These TV News Bloopers Were Caught On Camera And Will Go Down In History
Hello?!
TV news transitions can prove particularly challenging. Without the proper notice, a presenter or weatherman can be live without even knowing it! Which is precisely what happened in 2018, when technical issues forced the BBC to cut to meteorologist Tomasz Schafernaker early. Sadly, it appears no one let Schafernaker in on the glitch.
After loudly asking, “Hello?!” a few times and receiving no response, Schafernaker thought was he was off air. He had no idea thousands were watching him wander off-screen, pick at his nails and clothing, and even become frustrated at the lack of communication at play. Even meteorologists have off-days!
The Leg Syndrome
It seems that Fox News anchor Kimberly Guilfoyle simply just cannot stay away from controversy. As one of the famously leggy Fox News anchors, the network always makes sure to highlight Guilfoyle’s legs while live on air. So it’s really no surprise that with all that attention might rile up some of the network’s more conservative viewers.
In fact, Guilfoyle’s famous legs have been known to distract not only the audience, but even her fellow news anchors! Believe it or not, she’s needed to switch to something more modest multiple times while on Fox, due to Twitter comments! Maybe its time to bring in a pantsuit or two!
The Perfect Perch
Many people think local news is for the birds, not providing much more than simple entertainment. And San Diego news station KFMB did not do much to change this perception when they had a little animal snafu on air. Anchor Nichelle Medina was simply reporting on an up-and-coming addition to the San Diego Zoo when one of the guests decided to waltz on-air, unannounced. And that guest was none other than 10-year-old Sophie, a scarlet ibis.
Incredibly, Sophie flew right into the live shot, almost taking out one of Medina’s eyes, before perching ontop her head. Then, just moments later, it took off again, this time in the direction of Medina’s co-anchor, Eric Kahnert. Thankfully, after another few seconds, the animal trainer managed to gain control of the bird. But with inch long sharp talons, this situation could have turned nasty!
Hey, Put This On
For some strange reason, everyone really seems to care what their local weather woman wears every day. Especially KTLA Meteorologist Liberte Chan! One day, the weather woman was simply doing her job when one of the producers handed her a sweater on air.
As one would, while still live, Chan asked him why she needed to put on the sweater. “We’ve been getting a lot of emails,” he replied. Apparently, viewers did not think Chan’s black dress was appropriate for the morning weather. After putting on the cardigan, the weatherwoman said she looked “like a librarian.” Still, Chan apologized if she offended anyone and also promised she wouldn’t wear the dress again!
“Weather” You’re Visible or Not
Of course, transparency is incredibly essential in news media. However, Los Angeles-based meteorologist Liberte Chan took things to a new level when she literally turned invisible to viewers as she talked about the day’s forecast!
In case you can’t tell from the photo above, Chan just happened to wear a dress that blended a little too well with the green screen. Surprisingly, this is not the first time she’s done something like that. You think Chan would learn! Thankfully, a helpful colleague was there to offer her his blazer! By the next go around, the weatherwoman had changed into something a tad more appropriate for the morning weather.
The Surprise Guest
KTLA has had to deal with quite a few uncomfortable drop-ins over the years. For example, when Wendy Burch did a report on Los Angeles’ recent bid to host the Olympics, a man decided to creep up behind her and stand uncomfortably close. However, believe it or not, Burch did not even notice what was happening behind her back!
When she finally turned around, Burch turned around and screamed in terror. After she did, the strange man ran off, never to be seen again. Thankfully, Burch was fine and even laughed the incident off. But really, dude? Not cool!
Is She Naked?!
When the weather woman of Australian news program Today Extra, Belinda Russell, walked onto the set on August 22nd, 2020, viewers at home thought she had suffered the worst wardrobe malfunction possible: walking on camera completely naked. However, after their eyes adjusted, viewers realized Russell was not nude. Instead, she wore a bodysuit, entirely flesh colored, that gave the appearance of nudity. Why on Earth would anyone wear such a thing? Well, Russell didn’t have the best answer…
“I do have my own style and am not your stereotypical weather presenter who wears dresses only, but can see why this outfit has been a little controversial,” Rusell said the very next day. “If it was a different colour, I’m sure it wouldn’t have attracted so much attention and I probably should have checked it in front of the weather wall first.”
What Happens in the Netherlands
Martje Oesterholt, a Dutch reporter, wanted to make a splash in her interview with the mayor. Unfortunately for her, that’s precisely what happened. Apparently, the two were filming a promotional video for an Easter Festival when the anchor suddenly lost her balance while leaning against the side of the boat.
Even though Oesterholt desperately tried to hold on to the rope next to her, she eventually ended up falling into the water. What’s more, there was a mass-confusion around her as the mayor attempted to use his mayoral chain to pull her back while the sound guy tried to fish the anchor out with his boom mic! Thankfully, Oesterholt managed to escape the river without injury – just embarrassment!
Shirtless Dad Cameo
Jessica Lang, who reports for Suncoast News Network in Tampa, recently discovered a new problem while working from home: interruptive parents. While filming a segment for work, Lang’s dad walked into the frame with his stomach out as he put on his T-shirt.
At first, Lang didn’t know why her mother, who was holding the camera, stopped recording. “What did you do, mom?” Then, the anchor turned around and saw her dad standing shirtless behind her. “Dad! Holy cow!” she said with her fists raised in frustration. Later on, Lang posted the clip on her Twitter page, writing, “Work from home they said, it’ll be fine they said.”
The Wrong Guy – Literally!
In 2006, Guy Goma was simply a man sitting in the BBC lobby, waiting for an interview for a regular tech position. Meanwhile, Guy Kewney, a British technology expert, also sat in the lobby, waiting to do a live consultation about a recent digital music rights case. So, when a BBC news producer approached Goma and asked him, “are you Guy?” he said yes. Goma had no idea the producer was actually looking for Kewney! Not even five minutes later, Goma found himself on live TV, being interviewed by Karen Bowerman!
As you might imagine, Goma had no idea how to answer the questions that Bowerman threw at him. He must have thought it was the strangest interview ever! Still, Goma managed to predict that more people than ever would start downloading music – and he was right! Sadly, he did not earn the IT job he wanted.
That’s One Giant Spider
One day back in 2012, Global British Colombia meteorologist Kristi Gordon was giving her regular morning weather report to western Canada. After explaining to viewers that they could expect a normal week, Gordon continued on, having the producers cut to a live shot of the Vancouver Harbor. That’s when a creepy crawly quite literally entered the picture. When the live shot came on screen, a giant spider hung over Gordon’s head!
As it turns out, a spider had made its home above the camera, sitting perfectly in shot. “Oh, that is so creepy!” Gordon screamed before running off-screen. Meanwhile, her co-workers could not help but laugh at the weather woman’s terrified reaction!
Making A Splash
Most of you have probably heard of “making a splash” before, but nothing quite like this. BBC sports anchor Mike Bushell has made plenty of errors before, as any news presenter has. But he honestly thought nothing could go wrong when he interviewed five English Commonwealth Games swimmers about their recent victory in Australia. In fact, Bushell felt so confident that he decided to conduct the interview from inside the pool! Unfortunately, things did not go as planned…
Once he walked into the pool, Bushell only had time to get out the word “congratulations” out before he took a wrong step. A moment later, the sports presenter was wholly submerged in the pool! With his microphone ruined and his clothes soaking wet, Bushell could not even send it back to the news anchors in the studio. Needless to say, the interview was cut short.
Hello?!
TV news transitions can prove particularly challenging. Without the proper notice, a presenter or weatherman can be live without even knowing it! Which is precisely what happened in 2018, when technical issues forced the BBC to cut to meteorologist Tomasz Schafernaker early. Sadly, it appears no one let Schafernaker in on the glitch.
After loudly asking, “Hello?!” a few times and receiving no response, Schafernaker thought was he was off air. He had no idea thousands were watching him wander off-screen, pick at his nails and clothing, and even become frustrated at the lack of communication at play. Even meteorologists have off-days!
A Trick Gone Wrong
There’s nothing worse than messing up at work. Well, maybe messing up at work twice! In 2014, Four Seasons of Toronto Wine Director Emily Walker went on a local Canadian news program to talk about upcoming holiday events at the hotel. While there, she was also meant to demonstrate how to use a knife to saber-open a champagne bottle. But things did not go according to plan! On her first attempt, Walker shattered the bottle, soaking both her and host Steve Darling with champagne.
Most people would quit at this point – but not Walker! Instead, she tried again. Sadly, once again, the knife hit the bottle too early, and it exploded, covering both Walker and Darling in foam and wine. Needless to say, the show did not invite the Wine Director back.
The Goatman
Sometimes you can’t help but laugh at something funny, even when it’s unprofessional. When CTV News Winnipeg anchor Maralee Caruso started reading a story about a man who lived as a goat for several days, she could not believe the words coming out of her mouth. “You can’t make this stuff up,” Caruso said as she relayed the story of a Winnipeg man who won a Nobel Prize for living on all four amongst goats for days on end. As she told the tale, Caruso started laughing and could not stop.
Meanwhile, as Caruso continued to chuckle, her laughter spread to her co-anchors, who also struggled to keep it together. In the end, Caruso simply had to move on to the next story without finishing. Maybe laughter really is infectious!
An Unexpected Turn of Events
Everything started off normally at the beginning of this CNN segment. News anchor Poppy Harlow, who was pregnant at the time, was live, discussing the war against ISIS with reporter Becky Anderson. Suddenly, Harlow’s speech started to slow, then slur. When she began having trouble breathing, CNN cut to commercials, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats!
Thankfully, Harlow later revealed she was ok. “For all of you on Twitter who are asking if I’m ok, thank you so much, I got a little hot, and I passed out for a moment, I’m fine, we’re going to take a quick break, and we’ll be right back,” Harlow told viewers when she returned.
A Cicadas Attack
KSNT news anchor Katya Leick was attempting to report a segment from the top of a tank at Fort Reilly Army Base when something almost made her quit the television game altogether. As she spoke to the audience, a swarm of giant cicadas attacked, buzzing all around her. Still, Leick did her best to stay calm and ignore the huge bugs – until one landed on her face!
In an instant, Leick began screaming, dropped the mic, and tried to get away. While she tried to record the segment several more times, she eventually gave up, saying, “ok, nope, not doing it.” Hey, we would have high-tailed out of there too!
Flying Pumpkins (and Microphones!)
Ever embarrass yourself at work and wish it would go away? Well, so did CTV Toronto weather anchor Tom Brown! In 2011, Brown was reporting live from the polar bear exhibit at the Toronto Zoo. There, animal keepers asked the weatherman if he would like to toss the bears one of their favorite treats: pumpkins. Sadly, Brown completely missed the exhibit on his first two throws! Then, on his final throw, he accidentally threw both his third pumpkin and his microphone into the icy, polar bear filled water!
While Brown wanted to forget the entire incident, his team simply would not let him. Throughout the years, they have teased the anchor by replacing his weather map with the video of his fateful pumpkin throws.
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