Fair and Balanced is a new sitcom heading to ABC, but the series is already in hot water with one cable news network. According to Ad Week, FOX News is not happy that the new series has used their slogan for their name.
The series will star Kal Penn as a journalist that takes a job at a cable news network similar to FOX News Channel.
FOX News has used the slogan Fair and Balanced since 1997. The network has the slogan trademarked, and this might cause some legal troubles for the new series.
Roger Ailes, the CEO of FOX News, shared some strong comments about the new ABC comedy recently. He said:
“They ought to call it an attempt at liberal comedy which will fail,” Ailes said. “People tried to poke at this, and the whole Fair and Balanced concept. They wouldn’t know fair and balanced if it hit them … with a fish. I might have the lawyers call. I’ve got 24 hours a day to trash ABC programming. You guys can’t program your way out of the men’s room. I have friends at ABC. Why do I want to trash these poor dumb b**tards. But I thought, all right, one more guy’s going to pick a fight with everybody else. Let’s go.”
Do you watch FOX News? Is ABC wrong to use the name Fair and Balanced for their comedy? Tell us what you think.
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8 Comments on "Fair and Balanced: Fox News Not Happy About New ABC Sitcom"
Unless Fox News has a show named “Fair and Balanced” (and is trademarked), they should probably save their legal fees. Stupid.
Since when has Fox news been “fair and balanced?”
this is laughable. everybody knows except conservatives that fox is not fair and balanced . and ailes cussing is a statement backs up just how extremely mean and nasty that they are. bravo for ABC calling them out in a comedy.
Does FOX have the copyright to use “fair & balanced” exclusively?! There’s 48 Hours & the First 48 on TV already. Do CBS & A&E share using “48”?! FOX football theme already intros like Christmas’ “giddy up, giddy up, giddy up, let’s go, let’s look at the snow”. So what’s the big deal on infringement FOX?! Like you’re really threatened by the Hollywood liberals?!
Fox News doesn’t own the words “fair and balanced.” The phrase has been in use for ages, since long before Fox News existed, and there are a number of authors who have used it in their titles, including publications by Senator Al Franken and Naval War College. Outburst even has a CD titled Fair and Balanced. Did Fox News harass them all? This sounds as stupid as Donald Trump trying to trademark the words “You’re fired.” Fox News should spend its energy attempting to report actual and factual news, if that’s possible.
Since when has Fox News ever been “fair and balanced?”
Just reading the reply from Roger Ailes makes me want to watch the show. Fox News is anything but fair and balanced (and they are not alone), so why not have a laugh at them.