CBS Pulls Show After Prank Call

Now, CBS should see about Opie and Anthony (0.00 / 0)

Those guys are on a CBS owned satellite radio show. Apparently even Trojan couldn't stomach the dialogue on Opie and Anthony about rape and pulled their ads. 
If the big broadcasters like CBS want to deal in trash, they will find there isn't as much money in it as there used to be. 

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Mon May 14, 2007 at 00:23:28 AM UTC

Market at work... (0.00 / 0)

I really have no issue with these guys getting fired. If they were charged with something, or the FCC became involved for some reason then I would be upset about free speech.
But if we lose Opie & Anthony, Imus, Elvis and who-ever, we are going to end up with friggin' Casey Casum (sp?!?) on every channel and it will be our own fault.
Be careful what you wish for, my 2 cents.

(disclaimer, I like Opie and Anthony)

"Where ever you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Bonzai

---

by: William Weber (WjcW) @ Mon May 14, 2007 at 01:21:14 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I wish ... (4.00 / 1)

... not to be fag-bashed, black-bashed, asian-bashed, woman-bashed, muslim-bashed, or any other kind of bashed, over the public airwaves.

What part of racist, sexist hate speech wouldn't you trade for Casey Kasem? Is there some LACK of adolsecent toilet humor in America? Heavens, I had NO idea we had gotten so couth that we need to protect our yahoo heritage for the delectation of future generations ...

As far as I know, Opie and Anthony have been banished to satellite radio, which suits me fine. I don't pay for the service, and what they do to their subscribers is between them all as consenting adults. But apparently there was no market on FM radio for advertising on a program that broadcast sex from a pew in St. Patrick's Cathedral, or they would still be working for WNEW or whomever it was that was their employer.

Meanwhile, if you don't object to Carton and Rossi's serial efforts to incite listeners to bomb mosques, publicly ridicule the mentally ill, take every opporuntity to smear gay people, and so on and so forth (all of which thereby creating a climate of intolerance that can easily lead to violence, which is the real issue), well, DON'T write to their advertisers. Everyone else, please see my earlier post.

---

by: denniscmcgrath @ Mon May 14, 2007 at 02:08:21 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm with you (0.00 / 0)

For 3 years I worked in an office where they listened to Howard Stern and Opie and Anthony every single day during that time just before they got canned.  I had nothing against the guys in the office listening to what they wanted to, but I gotta tell ya, it really can bum you out hearing that garbage all day.  I was ecstatic to get my own office finally where I could play my own cds instead. 

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Mon May 14, 2007 at 13:14:08 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Censorship. (2.00 / 1)

I've had some time to think about the The Doghouse's cancellation...since I don't have much to listen to while I toil away at my mindless job.  And I've concluded that these latest purgings are censorship.

Why isn't this simply the "free market" taking its toll?

Because there is no free market anymore. These radio stations are controlled by a few corporations that are purging anything they deem as "unpopular speech."

This is bad.  For all of us.  I see no difference between liberals' political correctness and conservatives' theological correctness.  Beware: next time it will be a liberal who is purged for saying something demeaning about Evangelicals or Catholics.  Karma's a bitch.

If you want to make a difference, maybe you should look into working with the poor, the uninsured, the illiterate, the handicapped.  But, complaining to a radio station about the Dog House because they stereotyped Asians?  Geez, you really left your mark on the world.

Honestly, if comedians can't steroetype people by gender or race or ethnicity or religion -- say goodbye to Eddie Murphy, Mel Brooks, Richard Pryor and many other great comedians.  Heck, maybe we should ban Stephen Colbert for joking about religion on "This Week in God."

I'm tired of this mock outrage.  If you don't like the show, turn it off.

---

by: Moxie Sebright @ Mon May 14, 2007 at 21:01:01 PM UTC

It's not censorship (4.00 / 1)

It IS the free market.  When advertisers pull out from a show, they are making a decision to not be associated with a particular celebrity - one who may embarass them.  Tell me you don't have one high maintenance friend you can't take out to a fancy dinner with clients because it's just too stressful. 

If the broadcaster decides they won't be in business long if a show doesn't draw advertisers, they have the freedom to decide not to go into bankruptcy, by getting better talent.  Simple.  That's just business.  It isn't a good idea to offend your audience. 

Censorship is when a tobacco company tells CBS they cannot air a certain true story that makes the cigarette companies look bad.

Stephen Colbert is funny.  But the way you look at people is not.  "the poor"  "the uninsured" "the illiterate" "the handicapped"  That is very telling.  Language DOES matter.  All of those collective groups are PEOPLE. 

Ignorant individuals often view groups of individuals by their condition.  And doing so dehumanizes them.  Note: the proper term is not "handicapped"  it is "persons with  disabilities"  There is a reason.  All people are people FIRST.  People in various conditions and circumstances.  People of various races, People of different ethnicity, or culture, or religions. PEOPLE of different financial situation.  People. Persons. Individuals. The ridicule of groups of people is the first step to dehumanizing them by turning them into their situation instead of seeing them whole. 

Stephen Colbert, like All in the Family before him is poking fun at those who stereotype.  That is not offensive.  It's hilarious. 

Moxie, why do you view our outrage as "mock" outrage?  Why do you find it offensive that people in NJ found Asian stereotypes offensive?  Do YOU like it when others put down YOUR friends?

I just find it amazing that you are angry that karma evens out.  Those who spread bad karma on the airwaves get fired eventually.  What goes around has come around, and you are unhappy. Meanwhile the rest of us heave a sigh of relief and think - "there is a God". 

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Mon May 14, 2007 at 22:33:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Oh Boy. (2.00 / 3)

When advertisers pull out from a show, they are making a decision to not be associated with a particular celebrity - one who may embarass them.

Honestly, you have no idea what happened and you are just piping in because you like the sound of your keyboard clacking.  Advertisers didn't pull out of the show.  CBS did.  Preemptively.  The Imus controversy led to a chilling effect on the radio industry.  I think Frank Rich of the Times said it best:

Liberals are kidding themselves if they think the Imus firing won't have a potentially chilling effect on comics who push the line. Let's not forget that Bill Maher, an Imus defender last week, was dropped by FedEx, Sears, ABC affiliates and eventually ABC itself after he broke the P.C. code of 9/11.

Read the rest of the column.  It really nails it.

Stephen Colbert is funny.  But the way you look at people is not. "the poor"  "the uninsured" "the illiterate" "the handicapped"  That is very telling.  Language DOES matter.  All of those collective groups are PEOPLE.

Wow.  You don't even know me, yet you are assuming a whole lot about me.  Seriously, who do you think you are?

Ignorant individuals often view groups of individuals by their condition.  And doing so dehumanizes them.  Note: the proper term is not "handicapped"  it is "persons with  disabilities"

Oh. My. God.  You should start by contacting the North American Riding for the Handicapped Assoc. and the National Association for Visually Handicapped.  Sheriff Carol and the PC Police should give them a big spanking.

And would you mind telling John Edwards that he shouldn't say "the poor" or "the uninsured" anymore?

And tell the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People that it shouldn't view people as "colored" and it's not "colored" anyways, it's African American.

All people are people FIRST.  People in various conditions and circumstances.  People of various races, People of different ethnicity, or culture, or religions. PEOPLE of different financial situation.  People. Persons. Individuals.

Thank you, Carol.  I didn't understand that until you called me ignorant and spelled this out.

The ridicule of groups of people is the first step to dehumanizing them by turning them into their situation instead of seeing them whole.

Maybe you should tell the cancelled shock jock's wife, who is ASIAN AMERICAN.  She should file for a divorce because he made a joke at Asians' expense.

Stephen Colbert, like All in the Family before him is poking fun at those who stereotype.  That is not offensive.  It's hilarious.

You've never seen "This Week in God," have you?  It may not be offensive to YOU, but I would say most devoutly religious people would find it offensive.  And guess what? I laugh.  Because I'm "ignorant."

Do YOU like it when others put down YOUR friends?

If I don't like it, I change the channel.  I turn to another station.  I don't expect the world to conform to my beliefs.  Unfortunately, the PC and TC police would impose their views on everyone else.  They can't sleep knowing that somewhere someone might be saying something that would offend them.

What goes around has come around.

If that's true then Kharma's coming for you.

---

by: Moxie Sebright @ Tue May 15, 2007 at 01:48:42 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

can we take a deep breath? (4.00 / 1)

IIIINNNNNNN and
oooouuuuuuutttttttt!

Now doesn't that feel better?

activist for hire.

---

by: Jay Lassiter @ Tue May 15, 2007 at 12:21:54 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I took a deep breath (2.00 / 2)

and still disagree with you.  Horrifying I know!  Maybe I should be banned from the site.  Don't worry, that won't be censorship.  Just the free market at work.

---

by: Moxie Sebright @ Tue May 15, 2007 at 17:03:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Have you noticed ... (4.00 / 1)

That your comment threads often degenerate into this kind of thing, no matter who it is on the other side of the commenting?

At some point you should look away from the other folks and wonder if maybe you don't invite it. 

---

by: huntsu @ Wed May 16, 2007 at 15:56:00 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

CBS has been involved (0.00 / 0)

with Opie and Anthony, and Imus as well as the show that caused an outcry in the Asian American community that you are talking about.  The pulling of advertisers is relevant because it happened in those other recent cases regarding CBS.  CBS must be feeling a bit gunshy right now.  They may not want to wait till the advertisers pull out this time.

I'm sorry you don't understand what offends the Asian American community, or how language is used.  I may not be Asian, but I have many friends who are.  People often make the mistake of assuming I won't mind hearing their xenophobic remarks.  In NJ there is a lot of xenophobia targeted towards Asians, and I don't think pranks like that help.  Didn't you cringe when Rosie O'Donnell went off on her mock Asian rant recently or don't you feel uncomfortable seeing an old movie where caucasian actors play stereotypical Chinese characters? To many, those movies make people cringe like white actors in blackface do. 

There is a reason the latest law to help those with disabilities is called the "Americans with Disabilities Act".  It may seem like a fine shade of meaning but it isn't.  We don't call someone a "cripple" anymore.  The NAACP just makes my case not yours.  They still call them  people.  Not "coloreds". 

So, who do I think I am?  I am someone familiar with the ADA laws because I have to design to them.  I am someone with Asian friends.  I am someone whose father operates the food pantry in town for other residents who have trouble making ends meet. 

I have seen This Week in God and I think it is really funny.  Maybe because I am Christian and so is he and he is trying to expose how intolerant Christians can be. 

Bill Mahar is hardly sitting somewhere all alone, jobless and desperate. The person who hires you needs to match your act with your audience. It is their right to hire and fire an act that may offend an audience or advertiser who pays for the show.  That's entertainment.  It's not entertainment if the audience doesn't find it entertaining. 

Bill Mahar has found a new audience and so will Imus.  It just won't be as broad of a group.  I don't have a problem with people listening to whatever they want to, but please let CBS decide how to pair up what talent with what audience. 

I guess compared to your actual seething, boiling, vein-popping, threatening outrage to enjoy things that offend Asian folks, our outrage must seem pretty tame. Mock, almost.

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Tue May 15, 2007 at 15:35:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'll let Frank Rich respond (0.00 / 0)

Clearly, I can't disagree with you without you questioning my tolerance towards others or claiming I'm hysterical.  It's reminds me of how the administration calls critics 'terrorists'.  Instead, I'll let Frank Rich respond, so you can call him an ignorant person who doesn't understand language.

Carol:

I'm sorry you don't understand what offends the Asian American community, or how language is used.  I may not be Asian, but I have many friends who are.

Frank Rich:

Of course I was aware of many of his obnoxious comments about minority groups, including my own, Jews. Sometimes he aimed invective at me personally. I wasn?t seriously bothered by much of it, even when it was unfunny or made me wince, because I saw him as equally offensive to everyone.

Carol:

Didn't you cringe when Rosie O'Donnell went off on her mock Asian rant recently or don't you feel uncomfortable seeing an old movie where caucasian actors play stereotypical Chinese characters? To many, those movies make people cringe like white actors in blackface do.

Frank Rich:

Already in the Imus aftermath, the born-again blogger Tom DeLay has called for the firing of Rosie O?Donnell because of her ?hateful? views on Chinese-Americans, conservative Christians and President Bush.

Carol:

So, who do I think I am?  I am someone familiar with the ADA laws because I have to design to them.  I am someone with Asian friends.  I am someone whose father operates the food pantry in town for other residents who have trouble making ends meet.

Frank Rich:

Even in that short span, there?s been an astounding display of hypocrisy, sanctimony and self-congratulation from nearly every side of the debate...

Carol:

I have seen This Week in God and I think it is really funny.  Maybe because I am Christian and so is he and he is trying to expose how intolerant Christians can be.

Frank Rich:

Liberals are kidding themselves if they think the Imus firing won?t have a potentially chilling effect on comics who push the line.

Frank Rich concludes:

If we really want to have this conversation, it also means we have to have a nonposturing talk about hip-hop lyrics, ?Borat,? ?South Park? and maybe Larry David, too.

Obviously this isn't a real conversation.  You aren't complaining to record labels for the sexist lyrics they dump onto the airwaves.  Please.

Carol:

It's not entertainment if the audience doesn't find it entertaining.

You're kidding yourself if you actually think these complaints are from the fans of the show.  They are from a small minority of people like you and Dennis McGrath, who don't even listen to the show!  You already admitted to hating shock jock radio when you worked in an office. You are mistaking taste with justice.

Someday, you will be at the other end, as a show you like is cancelled.  Not because it has low ratings.  Because some conservative group mounted enough political pressure to get it cancelled.

I won't be happy that day.  I will be just as upset.

---

by: Moxie Sebright @ Tue May 15, 2007 at 17:49:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Did I (0.00 / 0)

turn off my coworkers' radio?

Did I even give them a hard time about it?

No and no.

Do I go around calling people terrorists? 

Again, no.

I am not the PC police.  I am a person with Asian friends who has an opinion.  Racism isn't funny and can lead to societal problems. 

Are you even upset about the general who was canned from CBS for making the Bush administration look bad by telling the truth?  Now THAT is censorship.  You are more concerned about protecting our airwaves for obnoxiousness than about protecting the airwaves for real news.

It took less time for them to get rid of the general.  That is scary.  Focus on that. 

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Tue May 15, 2007 at 18:11:52 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

"Pleasant" sentence (0.00 / 0)

Honestly, you have no idea what happened and you are just piping in because you like the sound of your keyboard clacking.

----------------------------------------------

Interesting...

---

by: progressivemuslimnj @ Tue May 15, 2007 at 15:58:45 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Confused what you mean (3.00 / 1)

You seem to deride corporations making business decisions designed to reduce elements of unpopularity propogated by their own assets. What exactly about that flies in the face of the free market? Isn't the free market, in this case, essentially a popularity contest on behalf of a business trying to maximize its profits? If that business then decides that certain racial stereotypes or slurs are "unpopular" enough to detract from accomplishing their business goals, how is that not a free market decision? Your argument doesn't seem logical.

---

by: Brian McGinnis @ Tue May 15, 2007 at 20:17:18 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Instant Karma (0.00 / 0)

... and, oh, yes! I DO work for poor and sick people; I work to bring money into a not-for-profit agency that provides services to all kinds of people! And, I would gladly get upset about a liberal radio personality if one could be found ... and if that one were misusing the airwaves like these 'entertainers' do, but the funny thing is ... it just doesn't happen. Now, thanks to the magic of Wikipedia (which based on my reading of their terms of service is cool with the lengthy quote), let's see just what we lost when The Dog House (aka Elvis and JV) went off the air ... (Google "The Dog House" and check the wikipedia entry, I've shortened it to the salient bits)

 

<blockquote>Controversy ... On March 27, 2007, a local band called A Brief Smile came on for a weekly segment called Talent Tuesday. After being asked what radio station they listen to, the bass player responded with a sarcastic "People still listen to radio?" JV and Elvis responded by calling him various homophobic insults, such as "faggot" and "pansy," before kicking him out. The hosts proceeded to call the bass player a "fag" and after playing a song by the band called the bass part "a little faggy." The bass player returned to the studio and stated how he was bisexual and that their comments were offensive. JV and Elvis said that they didn't know, but that they didn't care and told him to stop acting like a baby. Gay rights groups such as GLAAD criticized the show as being homophobic for their remarks.[7]

On April 21, 2007, the show rebroadcasted a six minute-long segment of a prank call to a Chinese restaurant (that was first broadcasted April 5). The call featured a computerized voice using racial and profane language (examples include "Chinese man, tell me about your tiny egg roll... your tiny egg roll in your pants", "Should I come to your restaurant so that I can see you naked… that way I can see your hot Asian spicy ass", and "You are a very nice Chinese man… probably can't drive for shit, but who cares.") Several Chinese American advocacy groups, including the Organization of Chinese Americans, were outraged by this segment, describing it as "racist, vulgar and sexist."[8]. As of April 23, the duo have been suspended indefinitely without pay. One of the hosts, Jeff Vandergrift, apologized on Monday's show[9]. The show was later cancelled, with CBS Radio spokeswoman Karen Mateo stating, "The Dog House with JV and Elvis will no longer be broadcast." Jeanette Wang, an executive with the Organization of Chinese Americans, stated that the cancellation was "a victory not only for the Asian American community, but for all communities who find themselves constant targets of racist and sexist programming.[13] </blockquote>

Gosh, yep, sorry to seek that go ... NOT!

---

by: denniscmcgrath @ Tue May 15, 2007 at 14:30:34 PM UTC

Wow. (0.00 / 0)

It appears I've touched off quite an argument.
Dennis, I agree with your effort to write advertisers. I think that is the best course of action by those who are offended by something they hear on radio or television.
My point was (as Moxie demonstrated somewhat) a majority of content could be construed as offensive to one group or another. Moxie had an excellent example with religion, the phrase 'bible thumpers' is often used (innocently enough) to describe religious people. But I bet you those religious people don't appreciate that term. Taken to the extreme, 'bean counters' could be offensive to accountants...etc...
Again, taken to the extreme, the radio waves will become pure vanilla, until listenership drops off. (which is what happened with 102.7 before Opie and Anthony came the first time), and then the owners take a chance and hire controversial talent to bring the audience back. As they become too controversial, they're removed. It's a business cycle of sorts.

"Where ever you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Bonzai

---

by: William Weber (WjcW) @ Tue May 15, 2007 at 17:43:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Good point. (0.00 / 0)

Christians make up the majority of this country.  It would be a shame if a show couldn't criticize Christianity without being cancelled. 

Or, in the case of BlueJersey.com, it would be a shame if CarolH was banned from this site or any other because she said Christians are "intolerant."

Unfortunately, in this current political climate, let's not assume Congress wont pass laws limiting free speech over the airwaves. 

These hysterical overreactions give political cover to those who would limit free speech out of "common decency" and "tolerance."

Heck, doesn't Hillary Clinton supports laws that would crack down on violence in movies and video games? 

I hope that liberals will take the libertarian approach to free speech because conservatives certainly wont.

---

by: Moxie Sebright @ Tue May 15, 2007 at 18:14:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Video Games? (0.00 / 0)

Ouch. Now that will hurt. 

I have family members who are "Born Agains"  beleive me I know how intolerant they can be.  I can still talk to my family about it without it becoming a fist fight, though.  That is what we have to do here.  Actually have conversations about it.

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Tue May 15, 2007 at 18:25:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Wow. (3.00 / 1)

You just don't see your hypocrisy.  If I said Asian people are intolerant, you'd go ape-shit.  The point is, you don't find it nasty to say that about Evangelical Christians, but many Evangelicals would be insulted.  Nonetheless, I support your right to say it without being canned from this site.

Likewise, you seem to think it's amusing to ban violent video games.  You have shown that you are okay with banning anything you don't like or understand.  You are showing that you only support free speech if you agree with it.

Supporting free speech means supporting the right to say things even if you don't agree with them. 

By the way, "I have Asian friends" and "I have family members who are Evangelical" too.  Do I get a cookie or something?

Finally, let's not say it's only censorship when the government does it.  Over 90% of media holdings are owned by Disney, Viacom, TimeWarner, News Corp, Bertelsmann AG, and General Electric.  They are the de-facto governing bodies of our media outlets.

Welcome to the new world order where all unpopular speech is banished from the airwaves and we get our entertainment and information from a single sanitized corporate-sponsored voice.

---

by: Moxie Sebright @ Tue May 15, 2007 at 19:15:35 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Lets have a conversation (0.00 / 0)

Like I had last week at a party of about 15 Evangelical NJ folks.  (Surprised I could be in the same room with them and not be burned at the stake?)  They were concerned about what they called the "hate speech" bill.  The pastor (who was there) was telling me how upset he was that he could be imprisoned for preaching about how bad homosexuality is.  He is as afraid of the PC police as Opie and Anthony.  Why is that?  I think what we have here is a failure to communicate.

As for video games, I love video games. I grew up with video games.  I don't watch or play the violent ones but I can understand how parents would get upset by them.  That is why they should be rated.  Banned?  I don't think so. 

Again it is all a matter of matching audience to material.  A singer or musician has to know what works in a smokey blues club and what is appropriate for a family picnic.  It's usually not the same thing.  Radio and TV are for general audiences.  Those who make their living by being on TV and radio know that.

The real censorship happens on the news shows, like it did on PBS, where folks won't notice, not the shock jock ones. 

I am asking to have a conversation and you are being a humorless zealot.  You can't even tell when someone is joking around.  You're just no fun :(  I was even going to make you a cookie.  Now, no cookie for you.

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Tue May 15, 2007 at 20:02:31 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I fail to see ... (0.00 / 0)

... what is hysterical about contacting advertisers on programs that promote hate speech as entertainment, notifying them of the content that they are underwriting.

And nothing in Frank Rich's article disagrees with that point.

Rich talks of the hypocrisies of liberal hand-wringers who appear on Imus then kick him to the curb. I agree -- it's reprehensible that they appeared on Imus. NJ Democrats should steer clear of Carton, Rossi and NJ101.5. Writing to THEM is the next step.

---

by: denniscmcgrath @ Tue May 15, 2007 at 19:02:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

A Quote from Frank Rich, NYT (4.00 / 1)

... corporations, whether television or radio networks or movie studios or commercial sponsors, are free to edit or cancel any content. No one has an inalienable right to be broadcast or published or given a movie or music contract.

---

by: denniscmcgrath @ Tue May 15, 2007 at 19:08:09 PM UTC

Careful What You Wish For (0.00 / 0)

Yes, it is completely legal to hire and fire whoever they want.  And they do.  That is why there is so little diversity of opinion on our airwaves.

As I said above, over 90% of media holdings are owned by Disney, Viacom, TimeWarner, News Corp, Bertelsmann AG, and General Electric.  They are the de-facto governing bodies of our media outlets.

This consolidation will continue until there are maybe two companies controlling everything you listen to, read, and watch.

---

by: Moxie Sebright @ Tue May 15, 2007 at 19:30:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Precisely my point. (0.00 / 0)

The government has not yanked the right of Moxie Sebright to hire Imus.  I'm sure he could use the work.....

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Tue May 15, 2007 at 19:37:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]