Posted on 02/02/2004 12:50:44 PM PST by mhking
MTV tries it's hand at damage control, but fails miserably
MTV has rather deftly changed it's text on it's Super Bowl page from the text originally up there (and touted by news programs and websites everywhere:
Janet Jackson Got Nasty at the MTV-Produced Super Bowl Halftime ShowThey've replaced the text with the more pedestrian and contrite:Jaws across the country hit the carpet at exactly the same time. You know what we're talking about...Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake and a kinky finale that rocked the Super Bowl to its core. P. Diddy, Kid Rock, & Nelly rounded out the halftime show in the midst of the greatest game on earth. MTV was Super Bowl central, so armchair quarterbacks, fair weather fanatics and fans of Janet Jackson and her pasties were definitely in the right place. So strap on those pads, keep your head down and get the full recap of The AOL Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show produced by MTV.
The tearing of Janet Jackson's costume was unrehearsed, unplanned, completely unintentional and was inconsistent with assurances we had about the content of the performance. MTV regrets this incident occurred and we apologize to anyone who was offended by it.They've also removed the initial press release from their site (the one that touted Janet's "shocking moments"). Of course, anyone who knows how to use Google can find it in their cache.
FCC Chairman Michael Powell is understandably outraged, and has demanded an investigation into the incident.
I can't figure out who would be fined though. All the CBS stations? Of course not - none of them knew what was coming. The CBS O&O's? I'm sure the same thing applies there. Network brass? Possibly. I'm sure they knew what was coming. MTV? Works for me. Janet and Justin? Also makes sense. If I were a local official in Houston, you can bet I'd look seriously into whether any local obscenity ordinances were violated by the pair.
After all, once the smoke clears, Janet, I'm sure, will be happy with the free exposure (pun not intended) for her new CD, due to come out the end of March.
Producer Dallas Austin was quoted recently as saying about Janet's new album:
"To me, this is her Dirty Mind," Austin explained, referring to the Prince album that established him as a hormonally charged pop star. "It's a really sexy record, but not in a sensual way. It's bold, it's fun, it's really positive. Nobody's sad, nobody's mad. It's just really fun songs where she happens to be talking frankly about sex."
I'm sure Clear Channel is happy - they're the most likely candidate to replace MTV as producer of the halftime show for next year's Super Bowl in Jacksonville.
Personally I'm more offended by the lieing and the sleezy hype. But there's also the matter of this occuring during a family oriented broadcast.
It happened so fast, I don't know how it corrupted all of the kids. Besides, what normal 12 year old boy hasn't seen so much more than that in their e-mail inbox?
If this happened anywhere else in the world it would be a non-story.
My wife and I saw the breast plain as day (maybe you should get satellite or cable or a bigger screen?).
Was any part of the game during halftime? If you felt it was inappropriate, you did the right thing and sent your kid out of the room. So, no harm right?
How long was this horrible image actually on TV?? A second...less?
Sorry to say, that I'm sure your son has seen more in a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue than he would have yesterday.
ROTFL! now that ~is~ funny!
Used to denote a particularly humorous post.
Just what are you smoking up there in Humboldt? That "argument" isn't even worthy of the word. IT'S A SPORTING EVENT, not a crude rap and sex act. I have an expectation of decency at the break of such an event. Using your "argument" you could pornography in the middle of children's cartoons. After all, who said the kids "had" to watch? Why do parents have the right to not be offended?. There is a reason we have decency and obcenity laws.
I have watched almost every single football game this year, not once do i see a halftime. Unlike you fairweather fans, I am busy making food or drinks, using the facilities and otherwise preparing for the second half. I don't tune in to the Super Bowl to watch halftime and the commercials. There is ALWAYS an alternative to the halftime show. Many channels used to countdown to the 2nd half with a timer, so you wouldn't miss any football, and I am sure there are still channels that do that.
Fair weather fan? ROFL If you only knew. Football happens to be my business. I've forgotten more about football than you will ever know. Of course I'm not watching football games for ads and half-time entertainment. DUH! The Super Bowl, however, is a different story. The entire day is an event. It is indeed "Super Sunday". There have been very creative, entertaining ads in the past and some good half-time entertainment. It is the one time I do pay attention to these things. The same is true for millions and millions of other football fans. The Super Bowl is the most watched event on TV. Obviously there are many more people watching the game than just hard-core fans. There are many more women, children, and families watching. This is EVEN more of a reason to put appropriate programming on the air during the game. Your suggestion that everybody set a timer and watch something else is so stupid it's hardly worth commenting on. Using your logic, we don't have a right to not be offended during a football game, so what are we supposed to turn to? Do we have to watch the Weather Channel to avoid watching crude behavior? Here's a news flash for you. There are thousands of people at the game. What channel would you suggest they turn to? Or should daddy have to say to the rest of the family, "OK kids, it's halftime. Everybody shut their eyes for 20 minutes."
Since when is the halftime show a part of the game? You say you were tuned in to watch football, but you don't even mention how good the game was. Where was the backlash against NBC when they showed the women's soccer team strip down, on a tape-delayed broadcast? They made the concious decision to show that after they saw it happen. So, it's ok for NBC to show our women's soccer team celebrate without shirts in the Olympics, but a musician gives us a little teaser and its the end of the world. Convoluted logic if you ask me.
Since when is the halftime part of the game? Do you try to ask stupid questions on purpose or does that come naturally? If you're at the game, or watching it on TV, it IS part of the "game". The entire broadcast is the "game". NBC? I don't recall watching simulated sex acts, disgusting lyrics and a man ripping half of woman's shirt off so we can all see her silver studded nipple during that soccer game. Maybe I missed it. When did that happen? Surely, you aren't referring to when the girl pulled shirt off exposing her sports bra? You aren't seriously comparing the 2, right? Because those sports bras are rather modest as far as bras go. But I'm sure you're referring to something else, because nobody in their right mind would compare the 2.
Were you just as shocked at Fox running ads for their soft-core porno show "skin"? They ran hundreds of those ads during the Baseball playoffs and World Series. Much more exposure than Ms. Jackson. (pun intended)
So, if you are offended. Boycott. I am mainly on this thread trying to defend the NFL. I don't feel the NFL has done anything wrong. They have a contract with CBS. They sold the rights to the game to CBS, told them what not to do, and CBS did it anyway. All I wanted was for people to direct their comments at CBS and MTV (VIACOM). There are a lot of people accusing the league of wrongdoing.
I think too much has been made about this, however, it is your right to think the downfall of the republic hinges on a one-second shot of half of a boob. To each his own.
Anyone who could believe that this was some "wardrobe malfunction" has to be dumber than a box of rocks. Why would he have pulled at her garment if he had not expected a result?? That would have looked pretty stupid-eh?
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