The Early Show on CBS and NBC's Today show on Friday both gave attention to Lake Superior State University's "list of words [1]that should be banned in 2011 because of overuse or general uselessness," and both shows mentioned one or two words made famous by Sarah Palin as each show listed four or five out of the 14 words tallied. Both CBS's Betty Nguyen and NBC's Thomas Roberts noted the inclusion of "refudiate" on the list, but CBS also mentioned that the term "mama grizzlies" made the cut.
Two years ago, the Today show also noted the inclusion of the term "first dude" - made famouse by Palin during the 2008 presidential election - on the 2009 edition [2]of the list. On the January 5, 2009, Today show, co-host Meredith Vieira labeled the term as "a little goofy." Notably, co-host Matt Lauer fretted about the inclusion of the word "green," as in "going green," on the 2009 list as he asserted, "I don't think that should be banished. I mean, we should talk more about that one."
Below are transcripts of relevant portions of CBS's The Early Show and NBC's Today show from Friday, December 31, 2010, followed by the January 5, 2009, Today show:
#From the December 31, 2010, The Early Show on CBS:
BETTY NGUYEN: And the list of words that should be banned in 2011 because of overuse or general uselessness is out this morning. The number one word on the annual list compiled by Lake Superior State University is "viral," linked to online videos. Number two is "epic," as a substitute for the word "awesome." And Sarah Palin was honored with two on the list - "refudiate" and "mama grizzlies."
#From the December 31, 2010, Today show on NBC:
THOMAS ROBERTS: All right, so a Michigan school is out with the annual list of worst phrases that should be banished in the new year 2011. Among the 14 chosen, "viral," "epic," "bff" - or "best friends forever" - "I'm just sayin'," and the word made popular by Sarah Palin, "refudiate."
#From the January 5, 2009, Today show:
ANN CURRY: We got "green" or "going green" is also another one.
MATT LAUER: See, I don't think that should be banished.
AL ROKER: No.
LAUER: I mean, we should talk more about that one.
MEREDITH VIEIRA: "First dude." "First dude" is a little goofy.
CURRY: Yeah.
-Brad Wilmouth is a news analyst from the Media Research Center