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To: thesummerwind; carlson
It's not about a woman's breast and I don't buy the 'glorify rape' overreaction.

It's about something completely crass and tasteless where it simply doesn't belong. The show was bad, it was oversexed, there were nasty dancers in nasty little outfits, and it culminated with a completely idiotic stunt of a gratuitous titty flash in the middle of 'family hour.' If that's what you bought a ticket or tuned in for...fine.

There we get to the crux of the matter. If people want tasteless TV and bare breasts, they have numerous channels on cable and satellite to slake their thirsts or not watch and block the channels out from their kids, etc. But the control is there - to see or not, to make sure the kids don't see...or not. The content is in their control.

An audience of moms, dads, and kids going to the game or watching together with a barbecue or chili cook out don't have that control. They watch the game - that's what they're there for in the stadium or in front of the tube, and they endure the commercials for the game, and sit through a half-time show for the game. Once upon a time, half time shows were marching bands, a hall of fame presentation, something mildly entertaining and innocuous - filler until the 3rd quarter.

This time, an audience was bombarded with a show out of control. Want to watch the game - have to stay in the stadium or stay glued to CBS, it's counting down to kick-off. Hello breasts.

That's where the outrage stems - if MTV/CBS wanted to launch a R or X rated music performance channel, fine, people would know what to expect when they tune in and it would be their choice. But for the halftime of a football game? People did not choose the sex-you-up strip-off.

An entire worldwide audience was treated to something they could not control....in a culture giving every sign that it is out of control.

31 posted on 02/04/2004 10:49:16 PM PST by Ophiucus
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To: Ophiucus
First, let's establish that the Superbowl, as a cultural event, is more than simply the culmination of the NFL's football season.

The Superbowl is a cultural event, a marker for the year, of Americana in all its glory. It is also of particular interest for advertising - indeed, many watch the Superbowl specifically because of the advertising, not for the football.

What the event said this year is that the culture of America has degenerated into nothing but violence and sex and grade-school bathroom humor. One could not tell at all the magnificence of our musical and artistic history... this was pure bread and circus.

I actually felt ashamed that this program that I really wanted to watch - the Superbowl - came in such a sleazy package. I felt dirty about it, and I'm glad I missed the most scandalous part of the halftime show.

That feeling of revulsion to the content of the ads and the entertainment was so strong, I'm not surprised to find that it was felt also by many others.
35 posted on 02/04/2004 11:29:24 PM PST by thoughtomator ("What do I know? I'm just the President." - George W. Bush, Superbowl XXXVIII halftime statement)
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To: Ophiucus
But of course, let's not lose perspective on it... the real story of the Superbowl is that it was a really great game.
36 posted on 02/04/2004 11:30:50 PM PST by thoughtomator ("What do I know? I'm just the President." - George W. Bush, Superbowl XXXVIII halftime statement)
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To: Ophiucus
You also are correct. Thank you for putting it appropriately in the right words.
80 posted on 02/05/2004 7:09:57 AM PST by 7thson (I think it takes a big dog to weigh a 100 pounds.)
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To: Ophiucus
We already have an R-rated channel on regular cable. It isn't a premium station. It is aimed at teenagers and children, and if you want FOX News or even CNN, then you must also pay to support all the Viacom-smut channels.

As of last night, hubby went to CBS, MTV, AOL, and the NFL websites. Was there an apology on the front page of any of those websites? NO. And he said there was a link to the half-time performance on CBS.com. I checked this morning, and I did not see it. However, if any of those entities were sorry for what happened, then you'd think they'd have a big apology posted on their front page.

Justin Timberlake will still be at the Grammys. He is nominated for a whole bunch of stuff. And he is claiming to be a victim now.

I checked the Grammy nominations list. I noticed that the Dixie Chics are not up for any awards this year. That speaks volumes about what can happen when the public has enough of Hollywood/entertainment stupidity.

We need to see the faces of the executives behind the smut. The ones who sign the paychecks of the "artists." The ones who produce it. The entertainers only do what their bosses say pay them to do.
85 posted on 02/05/2004 7:29:29 AM PST by petitfour
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