Martha Emmett says that her son Danny was killed shortly after seeing Smokey and the Bandit (1977) on August 4, 1976. However, the film was not released until May 27, 1977.
Billie reported on Danny Emmett's death in a hit-and-run on August 4, 1976. However, she did not transfer from the "Today" section to the city room until 1977, as seen in Henhouse (1977).