June 13, 2007

Cahn's Revenge

And here you didn't think there'd be a story this year involving the undergarments of a Philly local news personality that would top the the Alycia Lane incident...

I told you yesterday about the recent scandal involving Danny Ozark, a local comic and frequent guest on the Kidd Chris Show, who found himself last week at the home of local news reporter Lu Ann Cahn, after he was invited by a female acquaintance who was house-sitting for Cahn. While there Ozark, an admitted crossdressing and kinky-sex enthusiast, rifled through Cahn's underwear drawer, and later joked about it on the air with Kidd Chris.

Well, Cahn has obtained her revenge, using all the resources available to her as a TV reporter in the task. She got back at her underwear assailant by producing a segment for the news broadcast in which she herself "broke" into Ozark's apartment -by convincing the comic's elderly father to let her in- and filmed his bedroom, which is covered with empty soda cans and dust. Pretty embarrassing, especially since Ozark is 40 years old, still lives at home, and his room looks like that of a typical 15-year-old.

Cahn's segment is a journalistic failure for several reasons. One, she's made herself part of the story. Two, she got the story by tricking what looks to be a 70-year-old man. And three, she leaves out the story's two most interesting angles: That Ozark borrowed his name from the ex-Phillies manager (where's the comment from his namesake?), and Ozark's, uh, rather unconventional sexual tastes. (Where's the comment from his dad?) She doesn't even bother to riff through Ozark's underwear drawer- which itself is likely to contain even girlier stuff than Cahn's does. And finally, the news segment gave this embarrassing-to-Cahn story about five times the exposure it would have had otherwise.

Here's the piece itself; here's another with Cahn talking about it. Looks to me like a botched attempt at one of those hyper-condescending local news segments, like the old Arnold Diaz "Shame on You!" segments on WCBS in New York.

Posted by Stephen Silver at June 13, 2007 04:49 PM
Comments

Just reading your blog.

Don't be so hard on Danny (aka Pete). Sure he's a little unstrung, but his heart is as soft as an overripe melon. Plus, he's been instrumental in creating an underground comedy scene in Philly.

Yeah, you can go to the mainstream clubs, and do--you will have a great time and laugh alot. But if you want a walk on the wild side, Danny has created venues where rappers, suburban housewives, and social outcasts can all come together and be served drinks by transvestites.

The first time I met danny I had just walked into Doc Watson's. I was feeling shy because I didn't know anyone and Danny came running up to me and said: "Hey! Wanna watch me pee?"

Who could ask for a warmer welcome??

Posted by: Rose Wilde at June 14, 2007 09:29 AM
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