So what is more shocking about this year
’s Super Bowl? The fact that the actual football game was the
highlight of the nine-hour mega-event, or that the Music Television
(MTV) production of the halftime show featured strippers, rappers
and one sexual assault?
So what is more shocking about this year’s Super Bowl? The fact that the actual football game was the highlight of the nine-hour mega-event, or that the Music Television (MTV) production of the halftime show featured strippers, rappers and one sexual assault? It began with the top music video performers, surrounded by scantily clad dancers, singing lyrics like, “It’s getting hot in here, so take off all your clothes.”
The roughly 30-minute show culminated in a burlesque-type duet of “Rock your body,” featuring pop artists Justine Timberlake and Janet Jackson. Timberlake squeaks out the timeless lyric, “Gonna have you naked by the end of this song,” while reaching over to rip off the right front of Jackson’s costume revealing her jewelry-clad breast. This is the “incident“ that has CBS network executives, the National Football League and even the White House clamoring in a collective “Shock and Awe.”
The Federal Communication Commission (FCC), the agency in charge of punishing those who cross the very thin line of vulgarity and decency, is thoroughly “outraged.” FCC Chairman Michael Powell issued this scathing statement, “The celebration was tainted by a classless, crass and deplorable stunt. Our nation’s children, parents and citizens deserve better.”
What did the FCC expect when the CBS network hired MTV to produce the show featuring the wholesome cast of P. Diddy, Nelly, Kidd Rock, Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson, all of whom are promoting their new albums on the grandest promotional stage in the business?
“I promise a thorough and quick investigation into this matter,” Powell assured. And what punitive measure does the commission have in its arsenal? The FCC can fine those responsible a maximum of $27,500. If they choose to levy fines against all of the CBS affiliates, the cost to the network could be millions. Even still, a maximum fine to MTV, CBS or even the individual performers is equivalent to swatting away an annoying fly.
What about all of those halftime, pay-per-view customers who opted out of the network festivities and turned to the “Lingerie Bowl” that featured lingerie models in eye formation? You can bet they were steamed when they realized that they missed the “incident.” Then following, what was clearing the most exciting Super Bowl game in a decade, CBS offers up another hour featuring a naked Richard Hatch on Survivor All Stars. But I guess being subjected to a blurred pelvic dot does not constitute a breach of decency. Thank you to the FCC and CBS for that.
Did Chairman Powell just realize that “children, parents and citizens deserve better?” With each new season, viewers are taken down an increasing slippery slope of indecent language and behavior with no end in sight. It will be interesting to see what the “investigation” turns up and who will be held responsible for “art imitating art” on a national network stage.
To those viewers of MTV, VHI, and BET, all cable music video stations, this “incident” must seem innocuous at best. Music companies have been using the video medium to simulate vulgarity, ever since they discovered that salacious controversy sells. So, let’s not be surprised when the performers are not held accountable by the record executives who are using them to push the envelope of decency in order to sell more music.
I am delighted, though somewhat surprised, at the FCC’s righteous indignation toward the Jackson/Timberlake “incident.” However, I question their own culpability in allowing MTV the halftime stage in the first place. Would the halftime show have been appropriate viewing for children, parents and citizens without the culminating sexual assault on Jackson? It seemed a fitting end to a completely inappropriate halftime show. Clearly, the FCC is responding to the “outraged” national audience, which is a good reminder that televison, radio and even cable, are still consumer-driven locomotives.
There will be no recompense for the viewers who were deeply offended by the entire performance at halftime. But hopefully, there will be retribution in the form of lost revenues, personnel changes and perhaps, a stronger commitment, by the FCC, to raise the standard of decency above the neck instead of keeping it below the belt.
Laura Hagiperos is a freelance writer, business owner and mother of three sons. Readers interested in writing a guest column should contact editor Walt Glines at editormh@morgan hilltimes.com or 779-4106.
