Like many of you, we reveled in the history we witnessed last night. It was something we never thought we’d see in our lifetimes; something that a few years ago seemed not only impossible, but also laughable. And yet there it was, spread out across our television screens in living color. This was not only a great moment to be American, but also a citizen of the world. Yes, that’s right…
CNN turned their correspondents into holograms. Can we just say: bananas? Also: are you kidding?
Shortly after 7 p.m., Wolf Blitzer went live to CNN reporter Jessica Yellin from Grant Park in Chicago to check in with her about the mood of the crowd. But this wasn’t just an ordinary satellite hook-up. There, on set, was a life-sized hologram of Ms. Yellin in all its flickering glory. As one of our friends so accurately put it via text message: "Star Wars shit on CNN right now".
This wasn’t a one shot deal however. Later in the evening Anderson Cooper referenced another science-fiction franchise, actually saying with a straight face: "We’re joined now, via hologram, by will.i.am, who is live in Grant Park. Let’s see if we can beam him in now."
OK, Anderson! Sounds good! But we have to ask: how did this happen? Have we been sleeping on this technological breakthrough or was CNN sitting on holographic reporters for the last few months, excitedly waiting to spring it on an unsuspecting nation during Election Day? Forget about the October Surprise, CNN’s holograms were the November Jaw Dropper; the election cycle version of the Keyser Soze reveal in The Usual Suspects. Everything we have known about television and technology needs to be rethought immediately. The possibilities are endless… how long before our televisions are replaced by hologram projectors? Will our favorite television stars be walking around our living rooms every night? We sure hope so! And as President-Elect Obama has said, "In the unlikely story that is America; there has never been anything false about hope." Or, apparently, holograms.
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