Aaah, the Weekly World News. Back during its heyday in the 1980s and 1990s, the cheap-looking, black and white tabloid was always the best part of waiting in the checkout line at the grocery store. Founded in 1979 by the same publisher as The National Enquirer, in order to keep using the old black and white press they didn’t want to throw away after they upgraded to color, the WWN soon evolved into a ridiculous parody of a newspaper, albeit one written as though all the stories were completely true. The paper introduced the iconic Bat Boy character to the world, and often printed stories about Elvis and Bigfoot sightings, aliens endorsing various presidential candidates, and Biblical Armageddon scenarios. Though the print publication was discontinued in 2007, the WWN lives on in digital form, and a quick peruse of its website produces such deliciously outlandish headlines as NY TIMES REPORTER EATEN ALIVE BY 80-FT. DINOSAUR; AIRLINES TO OFFER OUTDOOR SEATING; and EASTER BUNNY UNION CANCELS EASTER DELIVERIES. Join Tom and Jenny on a weird and wonderful journey into the history of the beloved tabloid and a discussion of some of the funniest and craziest headlines and stories therein.

Audio version:

Video version:

Please support us on Patreon! Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Also check out Jenny’s horror channel, The Scare Salon, and her true crime channel, Crime Immemorial.

Please try out TubeBuddy!

And check out our cool merch at our Zazzle store, and some board and card games designed by Jenny at Giallo Games!

Visit Jenny’s Amazon author page! And check out our awesome cookbook!

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS! The show is made possible by: Allison, Amanda, Amanda O., Amy H., Anthony, Antonio, Arezo, Arif, Ashley, Austin, Ben, BlackMarigold, Blake, Brad, Brandon, Brian, Bunjip, Bunny, Cady, Cami, Chris, Christopher, Ciarra, Cody, Corinthian, creepy crepes, D. Newton, Dae, Damian, Dan, Darkskull, Darren, David P., Dean, Denise, Dermot, Dominic, Duncan, Dwayne, Ed, Elizabeth, Elliot, Eric, Erin, Esther, Fade, Feeky, Gareth, Ginger, Gramthars Hammer, Greg, Gwen, Gwendoline, Hanna, Hayden, Heather, HoboNasty, Holly, Hugo, Iain, Ilse, Ima Shrew, Jaime, Jake A., Jake S., James, James H., Jamin, Jana & Scott, Janet, Jason, Jason W., Jeanette, Jen, Jessica, Jesus, Joanie, Jocifer, Joe, John H., John M., Jon R., Jonathan, Jonathan H., Joseph, Juliana, Justin, Justyn, Karin, Kat, Katrina, Keith, Ken, Kieron, Knothead Studios, Kool Kitty, Lana, Lars, Leander, Liam, Lindsey, Logan, Lonna, Lynx_13, Macy, Marcus, Mark, Mary Ellen, Master of Dungeons, Matt, Matthew, Maximillian, Melanie, Melissa, Melissa G., Michael, Miguel, Mike, Mother of Beasts, Natalia, Nathalie, Nicodemus, Nilay, Noah, Oddcatt, Oli, out_running_erins, Paul, Rebecca, Rebecca L., Rebecca M., Richard J., Richard & Sheena, Rik, Rob, Robina, Ryan, Samantha, Sandra, Saul, Scarlett, Scott, Sean, seven lines, Shae-Nicole, Sheena, Sophie, Stephanie, Stop Prop, Sydney, Tabitha, Tammie, Tara, Terrie, TheMysteryGamer, Thomas, Thomm, Tiffany, Timothy, Tina, Travon, Trevor, Trey, Tyran, Valtrina, Veronica, Via, Victor, Victoria, Victoria E., Virginia, Weaponsandstuff93, Will S., and Xánada.

Channel art and audio & video editing by Jenny Ashford. Music & sound effects courtesy of freesound.org users jamespotterboy, corsica-s, enjoypa, capturedlv, luffy, kiddpark, and justkiddink. Video clips courtesy of Videezy & Videvo.