Last week, KUSA-TV anchor Kyle Clark pleaded with viewers to stop sending in pictures of snow-covered patio furniture. Since it aired Nov. 21, his rant been called epic. It’s also pretty funny, which is probably why it’s gone viral.
Taking such pictures is easy, Clark says, and that’s precisely the problem. “Are we really a state that takes the easy way out? We blasted a road through the Rockies. We put a cliff inside a Mexican restaurant. Our welcome sign is a demon horse with crazy laser eyes. We don’t do easy around here.”
Reached by email, Clark says his executive producer, Linda Kotsaftis, suggested he write the essay, and he “never expected it to get much traction.”
I just thought it we’d share a quick laugh with our viewers. Now, it’s all over the place. I can see how people who don’t live in Colorado and haven’t heard us joke around about it on-air must think I came uncorked randomly.
I do a few essays a year, never before in the style of a “rant.” I’ll likely continue to do sporadic essays but I try not to have any two look or feel alike.The piece has prompted a wave of beautiful and creative winter photos, but I do expect a retaliatory deluge of patio snow photos the next time it snows. It’s only fair. In fact, it’ll be kind of funny.
Clark set the scene for what he guessed would be his first and last editorial on Twitter November 20.
Remember, when it snows in the AM, take a picture of your patio furniture & send it to #9NEWS. I bet no one’s ever done that before. #cowx
— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) November 21, 2013
Then, he properly prepared.
Need to go get some sleep so I can properly overreact to tomorrow's snow on TV. #9NEWS #cowx
— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) November 21, 2013
He offered followers a few tips before his piece aired.
The disgruntled dog makes this allowable –> RT @okmaher: Lawn furniture covered in snow for @Kyleclark yw pic.twitter.com/i18vuwrk30
— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) November 21, 2013
He predicted what would probably happen next.
Walking into the studio for the first (and last) on-air editorial for #9NEWS. It's time someone took a stand against patio snow pics. #cowx
— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) November 21, 2013
And then, reactions.
@KyleClark Drop The Lavalier Mic! #unprecedented
— N/A (@r0ckstardaddy) November 21, 2013
@KyleClark your editorial was great! My only question is what did you have to drink to get yourself so worked up?
— Emily Ballinger (@emballinger) November 21, 2013
Thank you for your thoughtful take on our story. RT @AdamObendorf: Try hiring a photographer, asshole.
— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) November 22, 2013
And some were quite angry.
The emails from the people seriously offended by the snow photo editorial are the absolute best.
— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) November 22, 2013
From the Inbox: A viewer is baffled I am still employed: http://t.co/wL0kdEjYqM #9NEWS
— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) November 22, 2013
And a prediction of things to come.
For sure. A ton of them RT @runthetrailsCO: Hilarious @KyleClark @9NEWS tho I think you should expect even more patio pics from here on out
— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) November 22, 2013
After this piece was published, the Weather Channel made a play for Clark’s viewers:
https://twitter.com/pattycox/status/405405226946949120
