Big News Report for the Week Ending Sunday, January 4, 2009

Monday, January 5, 2009 in Highlights, Humor, News, News & Commentary, News In Brief, Quick Takes, The Biz
Tags: Air Tran, album sales, auto bailout, Barack Obama, Barack the Magic Negro, bloopers, Boy Scouts, Brownies, Chip Saltsman, Chrysler, communism, Cuba, Dane Cook, Darryl McCauley, Dave Stewart, Doobie Brothers, endangered species, Eurythmics, film bloopers, Ford, gas tax, Gremlins, Here Comes the Rain Again, Indiana Jones, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, John McCain, John McCain adultery, Latin, Latin albums, Lincoln, Maria de Jesus, merit badges, Miami, Microsoft, myspace, Oprah Winfrey, Orange Bowl, pirates, PT Cruiser, Republican National Committee, Rerun, ringtones, shoes, Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves, Somalia, Sweet Dreams Are Made of This, Taco Bell, Texas, traffic, vibrators, weight loss surgery, What's Happening, Zune

Chip Saltsman, a candidate for chairman of the Republican National Committee, continues to face criticism for distributing a CD that contained the song parody “Barack the Magic Negro.” Some Democrats have defended Saltsman by noting that on January 20th Obama will in fact make a giant asshole disappear.
Chrysler has received a four billion dollar [...]

Watch Big News Episode 297: “Don’t Forget the Motor City”

Friday, December 12, 2008 in Big News Episodes
Tags: "George Bush", AIG, Alaska, Antonio Villaraigosa, Artemis Pebdani, auto bailout, Bailee DesRocher, Beau Biden, Brian Vestal, Christian Slater, Christopher Dodd, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies, Daniel Radcliffe, Dick Cheney, El Alcalde de la Pasion, Equus, Erich Eilenberger, General Motors, Gloria Gaynor, GM, Gregg Lopez, harry potter, Harry Reid, Helen Thomas, high school musical, I Will Survive, iO West, Jackson Browne, Jay Starr, Jeff Goldblum, Jimmy Guidish, Joe Biden, John McCain, Joseph Cassano, K-Fed, Kevin Federline, Kipleigh Brown, Kristina Adelmeyer, LA Times, Los Angeles fires, Los Angeles Times, Matt Blitz, Mayor Villaraigosa, Melissa Okey, Michael Hughes, My Own Worst Enemy, Nancy Pelosi, Neil Garguilo, Nick Armstrong, pardons, Pookie, Rick Wagoner, Rob Delaney, Robert Pattinson, Running on Empty, Sarah Palin, Scott Garner, Sean Cowhig, Somebody's Baby, Stay, Ted Stevens, Thanksgiving, Tom Repetto, Twilight, UAW, United Auto Workers, Vladimir Putin, Zac Efrom

Our friend Nick Armstrong – who you can catch in great shows at iO West like The Friday 40, Cog and iO All Stars – guest stars in our pre-Thanksgiving episode!

In this episode:
- George Bush pardons a “turkey” from Alaska for Thanksgiving!
- Congressional leaders take the bailout for a spin!
- Jack in the Box [...]

Watch Big News Episode 282: “So Two Guys Drive Into a Bar…”

Sunday, November 30, 2008 in Big News Episodes
Tags: "George Bush", ABBA, Alicia Sacramone, Andy Nordvall, Arnold Schwazenegger, Artemis Pebdani, Barack Obama, Bela Karoli, Bob Costas, Brent Forrester, China, Chris Stathis, Christopher Biewer, Cindy McCain, David Plouffe, Erich Eilenberger, fist bump, fist jab, fist pump, French Chef, George Caleodis, Georgia, Georgian War, Governor Schwarzenegger, Gregg Lopez, Hawaii, Hillary Clinton, Jason Kelley, Jed Alexander, Jim Nieb, Jimmy Guidish, John Chiang, John Edwards, John McCain, Julia Child, Laura Harper, lipsynching, Mamma Mia!, Matt Manser, Meryl Streep, Michael Bluestein, Michael Hughes, Michelle Obama, Mikheil Saakashvili, Morgan Hamm, Nate Liebermann, Olympics, Olympics opening ceremony, Pat McAleenan, Phillip Wilburn, Pierce Brosnan, PUMAs, Rick Paulas, Robert Mugabe, Ron West, Shawn Johnson, Susan Deming, Tammie Smalls, The Office, Tom Repetto, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, World War II, Zimbabwe

Our first show back after iO West reopened! And with special guest Brent Forrester from “The Office”, it couldn’t have been a better return!

In this episode:
- The Obamas’ Hawaiian vacation gets some unwelcome crashers!
- John McCain debuts a sequel to “Mamma Mia!”
- George Bush tries to figure out the Georgian War!
- Crazed Hillary Clinton [...]

Watch Big News Episode 283: “Biden, Your Time”

Sunday, November 30, 2008 in Big News Episodes
Tags: Adam Fisher, Anson Williams, Artemis Pebdani, Baby Come Back, Bailee DesRocher, Barack Obama, Bigfoot, Bob Costas, Boz Scaggs, Brett Favre, Bridget McCain, Christopher Biewer, Cindy McCain, CNN, Danny Ricker, Debbie Phelps, Donny Most, Ed Greer, Edward James Olmos, Erik Charles Nielsen, Erin Moran, Fonzie, fox news, George Caleodis, Georgia, Green Bay Packers, Gregg Lopez, Happy Days, Henry Winkler, Howard Cunningham, Jack McCain, James McCain, Jamie Escalante, Jason Kelley, Jimmy Guidish, Joanie Cunningham, Joe Biden, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Kristina Adelmeyer, Lido Shuffle, Marion Cunningham, Marion Ross, Matt Moore, Meghan McCain, Melissa Okey, Michael Phelps, Milwaukee, MSNBC, Olympics, Phillip Wilburn, Player, Potsie Weber, Ralph Malph, Ralph Nader, South Ossetia, Stand and Deliver, Texas, text bomb, text messages, Tom Bosley, Tom Repetto, Tom Thumb, Wisconsin, Wolf Blitzer, Wunnaweeks

The Olympics ended, and Joe Biden’s run as vice presidential candidate began. Enjoy this episode of Big News, which includes everything from a “Happy Days” reunion to a musical plea to Brett Favre using the music of ’70’s hitmakers Player!

In this episode:
- Barack Obama’s text bomb outs a nonsupporter!
- NBC extends its coverage of [...]

Watch Big News Episode 284: “Mile High Jinx”

Sunday, November 30, 2008 in News
Tags: "George Bush", Bailee DesRocher, Barack Obama, Baywatch, Bill Clinton, Captain and Tennille, Daddy Yankee, David Hasselhoff, Democratic Convention, Democratic National Convention, DNC, Ed Salazar, education, Erich Eilenberger, exceptional students, Gary Hart, Gasolina, gifted students, Greg Shouse, Hillary Clinton, Iraq, Jason Kelley, Jen Cain, Joe Biden, John McCain, K-Fed, Kevin Federline, Lance Armstrong, Matt Manser, Matt Moore, Melissa Okey, Michael Hughes, Michelle Obama, Neil Garguilo, Pamela Anderson, Phillip Wilburn, Pookie, Popozao, Ray Stakenas, roll call, Ron West, Sarah Palin, Sean Cowhig, Sheryl Crow, Tammie Smalls, Walter Mondale

The Democratic National Convention had just ended, giving us lots of great material for comedy – inane roll calls, seductive Bill Clinton speeches, and diehard Hillary supporters! Plus the comedy of Ed Salazar!

In this episode:
- The Democratic National Convention roll call gets out of hand!
- Sheryl Crow serenades Barack Obama with some specially written [...]

Watch Big News Episode 285: “Breaching a Levi”

Saturday, November 29, 2008 in Big News Episodes
Tags: "George Bush", Alaska, Alaska National Guard, Bandit, Barbara Walters, Bill Clinton, Brian Vestal, Bristol Palin, Buford T. Justice, Burt Reynolds, Deal or No Deal, Erich Eilenberger, Greg Shouse, Gregg Lopez, Howie Mandel, hunting, hunting wolves from helicopters, I Kissed A Girl, I Picked a Girl, Jackie Gleason, Jason Kelley, Jerry Reid, Jimmy Guidish, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Julia Gaudette, Katy Perry, Kristina Adelmeyer, Larry Craig, Levi Johnston, Levi Johnston blog, Matt Moore, Melissa Okey, Michael Hughes, Mitt Romney, myspace, Phillip Wilburn, Ray Stakenas, redneck, Republican Convention, Republican National Convention, RNC, Roberta McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Sarah Palin, Sean Cowhig, Smokey and the Bandit, Snowman, Susan Deming, Tammie Smalls, Tim Pawlenty, Tom Repetto, Tony Sam, wolves

What a week! We met Sarah Palin, learned her teenaged daughter was pregnant by a “f—in’ redneck” who blogs on MySpace, and mourned “Snowman” from “Smokey and the Bandit!” And we at Big News had our “I Picked a Girl” video aired on CNN twice! Plus the comedy of Tony Sam!

In this [...]

Watch Big News Episode 286: “Lipstick on a Hardon Collider”

Saturday, November 29, 2008 in Big News Episodes
Tags: "George Bush", Antonio Villaraigosa, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Artemis Pebdani, Bailee DesRocher, Barack Obama, baseball, Bea Arthur, Betty White, Bill Clinton, Billy Squier, Blanche Devereux, Brian Vestal, Bud, Budweiser, Christopher Biewer, Craig Cackowski, Curt Pringle, David Plouffe, Dick Cheney, Dororty Zbornak, Eddie Albert, El Alcalde de la Pasion, Erich Eilenberger, Erik Charles Nielsen, Estelle Getty, Eva Gabor, Giselle Bundchen, Golden Girls, Governor Schwarzenegger, Green Acres, Gregg Lopez, Hadron Collider, Hillary Clinton, Howard Dean, hurricane, Hurricane Hannah, Hurricane Ike, Jimmy Guidish, Joe Biden, John McCain, Julia Gaudette, Kim Jong-il, lipstick on a pig, Lisa Douglas, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Dodgers, Matt Manser, Mayor Villaraigosa, Melissa Okey, Michael Hughes, Mike Scioscia, Neil Garguilo, New England Patriots, Niilo Tippler, Oliver Wendell Douglas, Phillip Wilburn, Real Men of the Right Wing, recall, Rose Nylund, Rue McClanahan, Sarah Palin, Scott Weitz, Sean Conroy, Sophia Petrillo, Susan Deming, The Stroke, Tom Brady

We at Big News always love when we get one of our friends from iO West to guest star with us, and this episode of Big News shows why. Craig Cackowski tackles roles like David Plouffe from the Obama campaign, Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle, and Dorothy from the Golden Girls! All that, and [...]

Watch Big News Episode 287: “Mayor, Moose-Hunter, Mother”

Saturday, November 29, 2008 in Big News Episodes
Tags: 100000 Pyramid, 2008 Election, AIG, Al Gore, Andy Sklar, Artemis Pebdani, Aydrea ten Bosch, bank failure, Bert, Big Bird, Blackberry Britney Spears, Carly Fiorina, Cindy McCain, Cookie Monster, credit crisis, David Petraeus, Dick Clark, economic crisis, Elmo, Ernie, Federal Reserve, Florida State, General Petraeus, George Caleodis, Grover, Iraq, J.B. West, Jamie Lynn Spears, Jason Kelley, Jim Nieb, John McCain, Jonas Brothers, Julia Gaudette, Kipleigh Brown, Kyle Kinane, Lehman Brothers, Matt Johnson, Matt Moore, Melissa Okey, Michael Hughes, Muppets, Neil Garguilo, Oscar the Grouch, Phil Gramm, Phillip Wilburn, Pyramid, Ron West, Sarah Palin, Sean Cowhig, Sesame Street, sorority, surge, Tammie Smalls, the Count, Todd Palin, Tom Repetto, virginity, WaMu, Washington Mutual, Zach Ayers

Sesame Street? The Jonas Brothers? But don’t mistake this show for anything on the Disney Channel – just a hilarious look at another week of the election, and the comedy of Kyle Kinane!

In this episode:
- John McCain gets roughed up by the Muppets!
- The Lehman Brothers get a good talking-to by their parents!
- [...]

Watch Big News Episode 288: “Shoulda Gone To”

Saturday, November 29, 2008 in Big News Episodes
Tags: "George Bush", 30 Rock, Alec Baldwin, American Idol, Artemis Pebdani, Bailee DesRocher, Barack Obama, Christopher Biewer, Clay Aiken, Claymates, Cloris Leachman, CNN, Corey Haim, Dancing with the Stars, debate, economic crisis, Eleanor Roosevelt, Emmys, Erich Eilenberger, FDR, Franklin Roosevelt, Gregg Lopez, Harry Hopkins, Harry Reid, Henry Stimson, illegal immigration, Iran, Jack McBrayer, Jane Krakowski, Jason Kelley, Jim Lehrer, Jim Nieb, Jimmy Byrnes, Joe Biden, Joe Biden's Crazy Train, John Boehner, John McCain, Judah Friedlander, Kipleigh Brown, Larry King, Lauren Upton, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Matt Manser, Matt Moore, Mexico, Michael Hughes, Miss Teen South Carolina, Mitch McConnell, Nancy Pelosi, Neil Garguilo, Nick Kroll, Phillip Wilburn, presidential debate, Ron West, Rosanne Hughes, Sarah Palin, Scott Adsit, Scott Farrar, Tammie Smalls, The Life and Times of Tim, Tina Fey, Tom Repetto, Tony Goldmark, Tracy Jordan, Wolf Blitzer

Nick Kroll is one of the stars of HBO’s “The Life and Times of Tim” – but the night that show premiered, Big News audiences got to enjoy his comedy live!

In this episode:
- The attendees at the White House economic summit sing a familiar tune!
- Jim Lehrer leads Barack Obama and John McCain to debate!
- [...]

Watch Big News Episode 289: “Can I Call You Joe Six-Pack?”

Saturday, November 29, 2008 in Big News Episodes
Tags: 21 Jump Street, Al Gore, Alaska, Artemis Pebdani, bank failure, Barney Frank, Bob Seger, Brendan McLoughlin, Bristol Palin, Charles Nelson Reilly, Chris Compton, clean coal, CNN, Crazy Train, Dan Eder, debate, Dr. God, economic bailout, eHarmony, Elmo, Erich Eilenberger, Freddy Krueger, George Caleodis, Gregg Lopez, Gwen Ifill, Ira Glass, Jason Kelley, Jim Nieb, Jimmy Guidish, Joe Biden, Joe Biden's Crazy Train, John Boehner, John McCain, Johnny Depp, Julia Gaudette, Karl Hess, Kyle Hess, Levi Johnston, Linda Wertheimer, Lusty Horde, Matt Manser, Matt Moore, Melissa Okey, Michael Hughes, Michigan, My Fair Lady, Nightmare on Elm Street, NPR, Pat Mannion, Phillip Wilburn, Pygmalion, Rain in Spain, Sarah Palin, Sesame Street, Steve Schmidt, Susan Deming, Tammie Smalls, Todd Palin, Tom Repetto, Tony Goldmark, vice presidential debate, WaMu, Washington Mutual, Wolf Blitzer

Ah, Sarah Palin. Has anyone provided so much comic relief to so many people so quickly? Certainly she made the job of coming up with an hour of news-based sketch comedy this past fall – witness this episode of Big News, which also features the comedy of Karl Hess and a special appearance [...]