Michael Powell Scolds DISNEY for 'Monday Night Football' opening...

[General Grizz]

'Monday Night Football' Rankles FCC

Wed Nov 17,12:13 PM ET

By JENNIFER C. KERR, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - The nation's chief media regulator expressed disappointment Wednesday over the steamy locker room opening to ABC's "Monday Night Football" broadcast.

"I wonder if Walt Disney would be proud," said Michael Powell, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (news - web sites). ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co.

The opening, which has generated complaints to ABC and the FCC (news - web sites), featured actress Nicollette Sheridan in the locker room, supposedly dressed only in a white towel. She drops the towel and jumps into the arms of Philadelphia Eagles star Terrell Owens. Sheridan was shown only from behind and above the waist after dropping the towel.

Powell questioned the judgment of those who decided to air the scene.

"It would seem to me that while we get a lot of broadcasting companies complaining about indecency enforcement, they seem to be continuing to be willing to keep the issue at the forefront, keep it hot and steamy in order to get financial gains and the free advertising it provides," Powell said during an interview on CNBC.

An FCC spokeswoman said the agency has received a number of complaints about the ABC broadcast, though she declined to say how many.

The complaints will be reviewed and the commission will decide whether or not to open an investigation that could result in a fine against the network. The maximum indecency fine is $32,500 per incident.

ABC quickly apologized for the locker room intro. And the NFL called it "inappropriate and unsuitable for our 'Monday Night Football' audience."

ABC has broadcast "Monday Night Football" with a five-second delay this season, a precaution after singer Janet Jackson (news)'s "wardrobe malfunction" at February's Super Bowl halftime show — when singer Justin Timberlake (news) ripped off part of Jackson's outfit, exposing her right breast to a TV audience of some 90 million people.

CBS is protesting a proposed FCC fine of $550,000 for the halftime show.

As for his tenure at the agency, Powell said he'd be around for "a while yet."

"I still am having fun. There are still things that are really significantly important to me to complete," he said. "Right now, I just have no plans of going anywhere."

- Yahoo! News

 

[speck76]

So....this means that ABC can not show anything somewhat controversial because they are owned by WDC? ! Michael Powell needs to get a life!

 

[MouseRight]

I am all for stregenthening family values and morals in this country but.... We are becoming too politically correct in the wake of teh Janet Jackson fiasco. After all this is a netwrok that shows Desperate Housewives at the same time on Sunday Nights and a sport who parades half naked cheerleaders where the cameraman focuses on the top half of their bodies. It was a fun promo, that didn't show any actual nudity, was humorous and poked fun at itself, ABC, and Football.

As John Stossel says on Twenty/Twenty - "Give Me A Break"

 

[catinthehat]

I gotta say, Mouseright -- you put that very well.

 

[KevinPage]

Michael Powel, yet another sivler spooned daddy's boy.


I can't wait for the day when this holier than thou looney is found drugged up in a hotel room with 3 hookers.

 

[Legacy]

I thought the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree. How could his dad be one of the coolest guys in politics (for now), and his son be such a prude?...

 

[GaryT977]

I'm completely lost on this one. A naked back is offensive... why?

:brick:

 

[MouseRight]

I'm completely lost on this one. A naked back is offensive... why? :brick:

Okay folks, stop me if I get too political.

All of the talking heads say: To those who are upset (or making believe that they are) it's not the naked back it is entire scene:

- Seemingly naked woman seducing a man in the locker room.
- Racial overtones of the above since woman was white and man was african american.
- Overtly sexual overtone shown in the family friendly (??) Monday NIght Football hour.
- Family friendly Disney/ABC suggesting that ______ is more important than playing football.
- In an era of polictical correctness and FCC fines, how can ABC pull a stunt like this?
- Since the NFL was involved in the JJ affair they want to stay away from any controversy that will get Congress and the FCC upset.

Again, the above is not my opinion, just what I have heard on teh news shows and read in the paper.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

You've basically got it, MouseRight (although why the fact that they were of different races makes it more offensive is beyond me).

When I saw it, it raised my eyebrows. Not the content per se, which was fairly tame, but the fact that it was on MNF. I was hardly offended, but I was a little surprised to see it there.

 

[speck76]

- Family friendly Disney/ABC suggesting that ______ is more important than playing football.

I hate it when people refer to the network as "Disney/ABC".

Yes, Disney owns ABC.

No, the netork is not promoted as Disney/ABC.

Disney also owns Touchstone Pictures and Miramax, yet the only time people ever mention "Disney" with those two units is when they want to create a problem.

Just because WDC has a history of being "family-friendly" does not mean that it, or all of its branches, are family-friendly. WDC is an entertainment company, and has the ability to entertain in any legal way they see fit.

 

[GaryT977]

What gets me is the hypocrisy of it all. That opening was offensive, but up the skirt shots of cheerleaders isn't? Do parents have to explain all those Viagra ads to their kids?

There's a talk show host down here who can't play fart sounds or say words he could say 20 years ago. Scary, scary times.

 

[catinthehat]

I agree -- whether or not it was a misplaced spot or not (for that time and day) -- it's not like we're not getting to see a whole lot of skin from the cheerleaders in the NFL and seeing tons of alcohol commercials and Cialis commercials etc. I think this is one big over-reaction, personally. Plus ABC apologized quite humbly -- I don't think they should be punished nor should the show or NFL football. Sometimes it's like people just want something to complain about....

 

[KevinPage]

I'm more offended that someone like Terrel Owens has to settle for an old hack with bad plastic surgery like Nicolette Sheridan. Surely he could score better than that. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Figment1986]

I enjoyed the opening.. It was hilarious..... I loved it!!!

 

[wannab@dis]

If we all really think about it, that opening was outside the norm for family friendly television. Sure, it wasn't THAT bad, but it is something that I don't want my DD seeing anytime soon. I know they were trying to promote their show, but IMO, they went to far with this stunt.

If nobody complained, the FCC wouldn't have jumped on the bandwagon, so apparently, people were upset.

 

[speck76]

.......and now dad has some explaining to do.

But what is so bad about explaining.

So many people in this country think that if they don't let their kids see certain things, then their kids will grow up to be perfect.....they like to shelter their kids from anything that could be thought of as inappropriate.

I think this is a big problem. Kids do know about "this stuff" and the best thing a parent can do is be around for their kids if they have questions.

 

[wannab@dis]

Sure, you're right, Speck. The kids do know, but that is not where I'm coming from. It's not a matter of talking to kids when they are curious, but why set up situations where the talk is necessary? Also, they may know all about "the stuff", but they don't need to fill their heads with it INCLUDING visual aids and highly suggestive material.

It's not a matter of sheltering them to keep them in the dark, it's a matter of sheltering their minds and trying to keep them innocent as long as possible.

 

[speck76]

Sure, you're right, Speck. The kids do know, but that is not where I'm coming from. It's not a matter of talking to kids when they are curious, but why set up situations where the talk is necessary? Also, they may know all about "the stuff", but they don't need to fill their heads with it INCLUDING visual aids and highly suggestive material.

It's not a matter of sheltering them to keep them in the dark, it's a matter of sheltering their minds and trying to keep them innocent as long as possible.

Even at that, by 11 or 12, most kids' bodies are beginning to change, and certain new feelings are coming to be........are people keeping their kids "innocent" longer than nature wants them to be?

 

[Lynx04]

Okay folks, stop me if I get too political.

All of the talking heads say: To those who are upset (or making believe that they are) it's not the naked back it is entire scene:

- Seemingly naked woman seducing a man in the locker room.
- Racial overtones of the above since woman was white and man was african american.
- Overtly sexual overtone shown in the family friendly (??) Monday NIght Football hour.
- Family friendly Disney/ABC suggesting that ______ is more important than playing football.
- In an era of polictical correctness and FCC fines, how can ABC pull a stunt like this?
- Since the NFL was involved in the JJ affair they want to stay away from any controversy that will get Congress and the FCC upset.

Again, the above is not my opinion, just what I have heard on teh news shows and read in the paper.

The problem is we make a bigger deal out of it then what it is. Thank god Michael Powell was there to hold the pillers of western civilization up. Because if he wasn't socity would have collapsed by Wed. I am glad we have a man like that there.

The ironic thing is that parents bug out about this but yet they let there kids watch cartoons that show violance and seductive behavior.

 

[TheOneVader]

Am I the only person that noticed that Monday Night Football thing on ABC is filmed in Universal Studios? :hammer: