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for thoses who were offended by half time

Feb 5, 2004 12:53AM PST

Below is an excellent article by Jim Wallis of Sojourners criticizing the offensive content of the ads and half-time show at Sunday's Super Bowl and urging us to speak up. Names and phone numbers of the people responsible for the content are listed at the bottom of the article. This is an opportunity to express your views about the mindless "entertainment" aired to make money. You may be aware that MoveOn.org tried to have a values based commercial aired which was rejected by CBS because it was "too controversial."
Mary Cunningham, HM


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Super Bowl sleaze

by Jim Wallis

advertisement


Next year, put your kids to bed BEFORE the Super Bowl.

I'll admit it, I like a good football game, and this turned out to be a very good one, after a boring, slow start. But what everybody was talking about the next day was the baring of Janet Jackson's right breast. Justin Timberlake's little grope and tear-off of Jackson's bustier was the finale to their simulated-sex dance done to a song called "Rock Your Body," which ends with the romantic line, "I gotta have you naked by the end of this song." And that's just what he did. But that was only the crude climax to what Washington Post television critic Tom Shales called "the Super Bowl of Sleaze."

The rest of the MTV-produced halftime show had lots more bumping and grinding, crotch-grabbing rappers, and background girls tossing off their wardrobes to "I'm getting so hot, I wanna take my clothes off."

Then there were the commercials, often creative and funny at Super Bowls, but this year featuring horse flatulence, a trained dog that bites men (again) in the crotch to steal their beers, a monkey leering at a girl's breasts and suggesting they go upstairs, and several ads for erectile dysfunction. Bud Light clearly won the night's award for most stupid, crude, and banal ads, while only Homer Simpson seemed to offer any healthy and funny alternative fare.

My 5-year-old son, Luke, was playing with his friends in another room but walked in just in time to see a spot for Van Helsing, an upcoming and yet unrated horror film that featured very disturbing and graphic images of horrific violence. Seeing the fanged monsters leering at us through the screen literally stopped him in his tracks.

After substantial public outcry, CBS and MTV issued unconvincing apologies about how surprised they were at Janet's bare bust (in this first public revelation of the Jackson family values), while young Timberlake tried to blame the whole thing on a "wardrobe malfunction." Two days later, Jackson admitted the stunt had been planned, saying: "The decision to have a costume reveal...was made after final rehearsals."

You want to know why people join the Religious Right? It may have less to do with wanting to take over the country than being desperate to protect their kids from the crass trash and degrading banality that media conglomerates like Viacom (which owns both CBS and MTV) seem to think is just fine family entertainment for Super Bowl night. Fortunately, my kids were in bed before the halftime show, but next year we may just go with Mary Poppins in the other room.

Some people think that only right-wing conservatives care about such moral pollution. Wrong. Most parents I know, liberal or conservative, care a great deal about it, as do most self-respecting women and men. It defies stereotypes to suggest that a healthy moral consistency applies to personal and sexual ethics as well as to social and political values. It's time to break out of those old ideological shibboleths and forge a unified front against the amoral corporate greed that violates all our ethics - personal and social - creating a system that sells beer and breasts in the same advertising plans just to make a buck.

I don't recommend joining the Religious Right, but do call Viacom, CBS, and MTV. Tell them that you're not a member of the Religious Right, not a puritan, and not afraid of sex (but think it's great with somebody to whom you're committed!). Especially if you're a liberal progressive type, tell them that. And if you're a parent, ask them if they have any kids and if they would want them watching the lowlife ads and actors they put on TV last Sunday night. Tell them to put it on cable where the voyeurs who want to watch Timberlake and Jackson paw each other can pay for it. Tell them that you're angry. Tell them that they're not entertaining, interesting, or even sexy. Tell them that their soulless and mindless "entertainment" won't sell anymore, at least not to you. And tell them to keep their garbage away from your kids.

To call each network executive:

Tom Freston
Chairman, MTV
212-258-8000

Leslie Moonves
President, CBS
323-575-2345

Sumner Redstone
CEO, Viacom
212-975-5005

Discussion is locked

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Nah, don't punish the kids,
Feb 5, 2004 1:52AM PST

put the whole mess to bed. Don't watch it at all. If the parents do that, the powers that be will pay attention.

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Not practical......don't watch the SB or TV????? It's like trying to
Feb 5, 2004 3:08AM PST

keep a 14 yr old boy off the stuff he would like to search on the internet. Wink

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Thank you! Mary Kay!
Feb 5, 2004 3:32AM PST

The article was great! Thanks for posting it!

Glenda

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Re:for thoses who were offended by half time
Feb 5, 2004 4:11AM PST

I don't know why we should be surprised. MTV had clarioned earlier that Janet would do something "shocking".

Her brother had repeatedly engaged in crotch clutching several years ago at another half-time show (which did not draw the same level of protest). That surprised and disappointed me, as I had enjoyed the Jackson Five. as well as his solo acts.

Janet also disappointed me. She is pretty and talented, and did not need to do something "shocking" as less talented performers have done.

The show was produced by MTV. It was targeted at kids, who are a major marketing focus. Others who were involved said they had watched all of the rehearsals. Which means they had heard all of the songs, seen the dances, etc. As the networks have had changing standards, I assume they considered it all suitable for family viewing.

It wasn't yesterday that kids started being considered mini-adults, and childhood years shortened.

I can't honestly say I was offended. I guess my reaction was more of chagrin that the envelope would be pushed even more at such a venue. And that some kids would think it was all cool.

Angeline
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

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Re:Re:for thoses who were offended by half time
Feb 5, 2004 5:33AM PST

I was not personally offended, as I did not see it. I just posted this for fyi as in 3 or 4 differnt posts, this seemed to be the topic of the day. I am a firm believer, if it bothers you that much, do something about it. And I do agree with you that Janet is not the first to have crossed the line and I don't understand why she would be the main target.

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Why Janet?
Feb 5, 2004 6:15AM PST

I think she's getting the most flak because it was her breast exposed. What if the move had been different and Justin had a ripoff front on his pants which she tore off and out popped an erection. Who do you think the press and everyone would have been most outraged at?

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(NT) According to her own statement, it was her idea, to expose bra anyway
Feb 5, 2004 7:26AM PST

.

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Re: James, I was actually referring to all the
Feb 5, 2004 7:30AM PST

crotch grabbers, who have come b4 her . Like Michael J for one. I was not referring to Justin. Although I find it hard to believe he is as innocent in the affair as he would like us to believe

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Write this or steal from others?
Feb 5, 2004 7:39AM PST
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(NT)Having a bad day?
Feb 5, 2004 8:19AM PST

.

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Follow the money, IDIOTS !!!
Feb 5, 2004 7:55AM PST

"This is an opportunity to express your views about the mindless "entertainment" aired to make money."

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(NT)It's a bit hard to persuade others to understand your point insulting them first.
Feb 5, 2004 8:18AM PST

.