(given the chance for a bad pun, how could I resist?)
So who’d have thought that in all this annoying stupidity over the SuperBowl halftime show, Janet Jackson would be the only one you don’t hate?
In Washington this week, you’ve got the heads of CBS, Viacom and the NFL wringing their hands, saying it’s not their fault and gladly pointing their fingers at MTV. FCC Chairman Michael Powell, in a disingenuously outraged performance is claiming, “I share the displeasure and fatigue of millions of American about the erosion of common decency on television…” proving, if you needed any proof, that the FCC’s laissez-faire approach to media operations has more to do with standard Republican “any business regulation is too much” policy than any belief that we might have finally outgrown those archaic 1950’s era morality codes. (And, not incidentally attempting to distance himself from all the uproar about Bono not getting in trouble for saying “fuck” on an awards show.)
Meanwhile, MTV is claiming THEY had nothing to do with it, that this wasn’t part of any show they rehearsed. AND Justin Timberlake has shone his mettle by first glibly spouting, “we love giving you all something to talk about” and then backpedaling once he realized how worked up everyone was getting by saying “I was completely shocked and appalled” by what took place.
Jackson’s the only one that’s come forward and taken responsibility for her actions saying that yes, they had changed the act at the last minute to include the “wardrobe reveal” (and, not coincidentally, giving MTV, CBS and the NFL a chance at getting off the hook) but was only supposed to reveal her red lace bra. (Note to Janet & Co.—that’s what rehearsals are for… so you can work through those little surprises when no one’s watching.)
What really gets me about this whole thing is the astounding amount of noise it’s generated. Keep in mind that she was on camera for probably less than a second before CBS cut to commercial. The only reason people can get this worked up about it is because they were frantically tivoing and rewinding to see if they’d really seen what flashed across their screen. (And does anyone else find it ironic that The Drudge Report—that self-serving bastion of moral indignation masquerading as reporting—was the best place to go for close-ups of the “offending” sights the day after the SuperBowl?)
Entertainment Weekly has a pretty good commentary on the whole thing here (Shock and Bra), pointing out that, along with ads for erectile dysfunction and featuring horse-farts as a means of selling beer, we were treated to the objectification of women in the traditional roles of cheerleader, handmaid to their man (Kid Rock's lyrics “''I got girls that can cook, girls that can clean, I got girls that can do anything in between,'') and as part of the glamour of the rock star/rapper lifestyle where women are beautiful, vapid and easily replaced.
Good to see how far the women's movement has come after all those years of struggle… Remind me now, what century is this?
So who’d have thought that in all this annoying stupidity over the SuperBowl halftime show, Janet Jackson would be the only one you don’t hate?
In Washington this week, you’ve got the heads of CBS, Viacom and the NFL wringing their hands, saying it’s not their fault and gladly pointing their fingers at MTV. FCC Chairman Michael Powell, in a disingenuously outraged performance is claiming, “I share the displeasure and fatigue of millions of American about the erosion of common decency on television…” proving, if you needed any proof, that the FCC’s laissez-faire approach to media operations has more to do with standard Republican “any business regulation is too much” policy than any belief that we might have finally outgrown those archaic 1950’s era morality codes. (And, not incidentally attempting to distance himself from all the uproar about Bono not getting in trouble for saying “fuck” on an awards show.)
Meanwhile, MTV is claiming THEY had nothing to do with it, that this wasn’t part of any show they rehearsed. AND Justin Timberlake has shone his mettle by first glibly spouting, “we love giving you all something to talk about” and then backpedaling once he realized how worked up everyone was getting by saying “I was completely shocked and appalled” by what took place.
Jackson’s the only one that’s come forward and taken responsibility for her actions saying that yes, they had changed the act at the last minute to include the “wardrobe reveal” (and, not coincidentally, giving MTV, CBS and the NFL a chance at getting off the hook) but was only supposed to reveal her red lace bra. (Note to Janet & Co.—that’s what rehearsals are for… so you can work through those little surprises when no one’s watching.)
What really gets me about this whole thing is the astounding amount of noise it’s generated. Keep in mind that she was on camera for probably less than a second before CBS cut to commercial. The only reason people can get this worked up about it is because they were frantically tivoing and rewinding to see if they’d really seen what flashed across their screen. (And does anyone else find it ironic that The Drudge Report—that self-serving bastion of moral indignation masquerading as reporting—was the best place to go for close-ups of the “offending” sights the day after the SuperBowl?)
Entertainment Weekly has a pretty good commentary on the whole thing here (Shock and Bra), pointing out that, along with ads for erectile dysfunction and featuring horse-farts as a means of selling beer, we were treated to the objectification of women in the traditional roles of cheerleader, handmaid to their man (Kid Rock's lyrics “''I got girls that can cook, girls that can clean, I got girls that can do anything in between,'') and as part of the glamour of the rock star/rapper lifestyle where women are beautiful, vapid and easily replaced.
Good to see how far the women's movement has come after all those years of struggle… Remind me now, what century is this?
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