I kind of feel like it added validity to the blurred lines of whether it was real or not. Because those calls are so authentic, because they are, like they're real. And so everything else in the show is fake. I think it also acted as kind of like the defining marker for those who are in the club and those who aren't.
One of the episodes in my False Alarm! Series from 2018 imagined a future where Elon Musk stepped up to help with the News. That Algorithmic Oligarchic joke is no longer funny. On 4.20.2023 Elon Musk followed through on his threat and brought Twitter to heel.
From 2018: A handful of tech barons now own the news but only one can rule the fake news. A chat with the comedy team behind the CBC’sThis is That satirical news show turns into breaking news about Elon Musk.