8/6/07: Weekly World News, 1979-1989Comedy institutions often outlive their audience. That’s certainly the case for
Weekly World News, judging from the number of conservative bloggers who’ve mourned
the paper’s demise. The famously tacky tabloid was a lot of fun back in the ’80s, even as the paper balanced their tales of dead aliens and a live Elvis with the occasional real news story.
By 1992, however,
Weekly World News was in serious decline due to liberal bias. That sounds like a joke, but it isn’t. The same fine paper that gave us pics of Ted Bundy’s dead body soured during the Clinton administration. The stories became mean-spirited and frequently made fun of Republicans—and, worse, ordinary Americans. Things only got more pandering and self-loving once
The Onion took off.
So that’s about all the praise we’re going to give
Weekly World News. Let’s now look at the August 13, 2007, issue. We’ve often flipped through the paper to see how long it is before we’re disinvited from reading the thing. Here, we get to page 2 and a headline about “President and Vice Pres To Change Their Names!” The article’s about the Bush administrations attempt to soften their image. The opening sentence: “‘They’re more than just a bunch of warmongers,’ said Lila St. Clark, style advisor to the White House.”
There’s the occasional rare exception with a vaguely conservative slant, but that’s not worth $2.99 an issue.
To truly appreciate the decline of
Weekly World News, check out what’ll be one of Ed Anger’s last printed columns. Anger used to be the
Weekly World News' brilliant voice of reason. His extreme views—as written by staffer Rafael Klinger—were warm-hearted enough that people of all persuasions could enjoy the outraged conservative.
That ended with Klinger leaving the paper at the end of the ’80s. Anger has since been neutered to the point where this latest issue has him complaining about how fast-food companies are allowed to advertise their unhealthy goods. It’s pornography, according to Ed, since the images are “designed to appeal to our base senses.”
Anger also wants us to know that he’s tired of the “hypocrisy of right-wing blowhards who whine that Paris Hilton got special treatment because she’s a wealthy celebrity, while Scooter Libby—who makes her look like an angel—deserved his commuted sentence.”
So it’s no great loss as
Weekly World News becomes another snide Leftist website. The only other thing we have to add is that we’re at least grateful for the paper giving
Bob Lind a place to do something useful after his singing career ended.
Make it your own: You know how to find a website. If you found this one, then you can find anybody’s. Those feeling nostalgic for
Weekly World News’ good old days can always order the Ed Anger
collection Let's Pave the Stupid Rainforests & Give School Teachers Stun Guns—And Other Ways To Save America. Forget that final
Harry Potter book and start mourning a fictional character who truly deserves our tears.
