Theonion Com Wiki A Comprehensive Guide

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The Onion Com Wiki is a treasure trove of satirical news and information.

The wiki is a vast collection of articles, with over 1,000 entries spanning a wide range of topics, from politics and entertainment to science and technology.

Each article is meticulously crafted to be as believable as possible, often incorporating real-world events and figures to add to the illusion.

The wiki's content is regularly updated to reflect current events and trends, keeping it fresh and relevant to readers.

History and Development

The Onion News Network was launched in April 2007 with a daily web video broadcast, reporting a huge hit with over a million downloads a week.

The publication initially invested $1 million in the production and hired 15 new staffers to make it happen.

The Onion News Network won a Peabody Award in April 2009 for providing "ersatz news that has a worrisome ring of truth."

The show's success led to the launch of a spin-off, the Onion Sports Network, on February 3, 2009.

In January 2011, The Onion launched two TV shows on cable networks: Onion SportsDome on Comedy Central and the Onion News Network on Independent Film Channel (IFC).

History

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The Onion News Network was launched in April 2007 as a daily web video broadcast.

The initial production cost was reportedly $1 million, and 15 new staffers were hired to work on the project.

The Onion News Network was a huge hit, with over a million downloads per week in 2007, making it one of the most successful produced-for-the-Internet videos.

The network expanded to cable TV in January 2011, with two shows premiering on Comedy Central and IFC.

Onion SportsDome was cancelled by Comedy Central in June 2011, but the Onion News Network was renewed for a second season by IFC in March 2011.

In August 2011, the Writers Guild of America, East, unionized the Onion News Network writing staff, a move that averted a potential strike.

The Onion News Network was the only scripted, live-action program that had employed non-union writers before unionization.

The show was cancelled by IFC in March 2012.

The Onion relaunched the Onion News Network on its YouTube page in September 2024, starring former MSNBC host Joshua Johnson as ONN anchor Dwight Richmond.

History and Development

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The Onion has a long history of pushing the boundaries of satire and comedy. The publication was launched in 1988, but it wasn't until the 2000s that it began to gain widespread recognition.

In 2007, The Onion launched the Onion News Network, a daily web video broadcast that was initially invested with $1 million and hired 15 new staffers. This move marked a significant shift in The Onion's approach to comedy and satire.

The Onion News Network was a huge hit, with over a million downloads a week, making it one of the most successful produced-for-the-Internet videos. This success led to the launch of two TV shows on cable networks, Onion SportsDome and the Onion News Network.

However, not all of The Onion's ventures were successful. In 2011, Comedy Central officially announced the cancellation of Onion SportsDome, while IFC renewed the Onion News Network for a second season. The show's cancellation was a significant blow to The Onion's TV ambitions.

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The Onion News Network was also notable for being the only scripted, live-action program that employed non-union writers. However, in 2011, the Writers Guild of America, East, AFL–CIO, announced the unionization of the Onion News Network writing staff, averting a potential strike.

Here are some key dates in The Onion's history and development:

The Onion's commitment to innovation and satire has led to its success and recognition as a leading source of comedy and news.

Content and Features

The Onion's content is a masterclass in satire and parody. Regular features include "Statshot", an illustrated statistical snapshot that pokes fun at USA Today's Snapshots.

The publication's "Infographics" section features bulleted lists of jokes on a theme, providing a humorous take on current events. Opinion columns, including mock editorials and point-counterpoints, offer a satirical spin on serious topics.

One of The Onion's most popular features is the "Person of the Year" award, which has honored notable figures like Malala Yousafzai and John Cena.

Regular Features

Sliced Onion on a Plate
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The Onion has a treasure trove of regular features that make it a must-read for anyone looking for humor and satire. One of the most popular features is the "Statshot", an illustrated statistical snapshot that parodies "USA Today Snapshots".

You can expect to find a variety of different types of content, including opinion columns, mock editorials, and pieces from regular columnists. These columns offer a unique perspective on current events and are often humorous and thought-provoking.

The Onion also features bizarre horoscopes that are sure to make you laugh. Whether you're a believer in astrology or not, these horoscopes are a fun and entertaining read.

If you're looking for a quick and easy way to get your daily dose of The Onion, be sure to check out their slideshows. These slideshows parody content aggregation sites like Huffington Post and Buzzfeed, and are often accompanied by a "click-bait"-style headline that's sure to grab your attention.

Consider reading: Re Engine Wiki

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Here are some of the regular features you can expect to find in The Onion:

  • "Statshot", an illustrated statistical snapshot
  • Opinion columns, including mock editorials and pieces from regular columnists
  • Bizarre horoscopes
  • Slideshows that parody content aggregation sites
  • "News in Photos" that feature a photograph and caption with no accompanying story
  • "American Voices", a mock vox populi survey on a topical current event
  • An editorial cartoon drawn by "Kelly" (actually the work of artist Ward Sutton)
  • "'No Way to Prevent This', Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens", a story republished after major mass shootings

Video

The Onion's video content is a treasure trove of satire and parody. They've produced a wide range of series, including a parody of a morning talk show called Today Now!.

One of the most impressive aspects of The Onion's video content is its variety. They've tackled everything from movie criticism to social media parodies. For example, Onion Social is a parody of Facebook, while In the Know with Clifford Banes is a parody news talk show.

The Onion's video series often focus on current events and popular culture. America's Best, for instance, is an American Idol parody. They've also created a parody of The Dr. Oz Show called Dr. Good.

The Onion's video content is not just limited to scripted series. They've also created educational videos like Onion Explains, which provides brief explanations of various topics.

Impact and Controversies

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The Onion's satire has been taken seriously by many, often with humorous consequences. In 1998, Fred Phelps posted a fake Onion article on his website as "proof" that gay people were recruiting others.

This phenomenon has continued over the years, with various news outlets and websites mistakenly citing or repackaging Onion articles as real news. For example, in 2009, two Bangladeshi newspapers published stories claiming Neil Armstrong had held a news conference claiming the moon landing was a hoax.

In 2010, the online newspaper Il Corriere della Sera repackaged a clip from The Onion's video piece as legitimate news, and the soccer website Sofoot.com mistook an Onion article about a soccer fan as real news.

Influence and Controversies

The Onion's influence is undeniable, but it's also led to some controversy. The site's satirical content has been taken seriously by some, resulting in embarrassment and apologies.

In 1998, Fred Phelps posted a fake Onion article on his website as "proof" that gay people were trying to "recruit" others. This highlights the potential harm of misinformation.

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The Onion's content has been repackaged as legitimate news by various outlets, including TV 2 in 2006, and two Bangladeshi newspapers in 2009. They didn't realize The Onion wasn't a genuine news site.

The site's video content has also been misinterpreted, with Russia.ru repackaging clips from "New Anti-Smoking Ad Warns Teens 'It's Gay to Smoke'" as legitimate news in 2009. This shows the importance of verifying sources.

In 2010, the online newspapers Il Corriere della Sera and Adresseavisen repackaged clips from "Denmark Introduces Harrowing New Tourism Ads Directed By Lars Von Trier" as legitimate news. This highlights the need for critical thinking.

The Onion's influence extends to social media, with the blog Literally Unbelievable showcasing posts from Facebook users who take various Onion articles seriously. This demonstrates the site's reach and impact.

Here are some notable examples of The Onion's influence and controversies:

  • 1998: Fred Phelps posts a fake Onion article on his website.
  • 2006: TV 2 posts a story on the gossip section of its website taking seriously The Onion article titled "Sean Penn Demands To Know What Asshole Took [email protected]".
  • 2009: Two Bangladeshi newspapers, The Daily Manab Zamin and The New Nation, publish stories translated from The Onion claiming Neil Armstrong had held a news conference claiming the moon landing was an elaborate hoax.
  • 2009: Russia.ru repackages clips from The Onion video piece "New Anti-Smoking Ad Warns Teens 'It's Gay to Smoke'" as legitimate news.
  • 2010: Il Corriere della Sera and Adresseavisen repackaged clips from The Onion video piece "Denmark Introduces Harrowing New Tourism Ads Directed By Lars Von Trier" as legitimate news.
  • 2010: The Fox Nation website mistakes The Onion's article about President Barack Obama writing a 75,000 word e-mail complaining about America as a genuine report.
  • 2011: The New York Times takes an article that was several years old seriously, talking about President Obama on the cover of the magazine Tiger Beat with an image of the magazine inside.

Political Actor

The Onion is often seen as a political actor, with some commentators labeling it as overtly political. Noreen Malone, editor of the New York Times Sunday Business section, characterized the publication as producing biting, leftist op-ed pieces through its presentation of satire news.

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The publication's tone has been described as "faster, bigger, more strident, and, to me, a little inconsistent" by Farhad Manjoo of Slate, due to the exigencies of the Internet. This tone is also attributed to the need to work from "obvious, intuitive truth—the kind necessary for any kind of broadly appealing humor" by Emmett Rensin.

The Onion's political leanings have been criticized by some, with David Weigel accusing the outlet of advocating for US intervention in the Syrian civil war and same-sex marriage in the United States. However, this criticism is not universally shared, with some seeing the publication as a voice for progressive values.

The publication's early writers came from The Daily Cardinal, the left-leaning student newspaper of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, according to Christine Wenc's book Funny Because It's True. This background has contributed to the publication's perceived leftist slant.

The Onion's caricature of Joe Biden as a blue-collar "creepy but harmless uncle" character is believed to have benefited the real Joe Biden's public image.

Contributors and Staff

Guest Service Staff in front of a Hotel Room
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The Onion's wiki has a fascinating section on contributors and staff. Jim Anchower is a contributor who writes about his daily struggles with his Ford Festiva and finding a place to live.

He's not alone, though - Jean Teasdale also contributes to the wiki. She's a married woman with a childless life, and her column is all about her love of kitschy collectibles and sentimental movies.

If you're a fan of romance, you might enjoy Smoove B's columns, which are filled with cheesy come-on lines and over-the-top descriptions of dates. But be warned: his columns can get a little too explicit for some readers.

On the other hand, Roger Dudek's column "Write On The Funny!" is all about terrible puns and similes. It's a bit of a trainwreck, but in a weird way, it's kind of entertaining.

If you're looking for some celebrity gossip, Jackie Harvey's columns might be up your alley. Just don't expect her to spell the celebrities' names correctly!

Close Up Shot of a Sliced Onion
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Amber Richardson is another contributor who writes about her life as a single mother. Her columns are written in African-American Vernacular English and are full of humor and heart.

If you're a fan of comic books or sci-fi, you might enjoy Larry Groznic's columns, which are all about his love of obscure nerd trivia. Just don't expect him to be very friendly about it!

And finally, there's Gorzo the Mighty, the Emperor of the Universe, who writes about his villainous exploits. It's a bit of a departure from the usual humor column, but it's definitely interesting.

Here's a list of some of the notable contributors and staff:

  • Jim Anchower: writes about his daily struggles
  • Jean Teasdale: writes about her love of kitschy collectibles and sentimental movies
  • Smoove B: writes about romance and dates
  • Roger Dudek: writes terrible puns and similes
  • Jackie Harvey: writes about celebrity gossip
  • Amber Richardson: writes about her life as a single mother
  • Larry Groznic: writes about comic book and sci-fi trivia
  • Gorzo the Mighty: writes about his villainous exploits

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of website is The Onion?

The Onion is a satirical digital media company that publishes humorous articles on current events. It offers a unique blend of news and comedy.

Who owns The Onion news?

The Onion is owned by Global Tetrahedron, a Chicago-based firm acquired from G/O Media in 2023. Global Tetrahedron is a private company led by four digital media veterans with a passion for comedy-based content.

Walter Brekke

Lead Writer

Walter Brekke is a seasoned writer with a passion for creating informative and engaging content. With a strong background in technology, Walter has established himself as a go-to expert in the field of cloud storage and collaboration. His articles have been widely read and respected, providing valuable insights and solutions to readers.

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