FCC Is Investigating Super Bowl Show: Entire Halftime Performance Faces Indecency Standards Test

Washington Post ^ | February 3, 2004 | Frank Ahrens and Lisa de Moraes

[new cruelty]

The Federal Communications Commission launched an investigation into Sunday's controversial Super Bowl halftime show yesterday and FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell telephoned Mel Karmazin, president of CBS parent Viacom Inc., to express his outrage, saying the entertainment giant should have known what was going to transpire during the show.

The FCC probe will encompass the entire halftime program -- including the brief exposure of singer Janet Jackson's breast and the sexualized dance routine precipitating it -- to determine if it violates indecency standards set in law and enforced by the FCC.

If indecency violations are found, each of Viacom's 200 owned and affiliate stations could face a penalty of up to $27,500. FCC officials said the agency may also pursue penalties against CBS and the individual performers, Jackson and Justin Timberlake

[thinktwice]

Americans are theological fools when it comes to nudity.

What we need is an FCC that fosters civilized behavior.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

I think the HPD should have hauled it off to jail for indecent exposure.

[RoseofTexas]

BullCRAP! Nothing is going to come out of this investigation! Look at all the stars who have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar only to be given a slap on the wrist and send back to LaLaLand! YAWN!

[E Rocc]

Argh. the administration seems to have forgotten one of the basic lessons of the Reagan Administration. One of the keys to Reagan's success was his intentional removal of the FCC and other branches of government from the practice of neo-puritan witchhunting.

He believed, quite logically, that deregulation and capitalism were just as good for the entertainment industry as they were for manufacturing.

Electorally, this is no-win and could be costly.

-Eric

[TommyDale]

"Book 'em, Danno!"

[Fester Chugabrew]

Americans are theological fools when it comes to nudity.

Not me. I've always known there is more than one boob.

[E Rocc]

I think the HPD should have hauled it off to jail for indecent exposure.

Maybe someone can get the FCC agents to meet at 1am in a store parking lot. That should work. >:)

-Eric

[RobbyS]

He believed, quite logically, that deregulation and capitalism were just as good for the entertainment industry as they were for manufacturing. An iron logic like that which leads to sweatshops?

[Arkinsaw]

Americans are theological fools when it comes to nudity.

I love nudity. But not for my small children during prime time without warning. Thanks for your concern though.

[weegee]

Clear Channel RADIO was just cited for a comedy sketch that "crossed the line". The fine was $750,000. That is single market radio.

Fine $27,000 per affiliate MAYBE.

[weegee]

The DA wasn't going anywhere near this one after the half-assed way they went to court arguing against an observed act of anal sex.

[squidly]

He believed, quite logically, that deregulation and capitalism were just as good for the entertainment industry as they were for manufacturing.

That's not what I remember about Ed Meese's time at the Justice Department.

[dwilli]

All that is happening is that the limits of our
cultural acceptance of taboo things is changing a little
at the time.

[new cruelty]

Well, if nothing else, janet got some much wanted publicity for her new album.

[flashbunny]

Full nipplegate coverage on FR:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/k-nipplegate/browse

[new cruelty]

LOL. Thanks for the keyword look up.

[dawn53]

I read an article about that today.

It was fined for "Bubba the Love Sponge" (whoever that is, but the name stuck in my mind.

He's a local morning guy I think, in Tampa, so how could the max fine be $27,000 when Clear Channel was charged so much for just a local program. Or maybe he's not local, I have no idea.

[flashbunny]

No problem. Been working since late last night to keyword up these threads so it's easy to keep track up. And because FR has the most exensive nipplegate coverage anywhere!

[dawn53]

Found these results in a search of tampa paper to verify that fine was $755,000.

http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=TT&p_theme=tt&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=bubba%20AND%20love%20AND%20sponge&s_dispstring=bubba%20love%20sponge%20AND%20date(last%2030%20days)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=-30qzD&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no

Also found out it's syndicated in these markets:
http://www.bubbasyndication.com/