members roaring with laughter, Stewart aired two segments of WTWO’s weather spot, saying it conflicts with the typical “genial” and “pleasant” image of meteorologists.
“In Terre Haute, Ind., it’s getting rough in the weather game,” Stewart deadpanned, as he introduced the first clip.
Poking fun at WTWO’s comparison of its weather team’s years of experience with WTHI’s team and at the station’s use of the term, “Doppler dead zone,” Stewart concluded:
“My God. If you live in Terre Haute, you have to look out your window” to find out about weather conditions.
Video of the segment, which was aired again Tuesday, can be viewed at www.comedycentral.com.
WTWO general manager Duane Lammers, who helped create the weather commercial, said The Daily Show “must have been pretty hard up for material … I didn’t quite understand the point.”
Lammers was at the center of a censorship controversy in January when he became the first of a handful of NBC affiliate executives who chose not to air “The Book of Daniel,” a racy NBC drama about an Episcopalian priest. Lammers’ primary rationale for denying the show airtime, he said, was a longstanding disagreement he had with NBC network policies.
The show was cancelled early in its run.
Tuesday Lammers said the weather commercial was his work and that of is promotions director. He said it had gotten a lot of attention in the TV industry and that “people who work in our business think it’s a great spot.”
He insisted jabs at WTHI were “not personal — we don’t say anything bad about anyone at WTHI. We pointed out technical flaws.”
WTHI’s chief meteorologist, Kevin Orpurt, does not concur.
On air with the weather at WTHI since 1984, Orpurt said the WTWO commercial “really kind of hurt my feelings because we pride ourselves here on giving the best coverage we can, and the implication was that we do not.”
Known to come into the station and appear on air in the middle of the night during tornado watches and other severe weather events, Orpurt said WTWO’s “implication that WTHI’s coverage has a dead zone is simply not true.”
Orpurt said he did get “a chuckle” out of the Stewart spot.
When asked if he thought the commercial was an effective way of bringing viewers over to WTWO, Lammers said yes but that he doesn’t worry about ratings. He said the pitch must be effective because people are talking about it.
“I guess it’s funny if you watch [the Daily Show],” Lammers said, but he doesn’t think Stewart’s program is “particularly mainstream.”
A 2004 study by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press found that more than one-fifth of viewers in the age 18-to-29 category cited “The Daily Show” as a primary source for news about the presidential campaign. That same year, the national Television Critics Association selected Stewart’s show for Outstanding Achievement in News and Information over such stalwart news programs as “60 Minutes.”
“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” also has won seven Emmy awards and a 2005 Peabody television excellence award.
Stewart’s satirical look at U.S. history, “America (the Book): A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction,” was on the New York Times bestseller list for 46 consecutive weeks, 15 of them in the No. 1 spot.
Lammers said his commercial, which has been playing for about a month, will be retired after Thursday because it’s been on the air long enough.
Deb McKee can be contacted at (812) 231-4254 or deb.mckee@tribstar.com.
Stephanie Salter can be contacted at (812) 231-4229 or stephanie.salter@tribstar.com.
***
Click here to watch Monday's segment, "The Weather Game," and Wednesday's follow-up segment, "A Humble Apology," from "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" on Comedy Central's Web site.
Multimedia
Related Photos
Related Links
Discussion
VIDEO: Daily Show dogs WTWO weather commercial
- Multimedia
-
-
VIDEO: Apple unveils new MacBook Air with improved battery life
At Apple's WWDC, the company shows off its new line of MacBook Air laptops with faster processors and improved battery life. The new models are available in 11-inch and 13-inch dimensions, ranging in price from $999 to $1,299.
-
VIDEO: SPPRAK segment airs on NBC News
About 9 million national TV viewers got a very positive image of Terre Haute Monday night, thanks to a tiny not-for-profit group and the Vigo County School Corp.
-
VIDEO: Wabash Valley residents start flood cleanup process
Several Wabash Valley counties are assessing damage as a result of flooding along the Wabash River, Eel River and Big Walnut Creek.
-
VIDEO: Happy Birthday Paul Dresser
The banks of the swollen Wabash River weren’t so far away Monday as several people gathered at the Paul Dresser Home in Fairbanks Park to celebrate what would have been the celebrated songwriter’s 155th birthday.
-
VIDEO: Massive explosion at fertilizer plant rocks Texas town
An explosion at a fertilizer plant in the town of West, Texas, on Wednesday night has flattened buildings and injured dozens, according to local officials.
-
VIDEO: ISU's Brown delivers winning block
Two years ago, Indiana State knocked Evansville out of the Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball tournament via a last-second shot. On Friday? It was a last-second swat.
-
VIDEO: No Arop, no energy, no victory for Sycamores
Indiana State’s men’s basketball team wanted to use its last home game of the season Wednesday as a springboard to success in next week’s Missouri Valley Conference tournament.
-
VIDEO: ISU crashes at Missouri State
Indiana State earned the pole position in the Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball standings last weekend and had its first chance to lead a lap.
But at JQH Arena on Tuesday, the Sycamores crashed in the first turn.
Missouri State afforded ISU the respect it earned as conference leaders with an inspired effort. The Bears’ defense had ISU on its heels for the majority of the contest, and a late comeback effort by the Sycamores fell short in a 67-65 loss. -
VIDEO: Sycamore stress test: ISU survives Southern Illinois
The Sycamores started flat – down by 12 four-minutes-into-the-game level of flat – and needed some heroes to infuse the energy needed to keep their Missouri Valley Conference title hopes alive.
Comes the hour, came Khristian Smith. Later, it was R.J. Mahurin. And then, on ISU’s last possession, who else but Jake Odum?
All three played a role in a 66-65 win for ISU.
-
VIDEO: Indiana State gets 1,400th win in school history, Odum tops 1,000 career points in rout of No. 16 Creighton
The realistic hope for Indiana State’s men’s basketball team going into its game against No. 16 Creighton was to get a win — by whatever method or whatever margin necessary — and get itself back into the Missouri Valley Conference race.
-
VIDEO: ISU knocks off No. 15 Wichita State
After a nonconference season in which unfancied Indiana State defeated Miami and Mississippi, many observers stood on the sideline waiting for the Sycamores to get a similar victory in Missouri Valley Conference play before they saw fit to declare them a legitimate MVC title threat.
The wait is over.
-
VIDEO: Sycamores' aggressive rebounding plays big part in pulling away from SIU
Indiana State's M-and-M combination continued to carry the Sycamores' women's basketball team Thursday night in Hulman Center.
The duo of Anna Munn and Racheal Mahan combined for 30 points, helping ISU improve to 11-5 overall and 3-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 72-57 victory against Southern Illinois. -
VIDEO: Workmanlike Sycamores drop Bradley 68-53
The intricacies of help defense aren’t going to show up on any highlight shows.
But far as Indiana State’s men’s basketball team is concerned, help defense is as pretty as any breakaway dunk or a crowd-pleasing blocked shot. -
VIDEOS: ISU's Odum breaks Miami in OT
Indiana State’s men’s basketball team never put its hammer away against Miami in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic on Tuesday.
The Sycamores kept pounding at the rock. Figuratively, yes. But literally too as ISU’s faced an imposing Hurricanes’ front line.
The rock cracked in the last minute. And it broke in overtime.
Jake Odum converted a leaner in the lane with 0.8 left as ISU defeated Miami 57-55 in overtime to take third place in the Diamond Head Classic.
-
VIDEO: ISU’s upset bid slips through turnover-prone fingers
Indiana State point guard Jake Odum cut a forlorn figure outside the Sycamores’ locker room after a 62-55 loss to No. 18 San Diego State in men’s basketball Sunday evening.
-
VIDEOS: Indiana State fights past Ole Miss in overtime at Hawaii
Hakaka … it’s the Hawaiian word for “fight.”
Not unlike a Hawaiian volcano roaring to life, Indiana State’s men’s basketball team was able to summon its inner Hakaka on Saturday against Mississippi in the opening game of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic. -
VIDEOS: Sycamores have work cut out for them at Diamond Head Classic
All you have to do is take one look at Indiana State’s team hotel to realize ISU’s participation in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic is a tad different from your average road trip.
-
VIDEO: So far, so good for Sycamores
Perhaps the most important conversation new Indiana State football coach Mike Sanford had on Monday wasn’t with the administration, the alumni and the assembled media at his introductory press conference, but a talk that came after it.
-
SLIDESHOW: Flash Back: 2012 in Pictures
Tribune-Star photographers Joseph C. Garza, Jim Avelis and Bob Poynter showcase their favorite work of 2012.
-
VIDEO: ISU women add athleticism, experience with 2013 recruiting class
As a team stocked full of underclassmen continues to grow and gain some NCAA Division I women’s basketball seasoning, those players will blend with four recruits who will likely be ready to make a big impact for coach Teri Moren in 2013-14.
Sullivan native Rhagen Smith, daughter of former Sycamore basketball standout Maria (Stockberger) Smith, will be the only true freshman of the four. The 6-foot-2 forward is joined by 5-1 junior-college point guard Ricquia Jones, junior-college wing Jasmine Grier and Kansas State transfer Stephanie Wittman. -
VIDEO: Indiana State University police officer leads rescue of student from burning car
On a typical day, Indiana State University police officer Chris Heleine might deal with theft reports, well-being checks or property damage accidents.
But Wednesday was not a typical day. -
SLIDESHOW: Veterans Day Parade 2012
Terre Haute’s annual Veterans Day parade down Wabash Avenue on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012, concluded with an 11:11 a.m. post-parade ceremony and 21-gun salute at the VFW Post 972 at 12th and Mulberry streets.
-
SLIDESHOW: General Election 2012
Photos by Tribune-Star photographers Bob Poynter, Joe Garza and Jim Avelis. Check back for more photos.
-
SLIDESHOW: Sandy delivers snow to East
-
VIDEO: Sandy brings more snow to Appalachian Mountains
Snow continues to fall in the Appalachian Mountains thanks to superstorm Sandy, leaving an estimated 150,000 people without power.
-
VIDEO: Mammoth storm Sandy plunges NYC into darkness
Much of New York was plunged into darkness Monday by a superstorm that overflowed the city's historic waterfront, flooded the financial district and subway tunnels and cut power to hundreds of thousands of people.
-
SLIDESHOW: Hurricane Sandy brings wind, water
Damaging winds and storm surges from Hurricane Sandy began affecting Massachusetts on Monday.
-
VIDEO: Shakin’ Things Up
Trucks rumbling through the city streets have university officials hoping for good vibrations this weekend.
-
VIDEO: Famous Hoosier horror legend to appear at Linton haunted house
Sammy Terry, the spooktacular entertainer who captivated Hoosier television viewers every weekend in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, is ready for some new “frightmares” — and his search is returning him to Linton.
-
SLIDESHOW: This year's 15 hottest toys
Is it too early to start your holiday shopping? Not according to Toys R Us, which just released its "Hot Toy List" for 2012. Check out the top 15 toys that made the list. Find all 50 at toysrus.com/hottoys.
- More Multimedia Headlines
-
Tiger on Sergio: 'It's Time to Move On'
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Rain Damages Brazil Soccer Stadium
Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail
Hoffa Mystery Still Fascinates After 4 Decades
Raw: NASCAR Driver Jason Leffler Dies in Wreck
Robot Action Connected to Human Thought
3 Charged in Ohio With Enslaving Mom, Daughter
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Falling Cable Hurts 10 NASCAR Fans
NYC 911 Call Lasts for 8 Hours
Raw: 1 Dead in Shooting at Mo. Apartment Complex
Raw: Marines Land Osprey on Japanese Ship
Raw: Volcano Erupts Near Mexico City
California Cops Cruise on Stand-up Paddle Patrol
Raw: First Lady, Daughters Enjoy Irish Sights
Raw: Obama Arrives in Berlin
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
Boeing, Airbus Battle for Sales Supremacy
Pa. Girl Who Took on Donor Rules Gets Lungs
Spurs' Popovich has no problem with Spurs' intensity
Inside Kim Kardashian's Premature Labor
Three Charged for Enslaving Mother and Daughter
Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach
Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane
Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
WATCH IT: Lil Wayne tramples American flag
Mariah Carey Looks Beautiful in a Tiny Cut-Out Swimsuit
Out of Control Boat Throws Passengers Overboard
See Lindsay Lohan in Rehab
Sofia Vergara Posts Perky Backside Pic in Thong
Gaga Ditches Her Crazy Couture
Caught on Tape: Teacher Accused of Beating Autistic Child
"Stay Classy" Campaign Aims to Curb Binge Drinking
Sesame Street Tackling Tough Topic Parents in Jail
Miss Utah Fumbles Interview Question
Deranged man claims Newark-bound flight was poisoned
