*Folks tuning into “NBC Nightly News” on Wednesday saw anchor Lester Holt flying above Amtrak’s derailed train wreckage in a helicopter – which prompted an explosion of comments on Twitter.
Holt was forced to belt out the news inside of a loud and cramped Bell 206 chopper – a.k.a. “Skyforce 10” – operated by NBC-owned WCAU in Philadelphia – while a fleet of reporters (Tom Costello, Peter Alexander, Stephanie Gosk, and Rehema Ellis) reported live on the ground.
A reviewer for TV Newser called it a “stunt” and “uncomfortable to watch, especially since he was throwing to reporters who were comfortably standing on the ground below him – or, in the case of NBC’s Katy Tur, doing a story in Nepal that had nothing whatsoever to do with the Amtrak derailment or the skies over Philadelphia.”
ABC’s David Muir and CBS’ Scott Pelley also anchored from Philly, but on the ground.
Watch the newscast below:
Needless to say, Twitter had a field day with this. Some referred to Holt as a “boss”…
Lester Holt anchoring live from a helicopter like a m*%#!%%#ing boss — Mike Szlamowicz (@mszlamo) May 13, 2015
Others questioned NBC’s decision to put him in a chopper, since regular anchor Brian Williams is off the air right now because of his own helicopter drama.
Lester Holt, anchoring NBC Nightly News from a helicopter tonight, which Brian Williams was fired for lying about. #meta
— Will Riemer (@wriemer) May 13, 2015
Lester Holt doing @NBCNightlyNews from a helicopter over Philly. This is the ultimate irony for BriWi… Right?
— Cory True (@corytrue) May 13, 2015
I bet Lester Holt won’t lie if something happens in that helicopter he’s in right now #NBCNightlyNews — joe (@joekloss) May 13, 2015
The irony of Lester Holt broadcasting the news from a helicopter #nbcnews
— Wade O’Neil (@wadeO0) May 13, 2015
Lester Holt reporting from a helicopter tonight, 3 years from now he’ll claim they were shot at over Philadelphia #NBCNightlyNews — Derek Bredeson (@derekbredeson) May 13, 2015
@michaelgraham I don’t see a problem. It’s not like Lester Holt’s predecessor has a shaky history with stories about helicopters…
— Jesse Gavin (@JesseGavin1) May 13, 2015
Meanwhile, other’s just found Holt’s chopper game absurd and/or pointless.
Why is Lester holt doing the news from a helicopter? — Kevin Humphrey (@TheKevo23) May 13, 2015
What a bizarre choice to have Lester Holt anchoring from a chopper. Put the reporter up there. #NBCNightlyNews
— Damon Young (@thumbsupphotog) May 13, 2015
What could possibly be the news value of Lester Holt anchoring @NBCNightlyNews from a helicopter? So embarrassing — John Goodman (@JohnLGoodman) May 13, 2015
Does Lester Holt have a chopper prompter?
— Scott Isaacs (@ScottIsaacs) May 13, 2015
Lester Holt is broadcasting live from a fucking helicopter. Are you kidding me? Why do you need to do that? Why, just, why… #NBCNightlyNews — TL (@Tilacore) May 13, 2015
Lester Holt is definitely winning in the news wars..
— Jay Gatsby (@LastHeartthrob) May 13, 2015
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