TeleWORDS

'Truthiness' and 'Wikiality' named Top Television Buzzwords of 2006 Followed by 'Katrina’, ‘Katie,' and ‘Dr. McDreamy’

The Annual Survey by the Global Language Monitor

Released in Conjunction With the Prime Time Emmy Awards

San Diego, Calif. August 27, 2006. ‘Truthiness' from the multi-Emmy nominated 'Colbert Report' was named the Top TeleWORD of the year in The Global Language Monitor's (HTTP://www.LanguageMonitor.com) annual survey of words from television that profoundly influenced the English Language. In an unprecedented move, 'Wikiality,' also from the Colbert Report was named No. 2. Closely following were ‘Katrina’ referring to the on-going stories about the hurricane's devestating destruction, ‘Katie' in regard to Katie Couric's move into the top seat at CBS News, and 'Dr. McDreamy' from the break-out drama, 'Grey's Anatomy'.

Rounding out the Top Ten were ‘Bush's War,' heard often on the News, 'Man of the Hours,' citing '24's' Keifer Sutherland, 'Tourette's,' from 'I have Tourette's but Tourette's doesn't have me,' 'Dysfunctional' from 'The Office,' and 'Falling Starr,' referring to the 'View's' embattled Starr Jones.

This year's Bonus Phrase is 'You're going to Hollywood!' from Simon Cowell's wunderkind 'American Idol'.

"Television, once again, has helped to define our culture and its impact upon spoken English is profound,“ said Paul JJ Payack, President of the Global Language Monitor. "Some of these buzzwords will quickly pass, while others will be embedded in the language for years to come." "Though 'truthiness' in some form has existed in the language for centuries, it could not have been revived in more relevant times than the early 21st century; while 'wikiality' can be observed even today, where Pluto has been voted out of the Solar System by a convention of Astronomers," Payack concluded.

The San Diego-based media metrics and analysis company, The Global Language Monitor analyzes and catalogues the latest trends in word usage and word choices, and their impact on the various aspects of culture, with a particular emphasis upon Global English.

The Top TeleWORDS are released in conjunction with the 58th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony, to be broadcast from Los Angeles on Sunday, August 28th, at 8:00 pm Eastern on the NBC Television Network.

The Top TeleWORDS for the 2005 - 2006 Television season with commentary, follow:

1. Truthiness -- (Colbert Report) Truth unemcumbered by the facts.

2. Wikiality -- (Colbert Report) Reality as determined by majority vote. See Pluto, the former planet. First time ever with two words from the same show.

3. Katrina -- (The News) First hit of the 2005-'06 season; unfortunately a direct hit on New Orleans.

4. Katie -- (CBS Evening News) Did we ever refer to Walter Crondkite as Wally or Dan Rather as Dannie? Will Katie help us redefine the term, gravitas?

5. Dr. McDreamy -- (Grey's Anatomy) Patrick Dempsey follows in a long line of television 'dream-boat' physicians dating back to 'Dr. Kildare'.

6. Bush's War -- (Heard often on the News) Echoing the label bestowed upon Mr. Lincoln (Mr. Lincoln's War) two centuries past. After his assassination and the end of what we now know as the Civil War, Lincoln rose steadily in stature.

7. Man of the hours -- (24) Keifer Sutherland finally gets the nod.

8. Tourette's -- (I have Tourette's but Tourette's doesn't have me) Replaces Tony Sholub's OCD as the lesser known disease going mainstream this season.

9. Dysfunctional -- (The Office) The office as family, dysfunctional family that is.

10. Falling Starr -- (The View) Starr Jones that is, in her battle with BaBa Walters.

Bonus Phrase: 'You're going to Hollywood!' -- (American Idol) Simon Cowell's wunderkind might actually win an Emmy this time around.

Last year: 'Refugee' from the on-going coverage of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina topped 'Desperation' from Desperate Housewives and 'Camp Cupcake' from the on-going Martha Stewart follies.

The previous year "You're Fired!" edged "Mess O' Potamia" followed by "Girlie Men," "God," and "Wardrobe Malfunction".