That time unexpected 'visitors' crashed a live TV weather forecast
The weather pattern Jennifer McDermed was forecasting was rather tranquil, but what happened in the middle of her broadcast was anything but -- and she handled it perfectly in stride.
By
Adriana Navarro, AccuWeather staff writer
FOX 9 Meteorologist Jennifer McDermed delivering a forecast just before a major graphics glitch occurred. (Twitter/FOX9)
Comic book superheroes may wish they could do what FOX 9 Meteorologist Jennifer McDermed did while delivering her forecast one spring evening.
McDermed, who forecasts the weather for the Twin Cities in Minnesota, was on the air delivering a forecast for what was a rather tranquil weather pattern on May 11, 2021, when the graphics -- and McDermed -- began to glitch, creating a train of multiple duplicate images of herself as she moved across the screen.
The unexpected trail of "visitors" in the weather forecast led to much amusement for McDermed, who was taken by surprise, and her off-screen colleagues.
"Oooh, that's funky!" McDermed said when she caught on that something wasn't right. Waving her arms and stepping off screen, the train of larger and larger duplicates followed her every move, but each had its own delayed response.
"Do you want one Jennifer, or two Jennifers, or three...?" McDermed asked, laughing.
"Can you lead that train off the screen?" FOX 9 anchor Randy Meier asked jokingly at one point.
McDermed obliged, leading her duplicates across the screen just before the graphics came back online.
GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
"I have no idea what that was, but that was brilliant," McDermed said through her laughter. Reining in her composure, she continued delivering her forecast, albeit with a laugh or two left.
AccuWeather Executive Director of Content Operations David Taynor explained that the kind of glitch that is seen on the screen is actually pretty common in the TV business.
"When a broadcaster stands in front of a green screen, we use technology to remove the green and put something else in its place," Taynor said. "Normally, that would be the weather graphics."
Taynor theorized that in this case the image of the broadcaster was placed over her graphic behind her, causing a feedback loop.
"Basically, you are seeing her ... over her... over her to infinity. And since it keeps layering in, you build in a little delay, so that's why there were so many of her."
The multiple McDermeds caught traction over social media and even caught the attention of Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon and Star Trek actor George Takei.
McDermed herself even had some fun with it over social media, tagging Marvel Entertainment in a tweet asking, "Does this count as a super power?"
Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts™ are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Report a Typo
News / Weather News
That time unexpected 'visitors' crashed a live TV weather forecast
The weather pattern Jennifer McDermed was forecasting was rather tranquil, but what happened in the middle of her broadcast was anything but -- and she handled it perfectly in stride.
By Adriana Navarro, AccuWeather staff writer
FOX 9 Meteorologist Jennifer McDermed delivering a forecast just before a major graphics glitch occurred. (Twitter/FOX9)
Comic book superheroes may wish they could do what FOX 9 Meteorologist Jennifer McDermed did while delivering her forecast one spring evening.
McDermed, who forecasts the weather for the Twin Cities in Minnesota, was on the air delivering a forecast for what was a rather tranquil weather pattern on May 11, 2021, when the graphics -- and McDermed -- began to glitch, creating a train of multiple duplicate images of herself as she moved across the screen.
The unexpected trail of "visitors" in the weather forecast led to much amusement for McDermed, who was taken by surprise, and her off-screen colleagues.
"Oooh, that's funky!" McDermed said when she caught on that something wasn't right. Waving her arms and stepping off screen, the train of larger and larger duplicates followed her every move, but each had its own delayed response.
"Do you want one Jennifer, or two Jennifers, or three...?" McDermed asked, laughing.
"Can you lead that train off the screen?" FOX 9 anchor Randy Meier asked jokingly at one point.
McDermed obliged, leading her duplicates across the screen just before the graphics came back online.
GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts™ with Premium+
"I have no idea what that was, but that was brilliant," McDermed said through her laughter. Reining in her composure, she continued delivering her forecast, albeit with a laugh or two left.
AccuWeather Executive Director of Content Operations David Taynor explained that the kind of glitch that is seen on the screen is actually pretty common in the TV business.
"When a broadcaster stands in front of a green screen, we use technology to remove the green and put something else in its place," Taynor said. "Normally, that would be the weather graphics."
Taynor theorized that in this case the image of the broadcaster was placed over her graphic behind her, causing a feedback loop.
"Basically, you are seeing her ... over her... over her to infinity. And since it keeps layering in, you build in a little delay, so that's why there were so many of her."
The multiple McDermeds caught traction over social media and even caught the attention of Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon and Star Trek actor George Takei.
McDermed herself even had some fun with it over social media, tagging Marvel Entertainment in a tweet asking, "Does this count as a super power?"
More to see:
Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts™ are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Report a Typo