During his routine Tuesday night regarding the new USA Today redesign — in which he tweaked the paper’s new “blue ball” logos — comedian Stephen Colbert pointed out that the only things that might fit into those logos are circular objects.
Colbert closed by saying:
If SpongeBob SquarePants ever chokes on a Dorito at the Pentagon, you won’t read about it in the USA Today.
Naturally, the folks at USA Today couldn’t let that one go unanswered. Therefore, at the top of today’s Life section:
For the record, that’s 1) a somewhat rounded-off SpongeBob. 2) Eating a Dorito. 3) On one of those little plastic things you put into the center of a 45-rpm record to play it on a record player the Pentagon.
So, um, good job, USA Today. I think.
The paper even added a little portrait of Colbert, just to show off.
Find a small gallery of USA Today‘s response to Colbert here.
For the record, today’s logo art was a mixed bag. The ball logo on the front of the golf special section was rather a obvious choice.
The logo afront today’s regular sports section was downright baffling. All I can think of is this might be a wry comment on some of the reaction to the logos.
Today’s Money front logo was a coffee mug stain.
I think that’s what that is. Is it possible I was wrong and the folks at USA Today have indeed run out of ideas?
And today’s 1A ball logo contained a map of Afghanistan.
Memo to USA Today: OK, I hereby let you off of your promise to turn these into “infographics.” Just go ahead and use them as decorative icons. Because this didn’t work as well as the icons you’ve been running.
I really don’t want to do another detailed critique of USA Today today. So let me close with three quick remarks…
1) Nice job with the two large charts inside today’s News section.
2) I adore the way the designer played the art on this page at the back of the golf special section.
In particular, note the circular runaround the designer used to the left of the club head. Just perfect.
And 3) The paper still has major problems with typography. Like, for example, this quote box in today’s sports section.
At first glance, allthatmaterialappearstoruntogetherinonelongword.
I continue to be amazed: a) That these things don’t appear to be getting fixed quickly, and b) How stuff like this made it out of the prototyping phase in the first place.
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UPDATE – 4 p.m.
From page 11C today:
Sigh…
Thanks to my old pal Rich Rassmann for the tip.
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Today’s front page is from the Newseum. Of course.
Previous coverage of the USA Today redesign, here in the blog…
- Sept. 6: USA Today reportedly to launch a redesign next week
- Sept. 13: Is this USA Today’s new logo?
- Sept. 13: A closer look at the hints we’ve seen of the new USA Today redesign
- Sept. 14: My epic search for a new-and-improved USA Today
- Sept. 17: A (somewhat belated) in-depth look at the new USA Today
- Sept. 17: My thoughts about Monday’s edition of USA Today
- Sept. 19: Stephen Colbert‘s take on the USA Today redesign
- Sept. 19: A critique of Day Four of the new redesign
