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* Played for drama in the 2000 version of ''Film/OnTheBeach'', when the garbled video transmissions from post-nuclear Alaska turn out to be the recording of a feelgood story about whales rescued under arctic ice, with the corpse of the announcer still sitting next to the solar powered laptop.
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* ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIII'': In Act 3, a newspaper tries to slander the party, and the editor brags how the next edition will reveal all their 'misdeeds'. One way to prevent this is to break into their offices and substitute the next edition's printing plates. One of these plates is of the "Cutest Cat You've Ever Seen," and is about a kitten being rescued.
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-->''The two pandas in the zoo: do you care if they fuck? I don't. So why don't they stop telling me on the news, that the pandas didn't fuck again this year? I don't give a shit! I have'' no ''emotional stake in panda fucking. If they want to, they will; if not, they'll watch Series/ThePriceIsRight. Probably the only reason they're not doing it on time is because some jackass from the environmental movement has'' moved into the cage with them! ''Guys, seriously, could you get a hard-on if some jerk with a thermometer was taking your girlfriend's'' rectal temperature? ''Leave these creatures'' alone!

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-->''The two pandas in the zoo: do you care if they fuck? I don't. So why Why don't they stop telling me on the news, that news the pandas didn't fuck again this year? I don't give a shit! I'm not concerned! I have'' no ''emotional stake in panda fucking.fucking, alright?. If they want to, they will; if not, they'll watch Series/ThePriceIsRight. Probably the only reason they're not doing it on time is because some jackass jackoff from the environmental movement has'' moved into the cage with them! ''Guys, seriously, could ''Could you get a hard-on if some jerk guy in a green t-shirt with a thermometer stopwatch was taking your girlfriend's'' rectal temperature? ''Leave these creatures'' alone!

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Being cut per TRS


If the story is ''literally'' a baby panda, it's also a case of PandaingToTheAudience. Compare to TheInternetIsForCats.

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If the story is ''literally'' a baby panda, it's also a case of PandaingToTheAudience. Compare to TheInternetIsForCats.
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* For whatever reason, Creator/{{MSNBC}} has bad luck with this.

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* For whatever reason, Creator/{{MSNBC}} MSNBC has bad luck with this.
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* In ''The Growing Pains of'' ''Literature/AdrianMole'', Adrian falls into a severe depression when he returns home from having run away. To try to bring him back to the real world, his parents suggest he watches the news. It is full of terrible stories such as bombing and murder, and he notes that the only cheerful item is about a man with no legs who walked from John O' Groats to Lands End [[note]]from the northernmost end of the United Kingdom to the southernmost[[/note]]; this magnificence of the human spirit versus the cruelty of fate reduces him to silent sobs.
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* ''CBS News Sunday Morning'' always ends with a "Moment of Nature", sometimes just scenery but often including animal footage.

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* ''CBS News Sunday Morning'' ''Series/CBSSundayMorning'' always ends with a "Moment of Nature", sometimes just scenery but often including animal footage.
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-->''The two pandas in the zoo: do you care if they fuck? I don't. So why don't they stop telling me on the news, that the pandas didn't fuck again this year? I don't give a shit! I have'' no ''emotional stake in panda fucking. If they want to, they will; if not, they'll watch Series/ThePriceIsRight. Probably the only reason they're not doing it on time is because some jackass from the environmental movement has'' moved into the cage with them! ''Guys, seriously, could you get a hard-on if some jerk with a thermometer was taking your girlfriend's'' rectal temperature? ''Leave these creatures'' alone!
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* John Craven, original presenter of the Creator/{{CBBC}} news programme ''Series/{{Newsround}}'' published a book called ''And Finally...'' in 1985, collecting his favourite examples from the first thirteen years of the show.
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If a German comedian also had a song by that title, I apologise.


* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knut_%28polar_bear%29 Knut the polar bear]] is the byword for this in Germany. A baby polar bear in the Berlin Zoo, the news ''loved'' to show coverage of him at the end of its broadcasts. Then Knut grew up and got grumpy and lazy; as one German comedian put it (in song), "Knut isn't cute anymore." The German news media learned its lesson. (Well, it flocked to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flocke Flocke]] and ''then'' it learned its lesson.)

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* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knut_%28polar_bear%29 Knut the polar bear]] is the byword for this in Germany. A baby polar bear in the Berlin Zoo, the news ''loved'' to show coverage of him at the end of its broadcasts. Then Knut grew up and got grumpy and lazy; as one German comedian Music/MitchBenn put it (in song), "Knut isn't cute anymore." The German news media learned its lesson. (Well, it flocked to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flocke Flocke]] and ''then'' it learned its lesson.)

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natter natter natter... it needs fixing


* Parodied in the Creator/WillFerrell movie ''Film/AnchormanTheLegendOfRonBurgundy'', which included a news broadcast concluding with a water-skiing squirrel, and ongoing coverage ([[SeriousBusiness "Panda Watch"]]) of a pregnant panda at the San Diego Zoo. The climax of the movie takes place at the birth of the pandas. ''No one'', not even Veronica Corningstone, who is annoyed about being assigned to sappy human interest stories, questions the significance of this story, and none of the hordes of journalists at the zoo that day notice when several people nearly die after jumping into the grizzly enclosure.
** In [[Film/Anchorman2TheLegendContinues the sequel]], cute (and preferably ''patriotic'') animal stories are just one part of the general WorstNewsJudgmentEver thinking that Ron and his crew popularize at GNN.
* Bruce from ''Film/BruceAlmighty'' is sick of being sent to cover these (and [[HumanInterestStory Human Interest Stories]]), like the 'world's largest cookie'. So what does he do when he gets [[PhysicalGod phenomenal cosmic powers]]? He makes interesting things happen during these human interest stories so that he gets the best scoops. By the end, he's learned to accept that fluff stories make people happy and he's good at doing them.
** In a deleted scene that can be found in the script, this is taken literally, with Bruce reporting on how (with the help of his powers), two pandas are mating. Did we mention they were both males?

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* Parodied mercilessly in the Creator/WillFerrell movie ''Film/AnchormanTheLegendOfRonBurgundy'', which included a news broadcast concluding with abounds in silly animal-related human interest stories (such as a water-skiing squirrel, and ongoing coverage ([[SeriousBusiness "Panda Watch"]]) squirrel) -- but nothing beats "[[SeriousBusiness Panda Watch]]", a recurring segment of a pregnant panda at the San Diego Zoo. The climax of No one questions the movie takes place at the birth significance of the pandas. ''No one'', that particular story -- not even Veronica Corningstone, who is annoyed about otherwise hates being assigned to sappy human interest stories, questions the significance of this story, and none stories like this. The climax of the whole film takes place at the pandas' birth; hordes of journalists at the zoo that day notice when manage to ignore several people nearly die after jumping into [[BearsAreBadNews the grizzly enclosure.
** In
enclosure]] and nearly dying. [[Film/Anchorman2TheLegendContinues the sequel]], cute (and preferably ''patriotic'') animal stories are just one part of the general WorstNewsJudgmentEver thinking that The sequel]] continues this trend, with Ron and his crew popularize relying on cute animal stories (and preferably ''patriotic'' ones) to great national acclaim at GNN.
* In ''Film/BruceAlmighty'', Bruce from ''Film/BruceAlmighty'' is sick of being sent to cover these (and [[HumanInterestStory Human other {{Human Interest Stories]]), Stor|y}}ies like the 'world's "world's largest cookie'. So what does he do when cookie"). When he gets [[PhysicalGod phenomenal cosmic powers]]? He makes interesting powers]], one thing he does is contrive strange and ''actually'' newsworthy things happen during to be discovered at the site of these human interest stories stories, which he just so that he gets happens to be there to cover. (A DeletedScene from the best scoops. script even has Bruce induce an improbable pregnancy in a ''[[MisterSeahorse male]]'' panda.) By the end, he's learned to accept end of the film, Bruce learns and accepts that fluff stories make people happy and he's good at doing them.
** In a deleted scene that can be found in the script, this is taken literally, with Bruce reporting on how (with the help of his powers), two pandas are mating. Did we mention they were both males?
them.



* Discussed in ''Literature/TheTruth'' between William de Worde and Lord Vetinari
-->'''Vetinari:''' So... we have what the people are interested in, and human interest stories, which is what humans are interested in, and the public interest, which no one is interested in. \\
'''William:''' Except the public sir.\\

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* Discussed in ''Literature/TheTruth'' between William de Worde and Lord Vetinari
Vetinari:
-->'''Vetinari:''' So... we have what the people are interested in, and human interest stories, which is what humans are interested in, and the public interest, which no one is interested in. \\
'''William:''' Except the public public, sir.\\



'''William:''' I think it's more complicated than that sir.

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'''William:''' I think it's more complicated than that that, sir.



* ''Series/TheDailyShow'' refers to it as the "Moment of Zen"--originally it was just a piece of unrelated footage, such as a man getting sat on by an elephant, but it has evolved over recent years and is now usually an extension of something covered in the main body of the show.
** They also played this more or less straight on the first episode broadcast after the September 11th attacks, in which the Moment of Zen consisted of Jon Stewart producing an adorable puppy from under his desk.

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* ''Series/TheDailyShow'' refers to it as the "Moment of Zen"--originally it was just Zen", a very brief piece of unrelated footage, such fluff totally disconnected with the often depressing news stories it covers. In the early years, as befits a NewsParody, the "Moment of Zen" could get weird and {{Non Sequitur}}ial (like a man getting sat on by an elephant, elephant), but it has evolved over recent years and as time went by they could be genuine attempts at a heartwarming moment. The transition is now usually an extension of something covered in the main body of the show.
** They also played this more or less straight on
often thought to come from the first episode broadcast after the September 11th attacks, in which the Moment of Zen consisted of Jon Stewart producing saw host Creator/JonStewart produce an adorable puppy from under his desk.



** [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS9E21GirlyEdition "Girly Edition"]] has Bart and Lisa becoming reporters at their school news station. When Bart records a series of highly successful (and highly insubstantial) "human-interest" stories, Lisa tries to compete with him by doing a story on (among other things) the "Crazy Cat Lady." It doesn't go well. Then she tries a train story, standing next to some railroad tracks: "The old Union Pacific doesn't come by here much anymore..." Cue heavily labelled 'Union Pacific' train going by [[OverlyLongGag for a very long time]]. Followed by [[RuleOfFunny another attack from the Crazy Cat Lady.]]
** One ''Simpsons'' episode (Lisa Simpson versus Amber Dempsey and others for Little Miss Springfield) parodied the practice by showing some footage of a goat kid drinking bottled milk for the wrong stories, before the end credits.

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** [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS9E21GirlyEdition "Girly Edition"]] has Bart and Lisa becoming reporters at their school news station. When Bart records a series of highly successful (and highly insubstantial) "human-interest" stories, Lisa tries to compete with him by doing a story on (among other things) the "Crazy Cat Lady." Lady". It doesn't go well. Then she tries a train story, standing next to some railroad tracks: "The old Union Pacific doesn't come by here much anymore..." Cue heavily labelled 'Union Pacific' train going by [[OverlyLongGag for a very long time]]. Followed by [[RuleOfFunny another attack from the Crazy Cat Lady.]]
** One ''Simpsons'' episode (Lisa Simpson versus Amber Dempsey and others for Little Miss Springfield) parodied the practice by showing some footage of a goat kid drinking bottled milk for the wrong stories, before the end credits.



---> '''Kent Brockman:''' [''serious tone''] And the fluffy kitten played with that ball of string all through the night. [''brightening up''] On a lighter note, a Kwik-E-Mart clerk was brutally murdered last night.
* When the kids at South Park Elementary on ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' create their own school news station, they attempt to attract younger viewers with "Panda Madness Minute." Their rival (non-news) show consists ''entirely'' of cute animals. And it responding by making a new show... consisting entirely of cute animals '''wearing hats!''' In close-up ''with'' a [[FishEyeLens wide-angle lens]].

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---> '''Kent Brockman:''' [''serious tone''] ''(serious tone)'' And the fluffy kitten played with that ball of string all through the night. [''brightening up''] ''(brightening up)'' On a lighter note, a Kwik-E-Mart clerk was brutally murdered last night.
* When On ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', the kids at South Park Elementary on ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' create their own school news station, and one way they attempt to attract court younger viewers with is the "Panda Madness Minute." Their rival (non-news) show consists Minute". Only problem is they're going up against non-news shows which consist ''entirely'' of cute animals. And it responding by making a new show... consisting entirely of cute The moment the protagonist makes inroads, their rivals show animals '''wearing hats!''' In close-up ''with'' a [[FishEyeLens wide-angle lens]].with cute ''hats''.



* Now lost to the annals of broadcasting, the stars and script aligned for one day at MSNBC in 2007. The day featured ongoing commentary about a policy speech by Vice President Dick Cheney. By some miracle, this was always placed in rotation right after a story about Chinese zookeepers using panda-porn to induce mating in their charges. Every hour on the hour another seasoned anchor was reduced to giggle-fits trying to segue from one to the other.
** MSNBC [[http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-february-26-2004/squirrelly-situation have had bad luck in the past with this.]]
*** Since that link no longer works right due to the switch from Jon Stewart to Trevor Noah, the segment (during Stewart's tenure) mentions MSNBC reporting an adorable bit concerning a squirrel....which proceeded with (no good segue whatsoever) breaking news of the Columbine High School shooting! [[http://www.cc.com/video-clips/ggx7it/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-squirrelly-situation Here's the link to the video.]]
* Also on MSNBC, Keith Olbermann used to show these on ''[[Series/CountdownWithKeithOlbermann Countdown]]'' fairly regularly, in about the middle of the show. He called them "sanity breaks".
* We Germans don't mention [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knut_%28polar_bear%29 Knut.]] See also [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flocke Flocke.]] [[BearsAreBadNews Knut ain't cute anymore,]] which probably explains why all the coverage of him has dropped off. Or maybe it's because he died.
* The two Chinese pandas coming to a Belgian zoo and all the news coverage thereof, including a visit by the Chinese president. You'd almost forget it is a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panda_diplomacy diplomatic trick.]]
* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wang_Wang_and_Funi Wang Wang and Funi]] are a couple in a zoo in Australia, that have not successfully mated after even after being together for years. But during the 36 hour mating period each year, newscasters love to report on it because it combines Yet Another Baby Panda with SexSells. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzCrdFqCr6g This newscast]] had a lot of double-entendres both intentional and unintentional with the newscasters losing it, including a totally new definition for "Eats, shoots, and leaves."

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* For whatever reason, Creator/{{MSNBC}} has bad luck with this.
**
Now lost to the annals of broadcasting, the stars and script aligned for one day at MSNBC in 2007. The day featured ongoing commentary about a policy speech by Vice President Dick Cheney. UsefulNotes/DickCheney. By some miracle, this was always placed in rotation right after a story about Chinese zookeepers using panda-porn trying to induce mating in their charges. pandas to get pregnant -- by showing them porn. Every hour hour, on the hour another hour, one seasoned anchor after another was [[{{Corpsing}} reduced to giggle-fits giggle-fits]] trying to segue from one to the other.
** MSNBC [[http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-february-26-2004/squirrelly-situation have had bad luck The network's report on the UsefulNotes/{{Columbine}} school shooting necessitated [[ThisJustIn breaking the news in the past with this.]]
*** Since that link no longer works right due to
middle of the switch from Jon Stewart previous segment]] -- which happened to Trevor Noah, the segment (during Stewart's tenure) mentions MSNBC reporting be an adorable bit concerning a squirrel....which proceeded with (no good squirrel. There was no segue whatsoever) breaking news of that could possibly make that work, but they didn't have one at all. MoodWhiplash never hurt so much. ''Series/TheDailyShow'' describes the Columbine High School shooting! whole thing [[http://www.cc.com/video-clips/ggx7it/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-squirrelly-situation Here's the link to the video.]]
* Also on MSNBC, Keith Olbermann
here]].
** ''Series/CountdownWithKeithOlbermann''
used to show these on ''[[Series/CountdownWithKeithOlbermann Countdown]]'' fairly regularly, regularly in about the middle ''middle'' of the show. He called show, referring to them as "sanity breaks".
breaks".
* We Germans don't mention [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knut_%28polar_bear%29 Knut.]] See also Knut the polar bear]] is the byword for this in Germany. A baby polar bear in the Berlin Zoo, the news ''loved'' to show coverage of him at the end of its broadcasts. Then Knut grew up and got grumpy and lazy; as one German comedian put it (in song), "Knut isn't cute anymore." The German news media learned its lesson. (Well, it flocked to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flocke Flocke.]] [[BearsAreBadNews Knut ain't cute anymore,]] which probably explains why all the coverage of him has dropped off. Or maybe it's because he died.
Flocke]] and ''then'' it learned its lesson.)
* The two Chinese pandas coming to a Belgian zoo and all the news coverage thereof, including a visit by the Chinese president. You'd almost forget it is a [[http://en.government has been accused of engaging in "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panda_diplomacy diplomatic trick.]]
panda diplomacy]]", strategically sharing pandas with zoos and then having high-level government officials visit the place for the local news and look good in the process.
* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wang_Wang_and_Funi Wang Wang and Funi]] are a couple in a zoo in Australia, Australia that have not successfully mated after even after being together for years. But during the 36 hour 36-hour mating period each year, newscasters love to report on it because it combines Yet Another Baby Panda with SexSells. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzCrdFqCr6g This newscast]] had a lot of double-entendres {{Double Entendre}}s both intentional and unintentional with the newscasters losing it, including a totally new definition for "Eats, shoots, and leaves."

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* The FOX News program ''The Five'' usually ends with a segment called "One More Thing". The stories featured during this segment are usually of this type, focusing on news stories that are considered cute or funny. Many of them tend to involve the activities of animals.



* The FOX News program ''The Five'' usually ends with a segment called One More Thing. The stories featured during this segment are usually of this type, focusing on news stories that are considered cute or funny.
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* The FOX News program ''The Five'' usually ends with a segment called One More Thing. The stories featured during this segment are usually of this type, focusing on news stories that are considered cute or funny.
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* ''Film/BigMiracle'' featuring {{Creator/John Krasinski}} and {{Creator/Drew Barrymore}} was based on a true story about whales stuck in ice on the edge of Alaska that was put on the last minute of national news and somehow got to be a huge media circus that eventually involved diplomatic relations between Ronald Reagan and Russia and some say saving a [[CatUpaTree whale up a glacier]] helped Reagan win reelection.

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* ''Film/BigMiracle'' featuring {{Creator/John Krasinski}} and {{Creator/Drew Barrymore}} was based on a true story about whales stuck in ice on the edge of Alaska that was put on the last minute of national news and somehow got to be a huge media circus that eventually involved diplomatic relations between Ronald Reagan and Russia and some say saving a [[CatUpaTree [[CatUpATree whale up a glacier]] helped Reagan win reelection.
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* Stories of this type routinely appear on Drew Curtis' Website/{{Fark}}, usually with a variation on the tagline "[[SarcasmMode Ugly-ass]] baby [[MadLibsCatchPhrase [noun] born in [place]]]." (The more "ugly-ass" the description, the more [[TastesLikeDiabetes pancreas-killingly adorable]] said baby critter will be.)

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* Stories of this type routinely appear on Drew Curtis' Website/{{Fark}}, usually with a variation on the tagline "[[SarcasmMode Ugly-ass]] baby [[MadLibsCatchPhrase [noun] born in [place]]]." (The more "ugly-ass" the description, the more [[TastesLikeDiabetes pancreas-killingly adorable]] adorable said baby critter will be.)
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* Parodied in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwSxQWEVmQg "Wind Girl"]] entry of the 3rd ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}} [[WebAnimation/TouhouM1GrandPrix M-1 Grand Prix]]'', a series of animated FanVid skits where the ''Touhou'' characters participate in a {{Manzai}} tournament.

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* Parodied in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwSxQWEVmQg "Wind Girl"]] entry of the 3rd ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}} ''Franchise/TouhouProject [[WebAnimation/TouhouM1GrandPrix M-1 Grand Prix]]'', a series of animated FanVid skits where the ''Touhou'' characters participate in a {{Manzai}} tournament.
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Contrast IfItBleedsItLeads, which uses a gruesome sensationalized story to grab your attention.

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[[folder:Theatre]]
* ''Theatre/TheGuyWhoDidntLikeMusicals'': Early in the show, Paul listens to the Morning Hatchetfield News' story about Peanuts the pocket squirrel, the rescued squirrel who is outgrowing his owner's pocket and now needs his own little squirrel house. Paul turns the radio off right when the anchors switch to the story about the meteor that landed in Hatchetfield. At the end of the show, Peanuts turns out to be [[spoiler:one of the last remaining survivors of the alien invasion]].

[[/folder]]



* When the kids at South Park Elementary on ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' create their own school news station, they attempt to attract younger viewers with "Panda Madness Minute."
** The (non-news) show they're competing with consists ''entirely'' of cute animals.
*** And it responding by making a new show... consisting entirely of cute animals '''wearing hats!'''
*** In close-up ''with'' a [[FishEyeLens wide-angle lens]].

to:

* When the kids at South Park Elementary on ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' create their own school news station, they attempt to attract younger viewers with "Panda Madness Minute."
** The
" Their rival (non-news) show they're competing with consists ''entirely'' of cute animals.
***
animals. And it responding by making a new show... consisting entirely of cute animals '''wearing hats!'''
***
hats!''' In close-up ''with'' a [[FishEyeLens wide-angle lens]].
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None

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* In ''VideoGame/TheDarksideDetective: A Fumble in the Dark'', the protagonist goes on TV to appeal to the public for information about the mysterious disappearance of his partner. At the end of his appeal, the anchor immediately segues into an item about a squirrel that can do arithmetic.
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* ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'': After Nancy becomes an anchor, she complains about her job revolving around stories about animals. Joseph saying, "But that's the cutest part of the news" doesn't help.
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Part of a NewsBroadcast, usually the last segment, in which lighthearted or heartwarming clips of stories involving footage of [[Literature/HarryPotter waterskiing budgies]], squirrels adopted by mother dogs, [[CatUpATree cats rescued by firemen]], [[InvertedTrope firemen rescued by cats]], or otherwise [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter crowd-pleasing cute 'n' sappy animals]] are shown to boost {{ratings|Stunt}}. In the event of a lack of fuzzy critters, the [[InspirationallyDisadvantaged Special Olympics]] or [[BabiesMakeEverythingBetter large litters of human babies can sometimes fill this role]]. Often (incorrectly) referred to as [[HumanInterestStory "Human Interest" stories]], despite the general lack of anything interesting (or human).

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Part of a NewsBroadcast, usually the last segment, in which lighthearted or heartwarming clips of stories involving footage of [[Literature/HarryPotter waterskiing budgies]], squirrels adopted by mother dogs, [[CatUpATree cats rescued by firemen]], [[InvertedTrope firemen rescued by cats]], or otherwise [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter crowd-pleasing cute 'n' sappy animals]] are shown to boost {{ratings|Stunt}}. In the event of a lack of fuzzy critters, the [[InspirationallyDisadvantaged Special Olympics]] Olympics]], the latest [[InstantWebHit social media sensation]] or [[BabiesMakeEverythingBetter large litters of human babies can sometimes fill this role]]. Often (incorrectly) referred to as [[HumanInterestStory "Human Interest" stories]], despite the general lack of anything interesting (or human).
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* In ''{{Literature/Airframe}}'', a major news network is faced with running a story about some Boy Scout activity when a controversy flares up around a plane accident.

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* In ''{{Literature/Airframe}}'', a major news network is faced with running a story about some Boy Scout activity a disabled Little League team when a controversy flares up around a much-more riveting plane accident. accident. But when the accident turns out to be the result of [[spoiler:pilot error and bad parts]], they are forced to run with the former or else risk legal action, and the producer behind the hoped-for plane story is chewed out so thoroughly by her boss that she leaves the network outright. Ironically, her boss ends up with a humanitarian award in the epilogue.
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Part of a NewsBroadcast, usually the last segment, in which clips of stories involving footage of [[Literature/HarryPotter waterskiing budgies]], squirrels adopted by mother dogs, [[CatUpATree cats rescued by firemen]], [[InvertedTrope firemen rescued by cats]], or otherwise [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter crowd-pleasing cute 'n' sappy animals]] are shown to boost {{ratings|Stunt}}. In the event of a lack of fuzzy critters, the [[InspirationallyDisadvantaged Special Olympics]] or [[BabiesMakeEverythingBetter large litters of human babies can sometimes fill this role]]. Often (incorrectly) referred to as [[HumanInterestStory "Human Interest" stories]], despite the general lack of anything interesting (or human).

to:

Part of a NewsBroadcast, usually the last segment, in which lighthearted or heartwarming clips of stories involving footage of [[Literature/HarryPotter waterskiing budgies]], squirrels adopted by mother dogs, [[CatUpATree cats rescued by firemen]], [[InvertedTrope firemen rescued by cats]], or otherwise [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter crowd-pleasing cute 'n' sappy animals]] are shown to boost {{ratings|Stunt}}. In the event of a lack of fuzzy critters, the [[InspirationallyDisadvantaged Special Olympics]] or [[BabiesMakeEverythingBetter large litters of human babies can sometimes fill this role]]. Often (incorrectly) referred to as [[HumanInterestStory "Human Interest" stories]], despite the general lack of anything interesting (or human).
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In the news business, this segment is called the "kicker." Its sole purpose is [[{{Padding}} time filler]]; it can be run if there's time left for it, or it can be dropped if the newscast is running long. It can cause some pretty rough MoodWhiplash depending on what else was in the show that day (you can immediately go from a horrific car accident that left 3 people dead to a cute story of a puppy with a bad leg getting a custom scooter to walk around in).

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In the news business, this segment is called the "kicker." "kicker". Its sole purpose is [[{{Padding}} time filler]]; it can be run if there's time left for it, or it can be dropped if the newscast is running long. It can cause some pretty rough MoodWhiplash depending on what else was in the show that day (you can immediately go from a horrific car accident that left 3 people dead to a cute story of a puppy with a bad leg getting a custom scooter to walk around in).



In Britain known as an "And finally", after the catchphrase of Creator/TrevorMcDonald. An older in-house name for the practice named the newsroom comedy series ''Series/DropTheDeadDonkey''. ITV News At Ten went through a long period of ending on a cliffhanger story about a Spanish village ritual, where a live donkey was fated to be dropped from a very high church tower. The feelgood factor was engendered by the Spanish animal welfare people stepping in on behalf of the donkey, following sustained international condemnation.

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In Britain Britain, the practice is known as an "And finally", after the catchphrase of Creator/TrevorMcDonald. An older in-house name for the practice named the newsroom comedy series ''Series/DropTheDeadDonkey''. ITV News At Ten went through a long period of ending on a cliffhanger story about a Spanish village ritual, where a live donkey was fated to be dropped from a very high church tower. The feelgood factor was engendered by the Spanish animal welfare people stepping in on behalf of the donkey, following sustained international condemnation.

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