Jerks Playing Interference On Live Shots

(From The New York Daily News -- By Richard Huff)

There's a saying in TV circles that the camera is a $50,000 idiot magnet.

Viewers got to see just what an idiot draw a TV camera is a couple of times this week when sycophants of radio jocks OPIE AND ANTHONY turned up in the background of live news shots.

The incidents, part of a disruption campaign launched by the XM RADIO hosts, has forced local news producers to end live shots early, and take other precautions to keep the knuckleheads off the air.

For example, Tuesday at noon, WABC's MARCUS SOLIS was ambushed while reporting on the rape of a woman in Hunters Point, Queens.

As Solis delivered his live introduction, a man and woman ran behind him carrying an O&A sign while shouting their names. But rather than deal with the jerks, WABC never went back to Solis after his report.

"When will this distracting campaign stop?" asked a reader CHARLES JAMES. "A rape scene -- an active crime scene -- Solis was doing his best to inform viewers of the heinous crime that took place. How insensitive and inconsiderate of the OPIE AND ANTHONY camp."

And WNBC's PAT BATTLE also had an O&A disciple descend on her live report on a shark attack from the Jersey shore.

"We prepare our staffers, our journalists to handle these types of situations professionally," said a WNBC spokeswoman.

"We have procedures in place to protect the integrity of our broadcasts," a WCBS spokeswoman said. "Our news department is comprised of veteran reporters who should know how to handle these situations."

Considering the Web site activity and planning of such stunts -- there are online instructions on how to pull off the prank -- we're far from the end.

No wonder. They're hard to stop, especially on a public street, and a similar stunt, of course, got reporter ARTHUR CHI'EN so fired up he dropped an F-bomb on-air and was immediately canned by WCBS/Ch. 2.

And, yes, I realize just writing about them will empower more of the weasels to hit the street.

Trouble is, it's a campaign with no other purpose than to boost the visibility of OPIE AND ANTHONY, who were fired by WNEW-FM after encouraging a couple to have sex in ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL. It's not a creative prank, it's annoying.

At least when HOWARD STERN's fans call TV shows during breaking news, they're supposedly proving that some of the media don't check references before putting sources on the air. OPIE AND ANTHONY's fan stunt isn't that smart.