Rock Bottom

Rock Bottom is a tabloid news show produced in Springfield. Godfrey Jones is the host.

Description
Typical for tabloid TV shows, Rock Bottom spins its stories for maximum shock value. Whether the stories present the truth is generally deemed irrelevant by the show's producers. However, the show has a history of being caught out and thus forced to air retractions.

History
Homer was accused of sexually harassing babysitter Ashley Grant by grabbing her buttocks, when in reality he was only grabbing a Gummi Venus de Milo that had gotten stuck to the back of her pants. When a protestors' shantytown and a media circus formed at the Simpson house, Godfrey Jones called Homer and offered him a chance to explain his side of the story. In spite of the show's sensationalistic bent, Homer readily accepted the offer due to the show's having previously aired a story about Sasquatch which he considered to be "fair and even-handed".

Jones interviewed Homer, but the interview was heavily and blatantly edited to make Homer look like more of a pervert and to convey the impression that Homer physically attacked Jones. The show aired Homer's story under the title "Babysitter and the Beast", and Homer was utterly shocked and devastated by the show's portrayal of him. Reaction in the community was swift: People were more convinced than ever of Homer's guilt and the media circus intensified.

Homer was exonerated (and Rock Bottom was caught out), however, when Groundskeeper Willie came forward with a video he had made that clearly showed Homer grabbing the Gummi Venus rather than Ashley's behind. After this evidence surfaced, the show was forced to run a long list of corrections, including a retraction of its accusations against Homer.

Other stories
Other stories aired by Rock Bottom include the following:
 * A report on Sasquatch (which Homer considered to be "fair and even-handed").
 * A "sex farm" where the farmer initially claims to be only growing sorghum, but is quickly and easily manipulated into revealing that the hookers are "round back".
 * A "foreigner" (Groundskeeper Willie) who takes voyeuristic and perverted videos of unsuspecting people (aired under the title "Rowdy Roddy Peeper"). Rock Bottom aired the story immediately after withdrawing its claim that Homer had sexually harassed Ashley. This story met with Homer's enthusiastic approval, ironically as Willie's habit of videoing people had played a key role in proving Homer's innocence.

Behind the Laughter
Rock Bottom is an obvious parody of tabloid TV shows such as ' and '.