Statement by NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue

SuperBowl.com ^ | Feb. 2, 2004 | NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Statement regarding the Super Bowl halftime show

Statement by NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue regarding the Super Bowl halftime show:

"We were extremely disappointed by the MTV-produced halftime show. It was totally inconsistent with assurances our office was given about the content of the show.

"The show was offensive, inappropriate and embarrassing to us and our fans. We will change our policy, our people and our processes for managing the halftime entertainment in the future in order to deal far more effectively with the quality of this aspect of the Super Bowl."

[camle]

i wouldn't be surprised if she wasn't booked by Bill Clinton by now.

[over3Owithabrain]

Agreed - first I thought KR was simply wearing a tacky faux-patriotic gown. Then to my horror, I realized it was an actual flag with a hole cut in it. Then he rips it off and tosses it to a stagehand. The breast and crotch-grabbing was bad, but this display was by far the most offensive. That whole show was a parade of debauchery. Who in hell were they trying to impress anyway?

[Ditto]

We will change our policy, our people and our processes for managing the halftime entertainment in the future in order to deal far more effectively with the quality of this aspect of the Super Bowl."

SFX: Sound of heads rolling.

I pitty the naive NFL dufus who though MTV and Viacom could be trusted to be anything but what they are --- the lowest life form of the popular culture swamp.

[My2Cents]

Who is the target audience, anyway? From the halftime show, the target audience must be angry and over-sexed alienated young black men from the 'hood.'

[smith288]

I believe a stagehand was there to catch the flag. As well meaning as Kid Rock was, it was sheer ignorance on his part on the care of the flag.

[camle]

i agree, and he had the blue field on the wrong side, too.

[Mudcat]

None were funny, all were offensive.

Aw, c'mon -- you didn't think that the Staples "supply mafioso" commercial was a good, clean hoot?

[My2Cents]

What I want to see from the NFL is a statement like this:

"The NFL is banning CBS coverage of the Super Bowl for the next decade. Future planned broadcasts of the SuperBowl set for airing on CBS will be given to PAX-TV. And MTV is banned for eternity from ever again producing a halftime show."

[camle]

the yelling at the ref was so much like my ex that my kid pronounced that I'd make a good ref:-)

[freedumb2003]

The show was offensive, inappropriate and embarrassing to us and our fans

I agree -- next year no Gumble or Sims. Please end our National Nightmare!

[dfwgator]

I loved the "tuned out" referee one.

[ShandaLear]

Now's the time for Janet to endorse John Kerry and come out against the Iraq war.

[over3Owithabrain]

They really couldn't be more offensive if they "tried", which I think at least some involved did. Then CBS has the hypocrisy to avoid showing the streaker and his arrest, as if that violated some holy ethics of theirs. At least that guy got busted for his shameless display.

[newgeezer]

Those are pretty much my thoughts, too. But, as I said before, that would fail to capture the target audience. Supposedly, some people actually look forward to and enjoy the Super Bowl halftime show (probably the same sort whose buying preferences are influenced by humorous ads).

[My2Cents]

At the Dem convention, we can expect the scene of Madonna kissing JJ's exposed breast, to the cheers of the assembled perverts.

[kayak]

Agree with you completely!!! I found the ads at least as disgusting as the half-time show. Are they hiring adolescent boys to write their multi-million dollar ad spots now?!

I have expressed my outrage to both my local tv station and CBS .... both about the ads and the garbage they foisted on us at half-time.

CBS: 212-975-5505

CBS Corporation
51 W. 52nd Street.
New York, New York 10019

[dfwgator]

That is why I like hockey. You don't have to deal with lame between period shows because they have to use the Zamboni to smooth over the ice.

[Daus]

I'm afraid, as of Sunday, the NFL has officially 'Jumped The Shark'. It's all downhill from here.

[My2Cents]

I liked the Pepsi ad with the "young Jimmy Hendrix."

[Physicist]

Message to Tagliabue: your halftime show was far, far worse than offensive...it was BORING!