It's not exactly an earth shattering scandal but CNN did get caught in a bit of a fib when they declared they were the first to use hologram technology in a broadcast featuring Wolf Blitzer interviewing a Jessica Yellin "hologram" on election day.
I put "hologram" in quotes because a perturbed Don Reisinger of CNET News declared that it was false advertising since CNN wasn't using a real hologram. CNN soon backed down from their hologram claim in the face of not only criticism but mockery from the other networks.
I suppose the best way to respond is by humor as you can see in this video of Anderson Cooper 360 which features a clip of Jay Leno presenting a "hologram" attacking Wolf Blitzer. It sure made your humble correspondent break out laughing. Here is a transcript of the interchange on the "hologram" controversy between Anderson Cooper and Erica Hill:
ANDERSON COOPER: Let's check out tonight's "Shot." It's more fun with the CNN hologram. This time Jay Leno took aim at Wolf Blitzer and our cutting-edge technology. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, HOST, NBC'S "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO": How many saw the hologram? Did you see it? Oh, yes. You know, it was a great idea. Apparently, they still haven't worked out all of the kinks. I guess they had some sort of intergalactic glitch earlier in the day. Yes, show what happened when they did the hologram the first time.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Right now I want you to watch what we're about to do, because you've never seen anything like this on television.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: That was cool. Monster from the "Predator" film, which of course, I rank up with "Citizen Kane" and "Casablanca."
ERICA HILL: Absolutely, absolutely. My friend, Jason Odell (ph), who helped create the hologram -- I promised him he could have a shout-out -- was talking to me today. There was a little controversy that we call it a hologram. A lot of people say it's a topogram.
COOPER: Does anyone really care?
HILL: I'm not smart enough to understand the difference.
COOPER: I guess -- like, when I was looking at it, you know, I did Will.i.am and the hologram. I didn't actually see him. I saw him on a monitor. There was just a space on the floor.
HILL: Is that the difference?
COOPER: I don't know. I guess in the hologram, you would actually see him materialize.
HILL: How about it's cool? Let's leave it at that.
Buried in all that mirth is the admission that Wolf Blitzer was not exactly truthful when he declared he was interviewing the first hologram to appear on television. However, that Predator "hologram" should be used in the future to attack anybody on CNN who tries to get away with a fib or displays blatant bias. That sure would keep that "hologram" busy.
