Posted on 10/19/2004 4:39:55 PM PDT by traumer
Under pressure from 'pro-family' groups upset over ABC's naughty new hit, some companies halt ads.
Walt Disney Co.'s best shot at reviving its sickly ABC network may have plenty of skin and sin, but "Desperate Housewives" also has fewer original advertisers than it did just a few weeks ago.
'Desperate Housewives' toast their misery in a scene from ABC's surprise hit. Tyson Foods, Lowe's Cos., and Kellogg have all aired spots on the weekly prime time soap that debuted late last month. And none plan to air any more.
Officials at two of the advertisers -- Arkansas-based Tyson Foods (up $0.16 to $15.15, Research) and North Carolina-based Lowe's Companies (down $0.11 to $56.40, Research) -- confirmed that the decision against buying more commercial time on "Desperate Housewives" was based on the hit show's cheeky script, which centers on a tony suburban neighborhood where four middle-aged women live in misery and a fifth who committed suicide narrates from the grave.
In all, five companies -- Tyson, Lowe's, Kellogg and frozen meal makers ConAgra Foods and Pinnacle Foods Group -- have come under attack in the last week by the American Family Association, a self described "traditional family values" group that has over the years been a relentless critic of the entertainment industry.
Through two of its member Web sites, the American Family Association has rallied thousands of followers, who last week began inundating the e-mail servers and phone lines at Tyson, Lowe's and ConAgra.
(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...
ABC now has 2 shows this fall that are about older women hitting on and/or doing it with highschool boys, helping them buy booze, if it feels good, do it, etc. I like a good, funny show as much as the next person, but these 2 are way over the line for me and my household of 3 teenagers.
Boy, this show must really be sleazy, if Tyson Foods has been frightened into pulling out. Tyson's is one of the least upstanding corporations in the country.
The title is over the lines as far as I'm concerned, and I'm not a prude. Just don't think we need to dumb down America's morals too.
Neither show is about family values (at least not in the traditional way) but both are funny.
The one show I intended to watch was some sort of reality show with Oscar de la Hoya. I actually did see one episode and it was goofy. I intended to watch it more, but never got around to it.
sleazy nothing, this show was booooooooooring! I couldn't even get thru one episode, about as lame as it gets.
"There's nothign but sex, sex, sex."
I'm up for that.
The media desperately wants/needs a show to replace 'Sex in the City' to carry their banner on their lack of morals.
Considering the ratings this show receives I'm sure there are replacement advertisers waiting in line.
I always liked Teri Hatcher after seeing her in Seinfeld. She was spectacular.
At the rate they're pushing the envelope, we're about two baby steps from live sex show performed on the networks.
Hmmm... Entertainment Tonight just did a report on this show. They said the network just raised the advertising price for a 30 second spot from $156k to $300k. We started to watch the pilot episode, but flipped the channel because it was just too weird.
Didn't see the second episode, but did see the premiere episode. I've seen daytime soaps that were sleazier. There was only one character that had a pretty much sex-based storyline.
Bring back Alias....
I saw the show and thought it was kind of tame.... and pretty entertaining...especially compared to the utter filth of other shows like "Friends"; "Will and Grace", etc. It's also great to have a show on TV that's genuinely interested in story-telling again as opposed to being part of the endless Cop/lawyer Show, Reality TV morass/sleazefest. I think the AFA is really misguided on this one.
I actually quite enjoy this show. It's funny and off-beat and the women are a crack-up. If this is offensive then I'm afraid for this world...we're all about to be uber sanitized...
I liked the show but I would never let my kids watch it.
This isn't that show. "Desperate Housewives" more of quirky mystery/soap opera---there's no comparison to the raunch and depravity of a show like "Sex in the City".
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