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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: satire

satire stories: 41 news summaries

1 - 20 of 41 Stories | 1 2 3 Next >>

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MOVIE REVIEW

 Goats Fun But Unfocused 

Clooney turns in top performance in military farce

Nov 6, 09 8:11 AM CST
(Newser) - The Men Who Stare at Goats, a farce loosely based on a non-fiction book about the US military's '80s effort to form a psychic unit, is wildly uneven but often hilarious, say critics.
  • The "over-the-top, absurdist satire" will be "inevitably likened to Dr. Strangelove," Owen Gleiberman
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
satire • Jeff Bridges • movie review • George Clooney • Ewan McGregor • Kevin Spacey

 How the Onion 
 Writes Headlines 

New book Our Front Pages explores the evolution

Nov 3, 09 1:02 PM CST
(Newser) - The Onion's writers have a backward way of generating stories: They come up with the headlines first. The staff devotes the first two days of each week to rejecting headlines like “Quick and Painless Overthrow of Taliban Enters Eighth Year” in favor of “US Continues Quagmire-Building Effort in... More »

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media • newspaper • satire • The Onion • headlines

THE NEXT BESTSELLER?

 Lampoon Lampoons 
 Twilight With Nightlight 

Edwart's no vamp, he just has nosebleeds, but don't tell Belle

Nov 3, 09 12:27 PM CST
(Newser) - She's a klutzy transplant to the Oregon town of Switchblade who falls for a computer geek with nosebleeds named Edwart. “Looking into his eyes I felt waves of electricity, currents of electrons charging towards me. Was this how it felt to be in love ... for robots?” Yes, it's Belle,... More »

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film • parody • satire • publishing • book • movies • sequel • Twilight • Harvard University • Harvard Lampoon

 Catholics 
 Rip Larry for 
 Whizzing 
 on Jesus 

Urine taken for 'miraculous tears' by Curb characters

Oct 30, 09 4:05 AM CDT
(Newser) - The US Catholic League has complained about an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm that shows Larry David accidentally urinating on a painting of Jesus hanging in a bathroom. Other characters then think the painting is miraculously crying. "Was Larry David always this crude?" asked angry league president Bill Donahue.... More »

MORE ABOUT:
parody • satire • Larry David • Curb Your Enthusiasm • comedy • Catholic League • Catholic • Jesus Christ

OPINION

 Balloon Boy 
 Another Blow 
 to Trust 

Politicians are the ones most lost in forest of fakery

Oct 22, 09 3:35 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Falcon Heene fiasco sums up the dilemma facing a society riddled with fake news, Photoshop fakes, and even fake Rush Limbaugh quotes, writes Daniel Henninger. "Reality TV" is the perfect metaphor for a world where you need to routinely "ask yourself whether what's in front of you... More »

MORE ABOUT:
reality TV • satire • health care reform • hoax • Falcon Heene • balloon boy hoax

Glenn Beck's Lawyers Fight 'Defamatory' Domain Name

Joke site says Fox host raped, murdered a girl

Sep 11, 09 11:11 AM CDT
(Newser) - Can a domain name be defamatory? When that domain name is GlennBeckRapedandMurderedaYoungGirlin1990.com, maybe it can be, Ars Technica reports. Beck’s lawyers were on the case within 2 days. They’ve both pressured its host to give up the name of the site’s anonymous proprietor, and filed a... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Internet • satire • Fox • website • defamation • Glenn Beck • GlennBeckRapedandMurderedaYoungGirlin1990.com

 For Fake  
 Presidents, 
 Competition 
 Is Fierce 

Race is on for top Obama impersonator

Sep 8, 09 12:15 PM CDT
(Newser) - Think impersonating the president is a joke? For the professional actors trying to scratch their way to the top—to become First Impersonator—it's serious business, Slate reports. "I see this as a chance to grow as a dramatic actor," says one faux Obama. "Besides, it can... More »

MORE ABOUT:
entertainment • satire • comedy • actor • George W. Bush • impersonator • President Obama

(Newser) - Satire just doesn't translate well. Two Bangladeshi newspapers have apologized to readers after breathlessly reporting a US scoop: Neil Armstrong thinks the moon landing was a hoax! Problem is, the story appeared in the Onion. "We've since learned that the fun site runs false and juicy reports based on... More »

MORE ABOUT:
NASA • satire • Bangladesh • The Onion • moon landings • Neil Armstrong

movie review

 In the Loop Is Bloody Good Fun

British political satire tells of path to war

Jul 24, 09 11:18 AM CDT
(Newser) - In the Loop is a blistering, satirical tale of unsavory characters in the British and American governments pushing their nations to war in the Middle East.
  • “While In the Loop is a highly disciplined inquiry into a very serious subject, it is also, line by filthy line, scene
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
film • satire • movie review

Republicans Think Colbert's Serious: Study

Conservatives actually think comedian is conservative, too

Apr 28, 09 7:49 AM CDT
(Newser) - If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “Geez, why do Republicans keep letting Stephen Colbert interview them?” some Ohio State researchers might have the answer: They don’t realize he’s making fun of them. According to a new study, conservatives “were more likely to report that Colbert... More »

MORE ABOUT:
satire • study • conservative • Comedy Central • Stephen Colbert

 Colbert Fights 'Gay Storm' 


Apr 17, 09 11:32 AM CDT
(Newser) - Stephen Colbert has taken up the cause against gay marriage, the Huffington Post reports. A recent web ad from the National Organization for Marriage—which apparently was serious—featured a “rainbow coalition” of actors solemnly declaring, “A storm is coming.” That, and New York's move toward legalizing... More »

MORE ABOUT:
television • gay marriage • satire • humor • Stephen Colbert • National Organization for Marriage

 Colbert Plans Persian Gulf Tour 

He'll film a week of episodes on USO tour

Mar 19, 09 1:25 PM CDT
(Newser) - Stephen Colbert is putting on a flak jacket and heading to the Persian Gulf, Variety reports. The Colbert Report will film a week of shows on a USO tour, but no one is dishing out air dates or specific locations. Says Colbert, “I can’t tell you where I’... More »

MORE ABOUT:
television • Persian Gulf • satire • Comedy Central • Stephen Colbert

Comic Fritzl 
Play Sparks 
Death Threats 

Director insists he's mocking media, not rape and incest

Feb 23, 09 4:52 PM CST
(Newser) - A comic play about accused rapist Josef Fritzl is set to open in Vienna, drawing the ire—and death threats—of Austrians who are not amused, the BBC reports. Director Hubsi Kramar stressed that the largely improvised piece, co-starring victims of abuse, is a commentary on media coverage of Fritzl’... More »

MORE ABOUT:
theater • satire • comedy • play • murder trial • incest • media coverage • Josef Fritzl • Amstetten, Austria • controversy

THEATER REVIEW

 
 
 No Misunderestimating 
 Ferrell as Dubya 


Feb 6, 09 1:05 PM CST
(Newser) - It’s not quite a landslide, but critics mainly agree that Will Ferrell gets his mission accomplished in lampooning the 43rd president with his Broadway show, You’re Welcome America. A Final Night With George W. Bush. Though Saturday Night Live viewers will see the “retread” in Ferrell’s... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Dick Cheney • satire • Broadway • impersonation • Will Ferrell • George W. Bush • You're Welcome America. A Final Night With George W. Bush • theater reviews

 Obama 
 Already 
 Stressed 
 Out? 

Mad turns satirical eye on new president

Jan 26, 09 6:15 PM CST
(Newser) - Crises at home and abroad seem to be taking a toll on President Obama already—at least through the lens of Mad Magazine’s cartoonists. The current issue depicts a stressed-out president—ashtray full, antacid flowing—poring over screaming headlines and classified reports. “The only thing the artist missed,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • satire • smoking • comics • President Obama • Mad Magazine

 Judge Tosses 
 Elton John 
 Libel Suit 

Satire emerges the winner after singer sues Guardian over spoof diary

Dec 13, 08 8:03 AM CST
(Newser) - Teasing Elton John doesn't breach libel laws, a British judge ruled yesterday. The notoriously testy singer sued the Guardian for publishing a satirical piece purporting to be a snippet from Elton's diary and poking fun at his lavish White Tie and Tiara Ball. Elton claimed it was defamation but the... More »

MORE ABOUT:
newspaper • Elton John • satire • libel • celebrity • lawsuit • singer

Satirical Paper Thrives
in Tough US Market

The Onion feeds the public's need for
satiric news coverage

Nov 16, 08 8:10 PM CST
(Newser) - As newspapers lay off workers and struggle to survive, the Onion is adding staff and circulating in new markets, the Washington Post reports. Riding the crest of America's love for Jon Stewart-style satirical news, the 20-year-old paper pays writers well and holds down a New York City office. "It's... More »

MORE ABOUT:
newspaper • satire • comedy • The Daily Show • The Onion

(Newser) - Lolcats are as funny as their fans believe, but it's the sadness of this kitty sub-genre that makes them special, Jay Dixit writes in Salon. On Icanhascheezburger.com, which attracts millions of hits a month, lolcats yearn and comfort each other, inspiring a teary eye in us human visitors. There... More »

MORE ABOUT:
satire • humor • LOLcats • nerdiness • animal • geeks

  Fox Cancels Mad TV 

Fox cancels comedy show after 14 years

Nov 12, 08 5:50 PM CST
(Newser) - Mad TV will bid adieu after 14 seasons of Saturday night sketches, the final nail in its coffin coming from a failure to boost ratings during the presidential campaign, reports Defamer. Fox's Saturday Night Live competitor, which has been on the chopping block for years, will finish up the season... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Saturday Night Live • television • satire • comedy • Fox • Mad TV

 What Now, Jon?

Jokes about Obama may not fly with left-leaning host, audience of The Daily Show

Nov 8, 08 2:35 AM CST
(Newser) - Yes, satirists and late-night comics seem to have trouble finding Obama jokes, but they'll survive, writes Dan Kois in New York magazine. What worries Kois is that his beloved Daily Show may not be so fortunate. Jon Stewart and crew simply may not have it in their hearts to take... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • satire • Jon Stewart • The Daily Show • President Obama

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