Joel McHale, E! Sued By Dwarf Couple

COLLINGSWOOD, N.J. -- A dwarf couple from southern New Jersey has filed a defamation lawsuit against a cable television channel that used a doctored photo of the pair to spoof reality television shows.

Cara and Gibson Reynolds say the sketch – which aired in 2009 on E! Entertainment Channel's "Talk Soup" – caused them much emotional distress. The Collingswood couple – who are achondroplastic dwarfs – seek more than $50,000 in compensatory and punitive damages in the suit filed in Philadelphia Common Pleas court.

The show used a photo of the couple holding hands on their front porch. It was taken by a photographer for The Associated Press for a 2006 story on couples who have genetic conditions and are trying to conceive.

In the sketch, the show superimposed tattooed babies in pageant sashes and lingerie supermodels on the photo to illustrate a fake reality show it called "Fertile Little Tattooed Pageant Parents Who Enjoy Baking."

Besides the cable channel, the suit also names Comcast – which owns E! – and "Talk Soup" host Joel McHale.

Telephone messages left Wednesday for Comcast, the Reynolds and their lawyer were not immediately returned.

Comments

[Max Shaw]

01:42 PM on 04/01/2011

I remember that sketch. T'was hilarious!

In The Soup's defense...there are an overabundance of baked goods-based and short-people-oriented shows on the ol' tube these days..If they spiced it up a bit they might be somewhat bearable.

[Equinator]

01:22 PM on 04/01/2011

Is that called a short suit?

[weaselbasher]

11:20 AM on 04/01/2011

I hate when that happens...

[sigh-ence]

09:47 AM on 04/01/2011

I just love the picture of Joel they have here. Says it all...

[Sandworm Wrangler]

05:38 AM on 04/01/2011

Don't networks like E! Entertainment get model releases? Where were their lawyers? Just settling for for the sum of $50K would be a bargain for E! It would let them off easy.

Derogatory humor about other peoples' looks, ethnicity or disabilities, is dehumanizing. They're called Little People, not , dwarfs, gnomes, Lilliputians, midgets, pygmies or shrimps. You've got to have some sympathy for Reynolds in this case.

[Catherine Girod]

11:48 AM on 04/01/2011

they have a genetic mutation called achondroplastic dwarfism, not achondroplastic little-people-ism.

[Sandworm Wrangler]

12:31 PM on 04/01/2011

Step right up folks, and take a look at the mutants we have for your perusal!

[catgirl666]

03:57 AM on 04/01/2011

No punch line needed here.

[Greg Vegeta Narten]

02:04 AM on 04/01/2011

It's THE SOUP, NOT 'TALK SOUP'

[Independent Follower]

12:45 PM on 04/01/2011

Yeah, no kidding. Let's try for at least a little accuracy in your news stories. Check your facts. Greg Kinnear is offended.

[Max Shaw]

01:40 PM on 04/01/2011

I know it hasnt been Talk Soup since the days of John Henson and Aisha Tyler...

[DMSmith]

01:25 AM on 04/01/2011

That's so predictable. What WERE these folks thinking? Of COURSE they are being sued.
I'm surprised it's for such a small amount!!
They should settle. FAST!

[Demarcus Jackson]

11:23 PM on 03/31/2011

I love Joel and I love Talk Soup! I'm on his side for sure.

[tttony]

08:49 PM on 03/31/2011

I read the headline and I can't read the story. I got all I'll ever need from the story in those 5 sweet words.

[onionboy]

07:28 PM on 03/31/2011

OK. I giggled when I read "punitive" damages.

[Max Pringle]

04:14 PM on 03/31/2011

It appears the couple are also short on humor. Pun intended.

[Terri Lorz]

03:37 PM on 03/31/2011

That was pretty insensitive. Terri Jo Lorz

[marlyt51]

03:30 PM on 03/31/2011

Short people got no reason
Short people got no reason
Short people got no reason
To live

They got little hands
Little eyes
They walk around
Tellin' great big lies
They got little noses
And tiny little teeth
They wear platform shoes
On their nasty little feet

Well, I don't want no short people
Don't want no short people
Don't want no short people
`Round here

Short people are just the same
As you and I
(A fool such as I)
All men are brothers
Until the day they die
(It's a wonderful world)

Short people got nobody
Short people got nobody
Short people got nobody
To love

They got little baby legs
That stand so low
You got to pick em up
Just to say hello
They got little cars
That go beep, beep, beep
They got little voices
Goin' peep, peep, peep
They got grubby little fingers
And dirty little minds
They're gonna get you every time
Well, I don't want no short people
Don't want no short people
Don't want no short people
'Round here

[indred]

03:57 PM on 04/01/2011

That's okay, I don't think short people would want be "'Round" the ghetto anyway.

[marlyt51]

03:29 PM on 03/31/2011

"Short people got no reason to live"!!!!!!