NYNewser_676 26 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Yikes http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/brian-williams-false-iraq-war-story-1201424120/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAVY 10 Fan 232 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Yikes http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/brian-williams-false-iraq-war-story-1201424120/ Wonder if NBC will be pulling those promos about building trust that they've been running. Absolutely shameful that Williams would push this story he knew was false for 12 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbs2newengland 71 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Wonder if NBC will be pulling those promos about building trust that they've been running. Absolutely shameful that Williams would push this story he knew was false for 12 years. He should peruse acting in the entertainment division full time. He's a phoney. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TennTV1983 743 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Yikes http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/brian-williams-false-iraq-war-story-1201424120/ No doubt that Williams' credibility as a journalist is severely damaged as a result of this coming out, and makes you wonder what other stuff he might have made up during his time at the helm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PitCleTV 9 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Not sure if ABC, CBS, CNN had any mentions of this on their websites. Fox sure is loving this, though. And I sure hope nobody here defends Williams. I mean come on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BehindNYNews 143 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 I'm sorry, how do you mistake whether you were in a aircraft being fired at or in an aircraft following that one. I just don't see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Action Newsroom 1150 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Yeah, I usually watch Scott Pelley and the Evening News but, because he's the face of the division, this is going to be an even bigger black eye for NBC News (or even the entire network/company) than the Ann Curry/Today fiasco of 2012. And it's still recovering from that. I mean, even if he was on the aircraft still, he still fabricated the story at that time. And he must be kicking himself for doing so, especially on-air. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4168 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 He should peruse acting in the entertainment division full time. He's a phoney. Given his past hosting stint on SNL (2007, just before the writers strike) that is certainly plausible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorningNews 1293 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 I'm sorry, how do you mistake whether you were in a aircraft being fired at or in an aircraft following that one. I just don't see it. It just doesn't seem plausible that he would be confused on whether he was on the aircraft. Shocked that he kept the lie going for 12 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpb 35 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Well, he did not keep it going for 12 years. When he first reported it on NBC Nightly News, he reported it accurately. What I think happened - and is certainly plausible - is that he told the story so many times and each time slightly dramatized a new little detail. We all do that because we all like to tell stories in which we are a little bit the hero. He didn't realize how inaccurate his new story had become compared to the original chain of events. That doesn't exonerate Brian Williams completely. It's still a serious error. But given that it only happened once while he has been a public figure for over two decades, I think we should be forgiving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TVNewsLover 728 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Given his past hosting stint on SNL (2007, just before the writers strike) that is certainly plausible. Never understood why he would even do SNL. He's a trusted news figure, who people turn to for news, not comedy. Nonetheless, while he may lose some viewers, I do imagine most will forgive him, so long as he doesn't do something like this again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ns8401 846 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Never understood why he would even do SNL. He's a trusted news figure, who people turn to for news, not comedy. Nonetheless, while he may lose some viewers, I do imagine most will forgive him, so long as he doesn't do something like this again. The news is simply infotainment at best anyways... So why not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
24994J 5276 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 He was fantastic on SNL. That is all I have to say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkolsen 1679 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Well, he did not keep it going for 12 years. When he first reported it on NBC Nightly News, he reported it accurately. What I think happened - and is certainly plausible - is that he told the story so many times and each time slightly dramatized a new little detail. We all do that because we all like to tell stories in which we are a little bit the hero. He didn't realize how inaccurate his new story had become compared to the original chain of events. That doesn't exonerate Brian Williams completely. It's still a serious error. But given that it only happened once while he has been a public figure for over two decades, I think we should be forgiving. It definitely is a fish story but I hope he doesn't get fired. Someone mentioned that ABC and CBS didn't make any mention of this which makes me wonder if they are afraid of calling the pot calling the kettle black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PitCleTV 9 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 In the off-chance Williams is let go or resigns, does anyone think Lester Holt will get the job? Sure hope it won't be Lauer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daybreak 269 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 A lot of people are really vocal about this. Many believe he should be fired or resign. I feel like he should be suspended for a while like how they did Dr. Nancy Snyderman. But not immediately fired. The cable news outlets are eating this up so who knows what's going to happen. Time will tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
24994J 5276 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Stepping aside for awhile would definitely be in both BriWi's and NBC's best interest, except, for better or worse, sweeps complicates things. I also don't see him getting fired. Look at the Dan Rather fiasco at CBS. He dragged a president's name through the ground, and had a history of pissing off those around him. They were praying for the opportunity to dump him. In Brilliams' case, the only personal damage being done is to himself, and he seems to have a clean record within the news division outside of this incident. Unlike Rather, Brilly Willy's also in first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glimmer 238 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 My guess is he'll probably take time off for however long it takes for this thing to die down (probably the rest of the month) then come back, maybe do a mea culpa interview then go on as if nothing ever happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B2r4a6n 102 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 My guess is he'll probably take time off for however long it takes for this thing to die down (probably the rest of the month) then come back, maybe do a mea culpa interview then go on as if nothing ever happened. It's sweeps month, even with this bad press NBC isn't going to do that...also the pilot of the helicopter Brian was in is now saying it did take on fire... http://www.mediaite.com/tv/pilot-tells-jake-tapper-brian-williams-helicopter-did-take-fire/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BehindNYNews 143 Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 I personally do not think Brian will be fired over this. That said, if he somehow is fired, I think it is fair to say it is Lester's seat. I personally am not a huge fan of Lester's. He is good but I'd rather see Natalie, Kate Snow or Harry Smith take over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbs2newengland 71 Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 I don't want to be mean spirited but isn't weird that his previous employer was Channel 2's noon and 4:00 anchor (medioker at best), and how suddenly he became a rising star in NBC News in rather short time? He got an MSNBC show on the spot and within 9 years he was named to succeed Tom Brokaw's role on NN? And at the time of this story he made up - he wasn't even the principal anchor yet! I do think his creditability has been severely tarnished. I don't understand why he felt the need to make up something like that. As Joe Concca said on FBN's Money with Melissa Francis, its like being a virgin, you would know when that event happened and you'd never forget it. And others described if it was so life changing, you wouldn't mis remember. It wasn't like he crashed and got amnesia and short or long term memory loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex979 118 Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 I personally do not think Brian will be fired over this. That said, if he somehow is fired, I think it is fair to say it is Lester's seat. I personally am not a huge fan of Lester's. He is good but I'd rather see Natalie, Kate Snow or Harry Smith take over. I really didn't think he would be fired at first, but now I'm starting to change my mind. There is a pretty huge social media firestorm calling for his head, and I think this whole story would color the rest of his career in a very negative way. I'm a little uncertain as to how he can remain the face of NBC News after all of this. I'm afraid he's in some serious trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daybreak 269 Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 I really didn't think he would be fired at first, but now I'm starting to change my mind. There is a pretty huge social media firestorm calling for his head, and I think this whole story would color the rest of his career in a very negative way. I'm a little uncertain as to how he can remain the face of NBC News after all of this. I'm afraid he's in some serious trouble. I think NBC thought this would blow over but all the entertainment outlets been discussing the stories even TMZ. So people who really don't watch the news got an opinion of him. And social media isn't any better. I saw him tonight on the news and you can tell that this is bothering him. His delivery was a bit off. Even if NBC doesn't want to, he needs to be suspended. No question about it. Just because he the face of NBC number one evening show, when someone else even a regular Joe does something not right, they get reprimanded so the same case applies to him also. I feel bad for him but he did something less than smart. Hopefully he can bounce back but he need some time off. Let Lester sub for at least 4-6 weeks then have him comeback and start over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4168 Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Now a New Orleans alternative paper is putting another Brian Williams story - this one about Katrina - to the test. Brian Steinberg also drops a major bombshell in the tenth paragraph of this Variety piece (a claim that is, as of this moment, disputed; so take it for what it's worth). And Tom Brokaw (allegedly?) knew for years that this story was bunk... now he wants Brian fired! And it goes on and on. I still find it hard to believe that NBC will outright fire Brian, and this couldn't be a worse time to do so. But the hellstorm both Brian and NBC are catching from all sides - even the Huffington Post! - is astounding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PitCleTV 9 Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 " “He is not going to be suspended or reprimanded in any way. He has the full support of NBC News,” a network source said." From Page Six. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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