Hard Copy was a tabloid show that aired footage and news about celebrities and everyday people.

In 1992, Elton John threatened to take Hard Copy to court, alleging a reporter tried to blackmail him into giving an interview by falsely claiming he had HIV/AIDS and had moved to Atlanta to be near an AIDS treatment center.

[3] The day after the lawsuit was filed, the show ran a segment about John but, rather than accuse him of having HIV, praised him for the work he was doing for those affected by the disease.

John's attorney at law told National Enquirer he "assume(d) the show was changed as a result of our suit".

After Homer is mistakenly embroiled in a local scandal, the entire incident devolves into a media frenzy.