Networks Fight Over Hiccups

February 23, 2007

So there’s this teenage girl in Florida. Her name is Jennifer Mee. And she’s had the hiccups for four weeks. Nobody knows why, she’s had a battery of tests, including CT Scans, blood tests, MRI’s, and doctors still haven’t any idea what’s going on. Which has happened before – there are stories of people who go YEARS with the hiccups. (Sorry Jennifer…)

The part that really interests us though is the amazing amount of time, energy, and money that’s been spent trying to get the rights to cover the story in the national media. “The “Today” show is reported to have moved Jennifer and her family from their hotel room before her interview, in order to stop the phone calls and notes slipped under the door from “Good Morning America” asking for the story.

A reported 57 calls were made to the family home before her “Today Show” interview, as Jennifer marveled at how expensive things are in New York City. (NBC is reported to have paid a few choice tabs, including paying for things like cigarettes, and laundry…).

As for her decision to stick with “The Today Show?” Jennifer’s mother told Florida's St. Petersburg Times. "I felt it wasn't right to ditch the `Today' show."