Network News Bloopers and Outtakes - Early Eighties/Late Seventies

While digitizing a batch of local news 3/4" video tapes I came across a tape of network bloopers and outtakes. In the days before KZbin these tapes circulated between news departments all over the country, copied and re-copied.
This recording has both on-air gaffes and mistakes that never made it to air, along with some prima donna TV personalities throwing tantrums.
Included on this tape are:
Jessica Savitch
Carole Simpson
Sander Vanocur
Bill Plante
Sam Donaldson
Mike Wallace
James Baker
George Bush
Ronald Reagan
Roy Neal
Ike Pappas
Irving R. Levine
Bettina Gregory
and many more

[@EricaTheDerp]

I chuckle every time Sam Donaldson says, "I haven't written the close yet, mother!"

[@EricaTheDerp]

Also, Sander Vanocur looks like Jonathan Winters lol

[@smackdowner]

You know it's old when it says brought to you by beer lol

[@Linzo24]

Remember when Sports Illustrated had ADs for beer and cigarettes?

[@shawndamccormick278]

@@Linzo24 damn skippy

[@fjhgh100]

Sam hasn’t written the close yet mothers!

[@Ilostmyfob]

...mothers...

[@kamuelalee]

Classic...take that mothers!

[@lizzieborden9458]

Donaldson was such a smug little prick. He made a career out of antagonizing Reagan.

[@Brooklyn_Powers]

Lizzie Borden He is a little brusque...

[@jasonmichael3676]

Donaldson is an arrogant prick.

[@1982Breezy]

It doesn’t matter how many times I see that clip..I always lmao at “MOTHERS”

[@schallrd1]

"If I dont do this I will be out with you guys in the park". LMAO

[@kamuelalee]

Classic

[@TheArtOfDean]

Who was the reporter?

[@i.m.7710]

@@TheArtOfDean some bum.

[@tkara1980]

Ike Pappas of CBS NEWS.

[@user-sp3me1ug3y]

"I talk to long...let me make it short" Haa HEEE

[@NB-ky5ol]

I didn’t know Sam Donaldson was such a gangsta. “Mothers” 😂

[@brucemcgee2281]

I worked in TV in the 1970's and 80's. It happened more than this! We had such fun!!

[@jeremiahhester6408]

Dang how old are you now?

[@Zzzk23]

That sounds so fun! Any stories you want to share?

[@clancykobane9102]

The lady with the airbag, one of the best on air reporters ever

[@JohnSmith-op1tc]

Carole Simpson, who did the weekend version of ABC Evening News for more than a decade. Well assessed, a very solid anchor.

[@Frisenette]

Oprah Winfrey jam. Or rather the reverse.

[@dc9345]

Airbag lady

[@itz_kale7791]

" I haven't written the close yet Mothers !" That's the best.

[@goforit7595]

7:07 The finger flip on air was just priceless!!

[@anguitenens]

HA!!!! That other lady was so disappointed in Mara. ;)

[@goforit7595]

@bruce t Haha, yeah the male anchors were cracking up after he said that

[@5implesimon]

there is a train comin

[@CuriousGoodsJessica]

At about 3:30 the guy in the background flattening himself again the wall is beyond funny, as that guy complains about the catering service 🤣

[@Dreamskater100]

That was good!

[@VarnaVix]

"There's a train coming... there is a train coming... THERE IS A TRAIN COMING!"

[@QueenStylin]

I like the fact he was so casual about it and the camera man didn't bother to turn around despite horn blaring.

[@dougehlen8854]

Years later ..... the train is still coming

[@not-so-smartaleck8987]

[splat]

[@onefatstratcat]

..and then the train stopped

[@GoatzombieBubba]

t-bowing

[@stevenmandl4920]

gee,with sam donalson you could watch the news an star trek at the same time

[@Taymanator0051]

Lol, two for one special?

[@WendyLeonardTheWriter]

Still have my VHS tape of this! It was called, "The Tapes of Wrath", back when I was at ABC News.

[@jesus-christ-saves-ephesia1349]

How old where you then ?

[@Dreamskater100]

@Steven Jackson Either that or she has aged well or used an old photo.

[@akeminakajima449]

You worked for Zionist disinfo agents

[@nallj.j.3480]

Liar!!

[@carinhall4508]

@@akeminakajima449 ,oy vey! Shut it down!

[@BHAKTIBROPHY]

"What number are we on now?1,450... ok, go." 🤦‍♀️

[@SJM6791]

Sam Donaldson seemed like he’d be a real pleasure to work with.

[@CameraBryan]

I've known a few people who've had that pleasure. The video seems to be an accurate representation.

[@notsure9137]

Yeah, I didn't realize he was such a douche.

[@k.j.g.9601]

Hahahahaha. That was the first thing I thought of while watching this, what a dick! Looking back I thought that was just part of his “hard hitting reporting” turns out it’s just him

[@WootTootZoot]

I don't know about working with him, but I met him several times in the 1980's and thought he was easy to talk to and very approachable.

[@Wa3ypx]

you say that tongue in cheek of course!

[@hewiy33]

HEY KIDS! This is about the best image quality television had to offer back in the 80's we were happy if the image was this good.

[@tectonicD]

richard beaver it blows my mind that we used to watch that horrible of a picture. I was born in 72.

[@robertthompson9643]

And in color too!!!! With stereophonic sound!!!!!

[@robertthompson9643]

@rj zander if you were lucky enough to have cable...in the early 80s we still had a rooftop antenna

[@robertthompson9643]

Like if you had to put foil on your antenna in the early 80s to get a good picture 🙄🙄🙄🙄🐰🐰🐰🐰📺📺📺📺

[@robertthompson9643]

Not only that, when we finally got cable in 83 we went from 3 channels to 22!!!

[@SacredFire777]

7:27 "That's a lot of horse there" 🤭. I can't believe they showed that on TV.

[@hotdogflavouredmilkshake]

Lmaooo that was hilarious 😂😂🤣

[@BattleBound]

Seeing Sam Donaldson mad is kind of a trip. I used to see him all the time on tv as a kid when my grandparents watched whatever news shows.

[@CameraBryan]

I knew someone who worked at Andrews back then. Donaldson's horrible behavior on and around Air Force One was legendary.

[@jamesstevens5643]

Nostalgia for a time when network broadcast news still had a shred of integrity.

[@crimsonchrome3012]

but just a microscopic shred

[@crimsonchrome3012]

now none

[@LinkRocks]

Did you miss the woman flipping the bird?

[@thesilentdiva]

Many of these bloopers are delivered more seriously than the news is now

[@marksolarz3756]

That kid playing around was hilarious! Nice video!

[@ianmangham4570]

Aliens

[@jamesr1703]

Oh my gosh, Reagan always could add humor to awkward situations.

[@hotdogflavouredmilkshake]

That's why to me he was one of the greatest presidents we had back then. Other than John F. Kennedy

[@bunnybismuth]

@@hotdogflavouredmilkshake He was a traitor and an altheimer's patient being puppeteered by his "advisors". He should have been executed alongside all other Republicans.

[@jjsmallbridge]

The Tapes Of Wrath. Created for the Radio and Television Correspondents Association's annual gala in 1983. Produced by Sharon Young and Carole Simpson, ABC News. Edited by Charlie Wilson, CBS News. Directed by Tony Verdi, NBC News.

[@themoviedealers]

I've seen one other year of this, but this one was way funnier and quotable. Not sure how many years they did this for...

[@timothyruch747]

Everybody loves fresh vegetables and buttermilk biscuits LMFAO

[@christschool]

Back then, if you had satellite service, you could see all of the feeds truly live, including what the news anchors were doing during the commercials.

[@Milkman4279]

Yeah, we watched a few Superbowls like that, Bob Costas was hilarious.

[@jcraigshelton]

Yes you could. Saw Tom Brokaw eating a sandwich once between commercials.

[@themoviedealers]

"Now everyone loves fresh vegetables, and buttermilk biscuits."

[@bigbaba1111]

Back than people watched the news to be informed. Now they watch their watch their favourite news network to get their political biases confirmed.

[@williebiggins1645]

This goes for both parties. We're all calling each other brainwashed. Lol

[@shoopdj]

Back before there was any alternative media. The MSM ruled. Not anymore thank goodness.

[@sinisa5567]

@@williebiggins1645 Problem is one side is much closer to the truth and still is around 50/50 split.

[@shoopdj]

@jaseyray93

[@sinisa5567]

Of that 50/50 split why did you conclude i was on that side :-) ?

[@MrHerberttarlek]

The stoners walking into the camera shot....awesome

[@hotdogflavouredmilkshake]

Lmao the guy on the right kinda looks like Willie Nelson's son Lukas 😂😂🤣 you mean the one where the reporter said "if I don't finish this I'll be with you in the park? Lol

[@ruth80809]

I was already laughing so hard watching this, but reducing the playback speed AND listening to Sam Donaldson is incredibly funny.

[@pauliewalnuts7088]

Mothers lmfao

[@jsunit5354]

Thank you for posting this! I had a copy that was put together for the Radio & Television News Director Association (RTNDA) about '81-'82. Over the years, my copy was lost, probably during a move. That version had great music and graphics added, really fun stuff! Some of the lyrics . ."bubble headed bleach-blond" . ."news at five". . .that was good stuff! Thanks again!

[@RussEnrique]

Sander Vanocur seems super ready when you look at the him before he cracked his voice at 00:08

[@jcampton1]

Now from Washington, Here's Sander Vanocur. *Good Eveeeeening*

[@billcook9313]

That was awesome. Those people are so straight edged you never think they have a sense of humor or make mistakes

[@cabbagefart7432]

You'd think they are totally useless if not outright lying their heads off, like now.

[@geo_ashburn]

For some reason, I always thought Irving R. Levine would be fun at a party in a witty, dry sense of humor kind of way with a lot of stories.

[@regould221]

This was taken out of the "Tapes of Wrath" video which was created for the 1983 Radio and Television Correspondents' Association dinner.

[@canuck_gamer3359]

The blonde haired guy trying to figure out what take he's on is like me trying to count up golf strokes on a bad hole, except I get irritated way before 19 lol.

[@Tiberius291]

5:47 RIP Cokie Roberts.

[@bluefyreawolf]

Meany!😠

[@bluefyreawolf]

Why screw them all? They have been known to do the reporting for many years, and yet you bash them like their nothing! Well next time, do something nice for a change.

[@bluefyreawolf]

Libtard mind? No, I don't know that new word, and my mind is rather clean, thank ya very much.

[@bluefyreawolf]

What is this "My Little Pony" you're referring to, and i don't play with toys. I am an adult doing adult things, like painting a house, washing laundry, etc. So back to making weird words, and study them.

[@jon420]

@Chris Bly yeah! We can't have people reporting the news. Media Bad

[@dominicalphamale6293]

4:38 Captain Jack Sparrow

[@Zickcermacity]

2:32 - Gassy horses! lmao!

[@allensagalla1579]

Ah, the good old groovy 70's & electrifying 80's; nice compilation. Thanks for uploading :-)

[@georgecherucheril9947]

Ike Pappas handled the situation with grace. I am impressed!

[@faeriebility]

8:05 I know I'm talking too *long.* I'll make it *short*

[@toben42]

Seemed more professional back then.

[@choc113]

Back in those dim and distant days people actually watched the news to find things out. Now anyone under 70 uses a phone or tablet to stay informed and TV news is basically an irrelevance.

[@Dreamskater100]

Definitely.

[@Jalide]

Standards were higher.

[@TheFreshSpam]

All of you with your rose tinted glasses.

[@besteverepicmillennial5927]

It was, the so called "journalists" these days, oh geez. They all start every story with how everybody is a legend or iconic, hahahahahaha

[@MrBudcole]

Reagan's ad-libbing was priceless: "I'm going too long... I'll make it shorter". Hilarious!

[@bigverybadtom]

Well, he succeeded!

[@anguitenens]

'Are you communist???' LMAO!!!

[@crypastesomemore8348]

anguitenens4003 no, but leftist psychopath Bernie Sanders is, all while living in extravagant properties paid for by a capitalist system

[@user-gw1qj6yc9d]

@@crypastesomemore8348 calm down boy

[@WombatLoveAffair]

We are supposed to think that people who go to college are smart yet look how many go to college only to be a brainwashed communist.

[@scottdinges7970]

*Abraham Simpson " my son is not a communist! He might be a pig, an idiot, a communist, but he is not a pornstar!!"*

[@jonathanmitchell9886]

"Who wants more, uh, pizz-AY-uhz in the standup? Is that what the orders are here?"

[@Markus_Andrew]

8:11 "I'll make it short". And that massive horse dong indeed got shorter. Ronnie kept his word!

[@deeptime5]

This video deserves more than 12000 views !

[@filthyanimal874]

indywaves606 “STOP THE HAMMERING”!!!! 🔨🔨🔨🔨🔨🔨🔨🔨🔨

[@dropndeuces82]

It's got 350k so wish granted

[@nedwart]

7:20 absolutely legendary line from Roger Grimsby

[@TrophiesNclips]

That was wild lol

[@2up3rm4n1]

3:27 I remember this one, mainly for the dude in the back slapping the wall. It's something when your own little antics outdo what should have been the frustrating situation.

[@jordanweller7485]

The most honest news reporting I have seen in years!

[@indridcold8433]

That is a pretty clear picture for over the air 1980s.

[@indridcold8433]

@wmfivethree That was, indeed, the best analogue television ever made and the sound was not bad for an entertainment center television. The picture had the best colour, best contrast, best flat display. The wooden floor models still had the best sound but for the entertainment center televisions, the Trinitron was really good for not having the wooden cabinet.

[@ryanfriedman4329]

0:10 I know Sander Vanocur is still alive, but that voice crack moment was still funny, hopefully he can look back at it without holding any grudges.

[@wilnerolivier7971]

He's no longer alive!!

[@darrendavis4731]

A glimpse at the real personalities.

[@ianmangham4570]

Twats the lot

[@ngobleus]

"Which network catering service is that?" Lol when they cut back to the anchor you can see the newsroom people laughing about it.

[@carolynhamilton3316]

The sister tormenting her brother!! News caster flipping off someone. Love love these.

[@MadMatt-bs3xv]

Sam Donaldson had the best eyebrows in broadcast history. His barber must've charged him double to trim those bad boys

[@the_gilded_age_phoenix8717]

He was the Leonid Brezhnev of US network news.

[@Westsoid2009]

The guy at 3:40, legend has it, is still doing takes to this day.

[@jamesharrington4752]

he has more freckles than i have ever seen

[@JohnSmith-op1tc]

It was a wonderful parade of economy cars from the period behind him, though I liked that piecework Nova that appeared in the middle of his series.

[@befdoglover1]

I always loved the Hanukkah blooper with not only the boy making faces, but when the anchors finished the clip, they just fell apart laughing at it! 😂

[@CameraBryan]

There's another one that consultants used to show a lot with a live shot involving bikers who had a dispute with another gang. The reporter kept trying to stir things up with the person he was interviewing. Eventually the biker looses it and starts quoting from the seven words you can't see on television.

[@befdoglover1]

@@CameraBryan If you have a link to it, would you post it, please?

[@jacobjames8782]

"I can assure you I won't be watching daytime television. Bill Plante, CBS News, the White House. THATS IT! NO MORE!!!"

[@briancooper2112]

Ahh the 80's.

[@Dawnseeker2000]

A lot of those were quite good.

[@spinapex2469]

Lol ... I'll be out here with you guys in the park.

[@jtudor4524]

1:02 Bill Plante was a tremendous reporter. He reported from Vietnam for CBS 1964-1975 while working four tours. He was there for reporting the fall of Saigon. He was present for the civil rights march Bloody Sunday in Selma, Al.

[@marcantallita]

Brought to you by OCP and your favorite family game board Nukem. 🤩 I'd buy that for a dollar!

[@Dreamskater100]

Don't be mislead people- or kids as a comment says below. The quality was fine back then, ok not HD par se. This is clearly a a transfer or dated VHS, worn out a little. This is archive handling. It's great someone has uploaded it and preserved it here for all to see. Just clarifying!

[@taurnguard]

Is it my imagination or does the little boy at 6:30 look like Damien from The Omen?

[@MMAfighter38113]

taurnguard sam Donaldson reminds me of the priest from the original ‘The Omen’ who keeps trying to warn Gregory Peck’s character.

[@MMAfighter38113]

beachie670 that’s him

[@MMAfighter38113]

beachie670 I haven’t seen the original in so long, I would’nt have known it unless someone told me. I’ve never even seen the remake.

[@MMAfighter38113]

beachie670 I believe AMC showed the ‘Omen’ movies this Halloween. The first three are very good. I always thought part II was as good as the original. I’ve never seen ‘Omen IV’ & don’t plan to. I always look forward to AMC’s fear fest every October.

[@not-so-smartaleck8987]

It was the older brother who was possessed, LOL

[@hoichoitv6182]

*Legend Says That The Reporter Is Still Taking Takes*

[@temperhollow7716]

"I' haven't written the close yet!" he hisses.

[@foxxyloxx]

Right when you think the two junkies in the park take the cake, the Charlie Manson-looking guy around 5:01 rambling about vegetables and buttermilk biscuits, talking about the "local scooter-pooters" takes the prize. Chanukah kid made me bust a gut! Dad's keeping his composure and acting like nothing's happening, meanwhile, Mom's trying to keep a straight face. Awesome. I feel like that kid (now adult) needs a Web Redemption

[@CameraBryan]

I first saw that kid on a consultant tape showing how live shots could go wrong. There was another one on that tape, which I haven't seen in a very long time, with a live shot talking to someone from a bike gang about a fight with another gang. The reporter keeps prodding the biker, who is playing nice, until he loses his temper and starts a profanity-laced threat against the other gang.

[@JUSTTRANSCEND]

I think there is a train comin. A train comin.

[@mccarthyken]

some of the best bloopers you'll ever see and they were all completely ad-libbed. Let's see today's pundits try to pull that off

[@nighthawkviper6791]

5:13 He's like oh shit don't look it in the eyes, it won't see me

[@the_gilded_age_phoenix8717]

Never would have thought Sam had an inner Bill O'Reilly.

[@jasonpalacios2705]

But Bill O'Reilly was more comical to his nasty attitude.

[@not-so-smartaleck8987]

3:30 The guy's reaction in the background, LOL

[@brandonlongbottom5747]

LOL the kid messing with his siblings hat

[@darinb7966]

If you are 80 you may remember these.

[@kleigh6784]

I miss the good old days!!! 🤣

[@danielrobinson9270]

I love the anchor at 7:15. Hilarious! She gave the middle finger with the f***! you face.

[@dr.mimibee2895]

I miss Amanda Davis. Rest in Peace ✝️

[@MyPicturesRestoredBedford]

Hilarious, thx for posting 😂😂😂

[@anguitenens]

2:33 - DAMN!!! That horse was gassier than poopi goldberg!!!

[@lyleswann6296]

*Goldturd

[@anguitenens]

@@lyleswann6296 Yep, that's a more accurate word. 😁

[@henryc1000]

2:38 I thought this was Chevy Chase for a second 🤣🤣

[@basimpsn]

Isn't that Chris Wallace from Fox News?

[@rocknroller77]

Every video Channel yes

[@billsteinly8105]

And you're not.

[@anguitenens]

@@basimpsn Yes, unfortunately. 🙄

[@thomassibalski958]

We have been watching or not watching the bloopers for the past three years and its no longer news its tabloid tv or let's make it up as we go along.

[@Kawsaki]

I miss classic news... Even when they were pissed off they somehow could... Stay Classy

[@scillavanilla5356]

Omfg their voices are so 80s

[@cwlj200309]

The guy in the background at 3:30 made my day 😂

[@ronmyers2317]

What was he doing?

[@gulgul2006]

0:04 omg that music!!!!! wow did that just bring me back to childhood.

[@hotdogflavouredmilkshake]

There's a train coming there's a train coming there is a train coming 😂😂🤣 the guy just slowly walks outta the way lol

[@Raughwe]

As Mara Wolynski would say, you're number one!!!

[@jamesroyal1739]

You can tell by looking at Sam's eyes ,that he would be a real joy to work with , he got his training from Barbra Walter's, the camera men got her good one time,look at how close there eyes are set to each other ,another species I think ,

[@fgt2078]

Take me back to the 80’s pretty please 🙏🏼

[@Mom_Non]

1:10 🤣 My Dad had a comb over, the problem was real.

[@YawehthedragondogofEL]

Crazy homeless people should get their own show.

[@bernlin2000]

They do: it's called "Springer" 🤣

[@not-so-smartaleck8987]

Probably will be the next stupid reality show.

[@Dreamskater100]

@@not-so-smartaleck8987 Exactly.

[@toughtittypdiddy4634]

They did. It was called “crackheads gone wild”

[@publicstaticvoid3224]

The hippies were the best!

[@ApartmentKing66]

Hippies? Looked like drunken bums to me.

[@1974wythe]

@@ApartmentKing66 bahahahaha, yep

[@M1DL1F3GAM3R]

dont they'll be back 2020-.. since Marijuana is legal now ROFL \m/

[@not-so-smartaleck8987]

Trying to explain to those guys that you're trying to get some work done (the reporting from the scene) was a lost cause. When's the last time any of them had jobs?

[@MrMaddox57]

Alexus Stukov that is ALEXEI Stukov, Starcraft

[@peterglen8396]

Legend has it that he is over 9000 takes...

[@wrkhrse]

@ 7:52 “...It is particularly fitting” The best description and alternative statement to “being hung like a horse.”

[@DarkEagle-vx9hd]

Yeah, that horse made me feel inadequate in the bedroom... lol

[@anguitenens]

HA!!! Yeah, and Reagan says 'I think I'm talking too long...I'll make it short' right when the horse's pecker starts drawing back up. 🤣

[@TonyMontana-qv8cx]

Reagan was so great! God I miss him! Worked on his 1980 campaign.

[@bradwatson2850]

Dude wasn't all to eager when that train was coming. looked like he had been there before lmao

[@dc9345]

2:13 airbag deployment i love that was in 1977.