Cory James, a reporter for Fresno, California’s KFSN TV action news, began his career reporting on hard news, but he’s now becoming internet famous on a larger scale simply for going on a Disney theme park ride. This week marked the opening of the new Guardians of the Galaxy—Mission: Breakout! ride at Disney’s California Adventure (sorry, Florida fans; Universal still has Marvel theme park rights on the east coast) and in addition to fans swarming the park, TV news crews sent folks like Cory to get some entertainment coverage.

What happened at KFSN (found via Mashable) was definitely entertaining, but maybe not in the way the station expected. Apparently nobody told James much about the actual ride mechanics: a re-skinning of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride, based on the premise of an elevator snapping loose and plummeting to your doom. Warning: ride spoilers ensue, though the experience, like that of the revamped Star Tours, includes random elements that change.

We’re going to take issue with the video being entitled “screams like a girl,” since, well, none of the girls on the ride are screaming like that. But James’ reaction is as genuine as it gets; luckily, he manages a reasonable recovery at the very end. Maybe “screams like an unsuspecting local news reporter” can become the new vernacular.

I can’t help feeling for the guy, as my first couple of experiences on roller coasters went similarly; I also once spent a week at the California Disney resort, and deliberately never went on the Tower of Terror. And given how the anchors at the desk were so amused by his performance, I have a feeling they’re going to make him do scary things again just to try to get a repeat. That said: wow, those high notes that he hits!

Have you experienced the ride, either in its original or current form? How was your first experience? Be honest, and let us know in comments!

Images: KFSN/Funny Local News on YouTube