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 5 of 12)
61. It's about time this disgusting POC folded. What an insult to the senses. Hopefully the others won't be far behind.
*sigh*, Another victim of the internet. Nobody needs to buy a paper to get their fix of baloney anymore... there's so much baloney floating around on the internet, who wants to buy a paper.
harrybeasl at 3:18PM on Jul 24th 2007
62. My favorite headline was: "I was Big Foot's Love Slave!"
Man... I will miss the World Weekly News! It was always good for a smile while waiting in the grocery line!
lana at 3:16PM on Jul 24th 2007
63. Some people in this country need to bury themselves...You are the people whom make the rest of us NORMAL individuals who have a life look bad. You like to read lies and fantasies that hurt other human beings. READ A GOOD BOOK. At least you learn something from reading books. And if that doesnt do it for you, just plug in the boob tube and watch the debates. You will hear plenty of lies and fantasy coming from those politicians.
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Linda at 10:57PM on Jul 24th 2007
64. Hillary's gonna adopt ALL the ILLEGAL alien babies if she gets elected... hell, she might even do it if NOT elected!
Steve Mk1 at 3:25PM on Jul 24th 2007
65. I was in college camping in the Keys with a much of friends, when I bought my first one "Goat girl found, she was raised by goats" The body went on to say she bleets and soils on everything and can not be alone or trusted! She will put everything in her mouth! No one will baby sit her. I would for an hour or two, do you think she is still alive?
Paul Doig at 3:28PM on Jul 24th 2007
66. Damn! Now what am I going to read in the checkout line! Everyone else DOES write about Paris, Lindsey, and Britany, & who wants to read that crap?
Merci at 3:29PM on Jul 24th 2007
67. My favorite of all time...
"Woman attacked by her on fur coat"
That is classic.
Jacque at 3:40PM on Jul 24th 2007
68. I'm glad that magazine is going bye bye. With any luck, the Enquirer, Globe and the rest of the trash magazines will do the same.
Zzythyr at 5:58PM on Jul 25th 2007
69. my favorite was always the horse boy, I remember being a kid and looking over to see a full grown horse with a human face on it..it was creepy, but I think the most famous was bat boy..the last one I read was right after hurricane katrina because they were getting no mag imports for over 2 months so..I just started buying anything I Had not read yet. lucky for me, it was the issue of the most known stories, includin satan. and all the ones that are shown on the site..I really enjoyed that mag..cause yeah we knew it was nonsence, but the nonsence is what made it appealing. it wasnt about people dieing, war, or stupid lindsy and paris, it was just FUN..ill miss it
Natosha at 3:34PM on Jul 24th 2007
70. Bar none, their BEST/WORST headline was:
"Headless Man found in Topless Bar"
Now that's hard to top...
Eric Huffman at 3:36PM on Jul 24th 2007
71. Wow..will I misse looking at those headlines every week. Used to buy an issue occasionally and use photoshop to create my own parody papers for my Baltimore Orioles/MLB website!
http://www.birdsinthebelfry.com/Weekly_belfry_news_one.htm
http://www.birdsinthebelfry.com/world_belfry_news_cryogenic.htm
http://www.birdsinthebelfry.com/World_Belfry_news_080102.htm
Bob at 3:35PM on Jul 24th 2007
72. I remember the "Book made of human skin grows REAL hair" eeewwww....but HOW funny!! RIP WWN
Amanda at 3:41PM on Jul 24th 2007
73. Awwww, this is tragic! WWN provided us with such howling entertainment that it will be sadly missed. My husband and I occasionally bought one (the BatBoy ones were a particular favorite) when the headline was especially juicy...and always enjoyed the Dear Dottie column where she was so rude and basically told everybody who wrote to her to get a life. And we always ended up doing the Bigfoot crossword. And LOVED the little photos of the so-called 'scientists'! :D
A moment of respectful silence is called for now for this joyful, totally idiotic, and completely fun publication.
Cyn at 3:39PM on Jul 24th 2007
74. I can't believe it. Say it isn't so!! What am I going to read. How will I know whats going on with out Chuck and his hot mustard sauce. What about Dollys advice, Lester the Typing Horse and Sammy the Chatting Chimp. What will Miss Adventure do now? Poor Bat boy. Back to the cave for you. Favorite cover is hard to say. Maybe half-man,half-alligator. No, Medicine for the dead. I don't know. I do know my heart is broken. Life will never be the same. R.I.P. W.W.N.
Diane at 3:42PM on Jul 24th 2007
75. My all time fav was from the mid-80's "I WAS RAPED BY SKINHEADS FROM MARS!"
Glen at 3:44PM on Jul 24th 2007