Most people, if you dig down deep, go to the supermarket for tabloids, and not just the glossy celebrity magazines that have multiplied like gremlins in the last ten years. I mean real, honest-to-badness tabloids, the newspapers for which truth and responsibility and even reality are other people's hang-ups.
And now, the world is poorer, thanks to the news this week that American Media will cease publication of one of the great pieces of trash this country has ever produced: the Weekly World News. (Read more about it here and here.)
Published since 1979, the WWN has staunchly refused, for the most part, to tell us about Lindsay or Paris or Britney, instead opting for stories about aliens, Satan, giant pigs rampaging through the Georgia woods, Nostradamus-like prophets, time travel, and, of course, Bat Boy. In an increasingly frightening world, the Weekly World News provided regular -- you might even say weekly -- respite in the form of pedal-to-the-metal stupidity. It's too bad that WWN didn't break the story of its own demise, because then we would know that it wasn't true.
[Ben Greenman's acclaimed new book of fiction, A Circle is a Balloon and Compass Both, is now available. Order it here.]
Reader Comments ( Page 11 of 12)
151. The last of the great newspapers that refused to sell out to corporate standards.
My favorite was "Rudolph butchered, who will drive Santa's sleigh?"
End of an era... too bad.
Tom Masty at 5:22AM on Jul 25th 2007
152. I'm pig-biting mad that WWN is folding! How can this be happening? One of my favorites was the story along the lines of "'Titanic' Survivors Found Living on Iceberg." They had survived all these years by living in caves they had carved into the berg, and spent their days catching fish to eat.
Max S. at 7:17AM on Jul 25th 2007
153. My favorite: "Space alien eats laundry from clothesline."
Kevin at 7:44AM on Jul 25th 2007
154. Really need something to read and escape? Hmm, how about a good book, some Edgar Allen Poe or some of the good old stories.
Good luck people. Stretch your brains a little.
Tonda at 7:37AM on Jul 25th 2007
155. I thought it was Hillary was adopted by aliens.
William R. Dungan at 8:54AM on Jul 25th 2007
156. ah quit yer blubbering! You haven't lost the outlandish claims and stories of this rag. Just listen to Georgie's press guy, Snow. This admin has some tales and outlandish fictions that'll make the bat boy pale. By the way, that bat boy. Did he grow up in New England and Texas?
Michael at 9:31AM on Jul 25th 2007
157. This is a great loss for my friends. We gather together at the coast (NC), 2 or 3 times a year. One of the gals has a gift for reading World News, it is the highlight of our get togethers, along with food and wine. We will surely miss this great paper.
Dolores Campbell at 1:38PM on Jul 25th 2007
158. Don't despair people: The Onion is still around
Tom at 11:57AM on Jul 25th 2007
159. My favorite of all time was the cover that said, "Pope Gone Missing!" and it said that they just turned around and he was gone having, "seemed to have just wandered off somewhere...." the picture was hilarious and the story so absurd! That wins my vote for favorite
JS at 12:13PM on Jul 25th 2007
160. My friend's best memory was "alien backs clinton" and wonders now where he will get his weekly dose of Ed Anger.
Raymond at 1:36PM on Jul 25th 2007
161. I quite like the Weekly World News to read for fun. I never understood how they got around libel charges but oh well. It's just bad when people do start believing it (my cousin's gradmother believe it or not did) & wouldn't it be nice if you could *really* travel the world on Monopoly money (despite the fact that it's discolored and one-sided)? C'mon!
Amanda at 7:02AM on Jul 26th 2007
162. NOW WHAT AM I GOING TO READ AT THE SUPER MARKET WHEN I AM ON LINE? I CONSIDER THEM LIKE THE MAGAZINES IN DR'S OFFICE. YA KNOW THE 15 AIELS AT THE STORE BUT THEY ONLY OPEN 3 OF THEM!!!!!!! SO I STAND THERE AND READ!!!!!!!!
pissedoff at 10:31AM on Jul 26th 2007
163. My favorite is from the early 80's...Donor Wants Kidney Back....LOL And, Family Flees talking Doll was another priceless headline.
I do believe, however, that it's entirely possible that Space Aliens have given Chaney an anal probe. You can tell by the way he walks and the extrodinary amount of lying that he's capable of.
Rev. Kellyann at 12:14PM on Jul 26th 2007
164. After 60 years of grocery shopping and getting a nice chuckle when I looked at WWN as I checked out, I am very sad indeed! My favorite cover showed Saddam Hussien and Bin Laden dancing togther dressed in female ballet costumes. However I cherish "Titanic Survivors found on Iceberg". (all dressed correctly in the clothes at the time and quite alive thank you very much)
Betsy at 4:02PM on Jul 26th 2007
165. No question, the best way to come home on a Thursday (if you had a subscription as I did). No matter how bad your day was, well.. there was something else to take you away from it. I once did a bathroom up with WWN. Stuck them up with beeswax so as not to have the back side come through. Then there was always ..? Page 5? My fave was the gay marriage of Saddam & Osamma Bin Laden. Then the real anthrax scare at the offices in Florida. Yes, life imitates art. Please make all past issues available on DVD. Just think of the wallpaper franchise...
Eddie Dornack at 1:59AM on Jul 27th 2007