Maybe chalk this one up to much ado about nothing? Viewers were apparently up in arms when the PBS a Capitol 4th special featured a combo of firework footage from previous years. The weather in Washington DC Monday night was misty and rainy, so it was all the more apparent that something was off when some shots featured a clear night sky from the US Capitol west lawn, and others were rainy. Plus, there were shots of the Capitol building sans scaffolding. The structure has been under construction for months.
As twitter chatter became louder and louder, the official Capitol 4th account tweeted:
We showed a combination of the best fireworks from this year and previous years. It was the patriotic thing to do. #July4thPBS
— A Capitol Fourth (@July4thPBS) July 5, 2016
Followed by responses akin to this:
It was a fraudulent thing to do.@July4thPBS @nbcwashington
— Ben Anderson (@AndStrats) July 5, 2016
Some viewers felt the producers should have at least labeled the old footage with a disclaimer.
@July4thPBS should have at least let viewers know "some portions pre-recorded"
— Melissa Jensen (@jensenmama) July 5, 2016
Eventually PBS tweeted an apology.
— A Capitol Fourth (@July4thPBS) July 5, 2016
Eh. Another day. Another outrage! In the meantime, TWO The Voice winners performed on the special, and we have the video right here. Check out current champ Alisan Porter singing The National Anthem and America the Beautiful HERE and season 3 winner Cassadee Pope performing her uplifting single, “Invincible” with members of the US Olympic Team HERE.
