15
May
How to End the Reign of Shock Jocks
What do recent radio references to nappy-headed hos, raping Condi Rice, and slimp flied lice have in common?
Other than the desire to shock listeners – and thereby create controversy, grow audiences and sell advertising — the current spate of repulsive shock-jock gibberish all share something else: a salary from CBS. Once peacock-proud of their self-styled “Tiffany” network — so-called for its supposed devotion to quality — the corporate heirs of William Paley traded public service for private profit long ago. But now no amount of filthy lucre can perfume away the stench wafting from the current trench of programming sewage being shoveled our way of late by such CBS on-air alleged ‘talent’ as Opie & Anthony, JV and Elvis, and Don “I-Man” Imus.
It was CBS, of course, that offered Imus forty million dollars to render services of an “irreverent” and “controversial” nature — and then fired him when he did the job too well. And it was CBS that hired JV and Elvis to crack wise on “The Dog House” before the “Imus effect” thankfully led to the cancellation of that program, after the hosts made a racist, sexist and homophobic on-air prank call ordering “slimp flied lice” from a Chinese restaurant. And it was CBS that re-hired Opie and Anthony after dumping them five years ago for staging an on-air sex contest, complete with live coverage of a couple having sex in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. After outraged Catholics protested the desecration of their church, the duo looked for other employment—and eventually found it, not only on XM satellite radio, where they staged their latest repellent stunt, but also on New York’s WFNY-FM, where they are employed by — wait, wait, don’t tell me! — CBS Radio.
Now that JV and Elvis are no longer in the house, having joined Imus on the unemployment line, and their Asian-mocking joking has left CBS execs with more community opprobrium, angry advertisers, and another gaping hole in their schedule, their fellow shock jocks Opie and Anthony should swiftly follow all three out the door. Maybe then their corporate overlords at CBS will finally learn that ‘making fun’ of people because of their race, gender or sexual orientation really isn’t funny, and that encouraging rape and violent assault is a criminal and not a comic act.
Unlike the CBS execs, the dopey duo - whose real names are Gregg Hughes and Anthony Cumia – at least had the sense to apologize last week after a guest on their XM satellite show advocated raping Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, First Lady Laura Bush and Queen Elizabeth of Britain. Here’s a sample of their shocking “humor,” as the hosts laugh and fantasize about the horror for Rice as studio guest “Homeless Charlie” is “holdin’ her down” and assaulting her:
Voice 1 (Charlie): I tell you what — what that George Bush bitch, Rice? Condoleezza Rice?
Voice 2 (Host): Condoleezza Rice.
V1: I’d love to fuck that bitch, man. (Laughter) She needs to fuck a man. I’d fuck her.
V2: I can just imagine the horror on Condoleezza Rice’s face when she realized what was going on. (Laughter)
V3 (Host 2): You were all just holdin’ her down and, you know, fuckin’ her. (Laughter)
V1: Punch her all in the fuckin’ face, saying, “Shut up, bitch.” (Laughter)
V3: That’s exactly what I meant. (Laughter)
(To hear the exchange, go here: Breitbart.tv)
So given the Imus effect, given the JV and Elvis situation, and given the known history of Opie and Anthony… what did CBS do and say about the ‘raping Rice” bit on XM? Nothing and no comment, beyond the following statement by CBS Radio spokeswoman Karen Mateo: “Fortunately, we have standards that did not and would not ever let something like this make our air.” No — nothing like this — just lame jokes about Asians and gays and stupid slurs against young, accomplished black women…
The reaction from XM satellite radio was similarly curt. Asked whether the company would discipline Opie and Anthony, XM spokesman Nathaniel Brown said only, “We deplore the comments made on Wednesday’s ‘Opie & Anthony Show.’” It wasn’t until almost a week later that the company announced that it would suspend the two jocks and cease broadcast of the show for 30 days… an apology of sorts that only came, a company press release stated, after comments made by the pair on a May 14th broadcast “put into question whether they appreciate the seriousness of the matter. The management of XM Radio decided to suspend Opie and Anthony to make clear that our on-air talent must take seriously the responsibility that creative freedom requires of them.”
But unlike XM, Opie and Anthony at least issued an apology, wherein they maintained that they do “take very seriously the responsibility that comes with our creative freedom and regret any offense that this segment has caused” — a statement that’s a lot funnier than most of their puerile on-air bits and skits.
Of course, when stupid people say stupid things, only stupid people are surprised. And it would be stupid to blame dopey Opie and Anthony – not to mention the idiotic likes of Glenn Beck, Neal Boortz, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’Reilly, Michael Savage, Michael Smerconish, and John Gibson, who have their own issues with bigotry and hate speech targeting race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and ethnicity.
Moreover, targeting individuals does raise free speech and censorship concerns. Better to exercise our own free speech and purchasing power by telling and showing media companies and advertisers that encouragement of and complicity with such offensive remarks will hurt their bottom lines. CBS executives should know better, and if they don’t get it yet, the best path to their collective corporate brain is clearly through their pocketbook.
At least some advertisers appear to get it. After deserting Imus, sponsors seem poised to do the same with Opie and Anthony – and we should do our humble best to encourage them.
We can start by sending props out to representatives from both the New York State Lottery and to Trojan condoms for already announcing that they will no longer advertise on the CBS version of the “Opie & Anthony” show. “The Trojan brand is committed to advancing the sexual health of those who choose to be sexually active,” James Daniels, vice president of marketing for Trojan condoms, a division of the Church & Dwight Company, said in a statement. “The recent comments made on the ‘Opie & Anthony’ show are inconsistent with that commitment.” (A representative from the New York State Lottery said that it had already discontinued its ads on the show on May 4, after a comedian who is a regular guest could be heard asking, “Would it be possible, could you whistle ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ while I rape a girl?”)
Let’s continue by pressing all the other advertisers on all Opie and Anthony programs to withdraw their support — or face consumer boycotts of their products until they do so. Maybe then advertisers and broadcasters like CBS will finally get the message that racism, sexism, and homophobia isn’t acceptable “entertainment.”
And while we’re at it, let’s press the FCC to take a long, hard look at plans for XM Satellite radio to merge with its sole competitor, Sirius satellite radio. The only two satellite radio networks have been attempting to seal a deal under antitrust scrutiny, which may just have become a bit more difficult.
Before the Rice rape flap the biggest potential roadblock for the merger was a 1997 Federal Communications Commission ruling that a single owner may not control the subscriber-only satellite radio business. But Sirius chief executive Mel Karmazin says the advance of new technologies offering so much music, news and talk has radically altered the competitive climate and the FCC should waive the rule. The merger, Karmazin argues, would actually benefit consumers by letting them access both companies’ services for a lower price.
Karmazin is slated to become CEO of the merger between Sirius and XM if and when the two become one company. Guess what major broadcasting company he ran prior to taking over Sirius?
Dear dumb-ass cracker,
Peacock is NBC, not CBS. You and your ilk are exactly the reason Joe Six-Pack hates progressives. You get your panties in a bunch about the most inconsequential hate-speech; playing into the hands of those who wish to paint the left as humorless prigs. There’s bigger fish to fry, dude. I understand the power of language, and I also understand those shock-jocks are rarely funny. Much of what they say is morally indefensible and they will be punished by the free market. I agree with your article, but why not go after Frank Luntz, if you want to talk about dangerous language? What he says actually effects people’s lives, and in some cases, has ended life. In summation: stop being such a whiney douche. Otherwise, great piece.
- Ian
May 16th, 2007 at 9:46 amIan,
May 16th, 2007 at 9:55 amYou claim to “understand the power of language,” yet turn around and talk about “inconsequential hate-speech” while relying on puerile namecalling in a vain effort to make your case.
Great article
May 16th, 2007 at 11:03 amGreat article! and I agree that Rush Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly really need to go.
May 16th, 2007 at 11:05 amSo because of stupid people we are to give up the right of free speech?
May 16th, 2007 at 12:47 pmI will not waste both our time on the meaning of what you propose but would rather ask you what are your motives?
I do not wish to be licensed by the neos, be they con or lib. Free speech belongs to the people if they can hold on to it from people like you.
Cord you have it right, these guys want Rush gone but the most lude dudes are cool ,as long as their politics is left.
May 16th, 2007 at 1:39 pmWhat don’t need is censorship right or left. I happen to a lot more offended by gratuitis sex and nudity , porn ect than I am about honky gringo …. but I am not about to shoot or fire any one over it.
nor do I have the right. Just FYI Rory you dont eather bro, by the way I didnt
see any name calling in that post just an sertion that you were acting like….
“…with bigotry and hate speech targeting race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and ethnicity.”
Ruadhri,
Given your historically resonant name, I’m assuming you know at least a little Irish history. The ancient Brehon laws protected satire and satirists, some of whom were so savage and effective they were said to be able to raise blisters and topple kings. Those same laws, however, forbade the satirists from attacking anything but a person’s actions and choices; nothing they were born with, such as those attributes listed above, was fair game.
While I’m too fond of the First to want the government to be involved, I think those would be good rules to follow, and the marketplace is the right venue for encouraging them.
Good article.
May 16th, 2007 at 1:51 pmWhat might help most is to publish the names and contact info of the executives of the sponsors of these shock jocks.
May 16th, 2007 at 3:17 pmPeople might like to let them know what they think. Nothing cleanses like daylight.
I am not a big fan of people like O&A but guess what? Nobody forces me to listen. You don’t like it, turn it off.
Sure, some of these people go too far and this should not be allowed, by the employer, not by government.
Then you make this comment:
“Of course, when stupid people say stupid things, only stupid people are surprised. And it would be stupid to blame dopey Opie and Anthony – not to mention the idiotic likes of Glenn Beck, Neal Boortz, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’Reilly, Michael Savage, Michael Smerconish, and John Gibson, who have their own issues with bigotry and hate speech targeting race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and ethnicity. ”
What? I don’t know all of those but Rush, Bill Neal, etc do not engage on hate speech and should not be discussed with the likes of O&A.
OK, you don’t like the fact they believe in smaller government, less government control, low taxes, economic freedom, strong national defense, etc.
That’s fine, but deal with the issues don’t suggest they engage in hate speech .. and my guess is you don’t even listen to Rush & company.
Try it, it might change your life.
May 16th, 2007 at 10:41 pmFunny. I don’t see the word “rape” in the transcript. I must have missed that part. Wait…no…it’s not in the original audio either. Hmm.
That’s odd. I don’t see any mention of sponsors pulling their ads in SUPPORT of Opie and Anthony, namely Nashville Coffee.
I’ll decide for myself what I will or won’t listen too. The freedom of choice is a right I was given when I was born. Correct me if I’m wrong here, but I don’t believe any person or government has the authority to over-rule God.
May 17th, 2007 at 7:18 amI’ve seen countless people defend the “right of free speech” for the shock jocks and TV/radio talking heads when they DO NOT have a free speech right.
The fact is that they all work for multiple corporations (Don Imus for example worked for NBC on TV and CBS on radio and those corporations in turn take corporate advertising to finance Imus’ show) and in the corporate world free speech is not a right. Most of us have worked for corporations and know full well that as a representative of a corporation we are not allowed to say anything we want under the auspices of free speech. I’d like to know of a corporation that allows complete open free speech, there isn’t one.
Further, unlike most of us nobodies in America that don’t have some national platform in the mainstream media to voice our opinions, the talking heads with their star status are given a PRIVILEGE to voice their opinions, it is not a right. Any corporation will tell you that it is a privilege to work for them and not a right.
We have a right in this country to put corporations under laws. As much as the right might hate this, capitalism is not democracy and consumerism isn’t voting.
Refusing to watch or listen doesn’t work as a method of showing displeasure, market voting isn’t effective. Why? Because it’s hard to measure non-attention as opposed to attention. Most of these shows actually have a huge majority of Americans not consuming their media garbage, all the time. It’s a small minority of Americans watching or not watching in the first place. Further, TV/radio ratings systems have problems in actually measuring consumers. How many of you have ever participated in a Nielsen rating before?
So, to address our citizen concerns we end up having to protest to the corporations that rule the media to in effect uphold THEIR own speech rules within their corporation. They can’t police themselves, so we’re forced to complain directly to them to do so.
Or we must appeal to the government agency that is suppose to be policing the media for the people, the FCC. I had e-mailed the FCC about the Imus remarks and four weeks later I received a .39 cents posted letter explaining that they were looking into it. Apparently the FCC was the only people in the United States unaware that Imus had been fired weeks prior. So, here’s an agency out of touch, can’t count on them either.
Whatever the left or right might think of our media, it is quite evident that it exists with little control over it by the citizens. Rarely are the citizens (as opposed to consumers) given any power over the media. The power is held by the media and that is the real problem all along.
May 17th, 2007 at 11:09 amThis went WAY too far a couple of years ago when four Clear Channel radio hosts in different states began advocating physical violence against BICYCLISTS. It began jokingly, but soon callers and the hosts got into a feeding frenzy of hatred in which bicyclists were liable to be killed.
Bicycling organizations contacted the management at the stations to explain why inciting hate crimes wasn’t in their station’s interest–and the kibosh came down upon the heads of the hosts. In fact the stations aired PSAs on respecting bicyclist rights.
This demonstrates how something like this can spring up spontaneously. A latent prejudice against a minority becomes respectable by being aired on the radio, resulting in an escalation to actual violence. What’s scary is that the hosts didn’t realize the potential consequences of their “entertainment”–until the adults stepped in.
May 17th, 2007 at 11:37 amRory, are you really as ill informed as you make yourself out to be in you “OpEd” article?
Do you understand that this content was highly exclusive to the only people that chose…err paid and chose to listen to it (so in theory sponsors should not be an issue)? Why should anyone be upset at a comment that was made by a homeless guy on a show that is brought to a medium in which they are encouraged to display their “raunchy, tasteless and sick humor?” While it may not be your thing, or for that matter anyone that doesn’t pay for the service, doesn’t mean you have the right to pass judgment on what we feel like paying to listen to.
You truly are a sad, little man if you believe everything you typed out here. George Orwell would be very proud of you assisting in bringing his depiction of future society to fruition.
You lose! You get nothing! Good day sir! Frrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrunkis!
May 17th, 2007 at 11:39 amthanks rory,
i don’t think the relatively a-political Imuses and Opie and Anthony’s are the big problem.
i hope ian and the other lazy dumb-ass cracker ayn randian wet dreamers wake up soon. under the lazy whine of allowing market forces to take care of this and every other societal problem, the fascist side of the republican party and their corporate funders wanting to privatize and deregulate everything have taken over.
and it started with a mainstreammedia takeover that wouldn’t have happened without trickle up propaganda made possible by the unaccountable organized repetition of lies and GOP talking points only possible on talk radio.
that massive monopoly was made possible after reagan got rid of the Fairness Doctrine and the GOP moneybags bought up all the bandwidth.
“free market?”- limbaugh was heavily subsidized for years while they formed that monster monopoly- do you really think he could make all his millions selling hair growth and penile enhancement formulas and anti-clinton mugs and watches? now he’s got a 1/3$BIL contract (and that’s probably not including all the percs) and nobody will ever make that kind of money for telling wisdom and truth. he was a steal at that price- for all the money he’s made for that 1/10 of one percent of the population who benefit from Republican economics, and the war profiteers.
thank the local broadcasters of limbaugh, hannity, and their wannabes for taking America to the edge. we’ll be paying for this for decades. the only upside may be that it has destroyed the Republican Party as we have been unfortunate to know it.
protesting or boycotting the local station that broadcasts the blowhard chickenhawk paul-reveres-in-reverse and global warming deniers who got us into this trillion dollar bush mess in iraq would be one of the most american of free-market free-speech expressions.
and local may be the better way to go- the national advertisers are more insulated and harder to get the attention of. but many local advertisers may be much more ready to switch to another station or medium as they become more and more aware that the blowhards they rely on to represent their products and services have been WRONG ABOUT EVERYTHING! they might have merely been wanting to advertize on the station that broadcasts the local sports and may not be aware there are large numbers of local citizens who believe they helped fund the organized soviet-style white house propaganda that lied us into this war, threats to our local representatives, racism and sexism, excuses for the corrupt bush, and now, more excuses for bush and the GOP so more soldiers and innocent iraqis die because they can’t admit their mistakes and take responsibility.
Re: “Rush, Bill Neal, etc do not engage on hate speech” - You haven’t been paying attention- those blowhards are very practised at it - they’re just not so crude. A recent study of Oreiley’s stuff concluded his stuff if full of hate and fear. you must not be aware of rush’s stuff- like when he said those left behind in New Orleans could have left in time too, they just needed better jobs so they could afford SUVs. all the guys you mention have a long record of race baiting and hate speech- see mediamatters.org
May 17th, 2007 at 11:44 amYou are an ass clown. Don’t you realize that this is a slippery slope that is going to destroy our right to free speech including these blogs. Anything with any potential to raise anyone’s ire is going to go away. This is Taliban American Style.
May 17th, 2007 at 11:51 amwow so your idea for fixing all of americas problems is to trim a little fat off the constitution. Ya know while your at it how about you stand up against HBO and Cinemax or Playboy TV and the Spice Channel
May 17th, 2007 at 11:52 amRory, you’re a moron.
Just because YOU don’t like something that someone says, doesn’t mean it should be outlawed. Just because YOU find something offensive, doesn’t mean it should be banned. You don’t have to listen. You don’t have to subscribe. I don’t tell you what to listen to, what to wear, what to eat…don’t tell me.
Let the free market decide. If john q. public really dislikes what is being said on a show, the ratings won’t be there. By pressuring advertisers and sponsors, you are affecting content ARTIFICIALLY, just to suit your own selfish, childish, “if i don’t like it i’m taking my ball and going home” attitude.
Grow up. You are not the center of the universe.
May 17th, 2007 at 11:54 amGreat! Another person who thinks they know what is right for everybody else.
May 17th, 2007 at 11:54 amI am so glad you have figured out this whole American Society thing, and now you can impart your wisdom to us all. I would hate to have to think for myself.
Are you so ego-centric that you think YOU have the solution to what you think is wrong with society? People like you are the problem, my friend. Hop into your mini-van with your 10 kids and drive into a crowded school yard, loser.
PS
RE those who argue we can just turn it off-
once some new kind of Fairness Doctrine is made law or the talk radio monopoly is reduced so it can no longer be used as an unnacountable soviet-style propaganda machine, only then does the “just turn it off!” argument make sense.
the talk radio monopoly made sure that in many parts of the country there are no alternatives to limbaugh and hannity and their blowhard clones if you want to get news and current events and politics while driving or working and you wanted to get it before you got home to fight the kids for the remote control. the talk radio monopoly is what made many red states red and allowed this trillion dollar bush disaster.
May 17th, 2007 at 11:57 amPS
i thought free speech was when you could take a soap box to the park and call someone a jerk until he smacked you in the mouth
since when was that right was fully extended to some jerk paid millions to sit in front of a billion watt microphone because he says what the fucking king wants him to say or not to say.
May 17th, 2007 at 12:06 pmRory, you twit. Don’t you realize that what you are advocating could actually be used to define what you write as “hate speech” and in turn have it removed or censored, as some may find it offensive??
May 17th, 2007 at 1:38 pmAs a hillbilly, redneck, cracker, klanner and God knows what else I find your sensibilities quite touching.
I’m glad people are free to call me whatever makes them happy. I do not wish to act like jews and blacks and cry in my beer if somebody looks cross-eyed at me.
I don’t like shock jocks AT ALL. I am a democrat and I will defend their right to say whatever they please I just won’t listen to it.
May 17th, 2007 at 2:23 pmYou are writing in the wrong place. This country is based on Freedom. You are perpetuating one of the biggest problems with media broadcasting today. The loud-mouth, close-minded, Minority always seem to be the ones who tell the rest of the world how they should be feeling, acting, or reacting. If every person shut up when it came to their personal opinions and acted on them then maybe we would have a different world. Don’t support the Advertisers and feel free to tell them why. That is how it’s suppose to work. Why do you think you need to gather together the uninformed masses and tell them to follow your opinon. Stupid people can be led over the edge of a cliff.
May 17th, 2007 at 2:24 pmChalk another victory for the ‘corporate terrorist’ Vicki Sue Smolin, and her Corporate terrorism Company the OCA.
The protest count was actually pushing or
over 300 so lets get that out of the way.
When the OCA protest against
JV and ELVIS, those people were bussed in, and actually started
protesting with the JV AND ELVIS support crowd- Until the higher ups
told them they were on the wrong side!!!
On Saturday May 12 fans on many
radio shows, and the people against censorship group came out in
NUMBERS…
About every 98 of 100 people that walked in front of us agreed with us, took fliers and signed their information on the People Against Censorship information sheets.
Jv and Elvis will return, and to the OCA, I can say why don’t you sprinkle that on your SHLIMP FLIED LICE… ITS A JOKE GROW UP.
I find it funny that liberals want to ban O’Reilly and empower groups to threaten companies to fire radio shows because of their “everyone must play nice” agenda…
You know that Liberal agenda… Where we will protect free speech!!! Unless we don’t like what you’re saying..
DOGHOUSE… WHAAAAT
May 17th, 2007 at 4:39 pmI used to think of Chinese people as warm, respectful, hard working people with a dynamic and beautiful cultural heritage. I was glad to have Chinese culture as a part the American fabric.
Then, last month, The OCA decided that JV&Elvis needed to be fired because They were offended by their prank call. And they succeded in taking away my favorite radio show.
Now when ever I see a Chinaman, all I can think of is what they stole from me and how they see me (an Irishman) as a racist. Now I see their yellow skin and my stomach is knotted with hate. I am now painfully aware that they are resentful biggots who think that they are above laughing at themselves.
Maybe it’s just that Chinese people are so thin skinned that they should be excluded from the American dialogue. Humor is integral to that dialogue. Really what are they doing here if they don’t intend to be a part of our society?
Of the thousands of Irish jokes I’ve heard and told, I’ve never taken offense at one. Have you ever laughed when Jeff Foxworthy makes redneck jokes? Have you ever laughed at Chris Rock’s jokes toward all races? If you haven’t then you really should consider going to China. At this point, I would be thrilled if I never saw a Chinaman again.
Al Sharpton is now calling the shots for the PC Police. This idiot has brought the same chilling effect to race relations among blacks and whites. Following his lead will result in an ever broader division of the races.
To the OCA, congratulations on your “advancement of the asian community.” Now JV & Elvis are no longer making fun of you but we are all laughing at you more now than ever.
And to Rory O’Conner, Joh B (above) and all you other faggot “victims” who consider this “shock radio” deplorable– I challenge you to find a comedian who can do 20 hours of live on air comedy per week, every week without offending anyone.
May 17th, 2007 at 5:40 pmYou should be ashamed of yourself. Unless you are a fascist. Then you should be proud because what you advocate comes right out of the Nazi handbook, and other dictatorships, for that matter. Control the media. Stifle any voices of dissent, and you control everything and everybody. You go after Rush, Boortz, etc, the next Fascist group goes after Colmes, Rhodes, Hartman. People like you should move to a dictatorship and let freedom loving people exist without your stupid controls. When O & A, Imus, Rush, Colmes, lose ratings, then they go, not when some control freak wants them to go.
May 17th, 2007 at 7:51 pmWow, it’s amazing how the most viscious attacks on free expression come from the left these days. Not all free expression, mind you, just free expression that you disagree with, huh Rory? Labeling something hate makes it easy to ignore, doesn’t it?
May 17th, 2007 at 9:10 pmand to “ard”
Talk radio monopoly? Radio stations put people on the air that attract listeners. Large numbers of listeners attract advertising dollars. The owners of these radio stations have no “right wing” agenda other than to MAKE MONEY.
The day liberal talk radio becomes profitable (which it IS in some areas, dummy), you will see more liberal talk shows. I mean, liberal talk shows that don’t have to PAY the radio stations to be on the air, *cough*AIRAMERICA*cough*.
May 17th, 2007 at 9:19 pmRory, you and your liberal buddies won’t be happy until you control not only every single word that comes out of everyone’s mouth, but also every thought. Has it ever occured to you that Opie and Anthony broadcasted the discussion in question on a format where every user must pay to listen to them, a format where they have been specifically marketted all along as controversial and offensive? XM suspended them when they did exactly what XM wanted them to do! And for the billionth time, it was a HOMELESS MAN WHO SAID THE CONTROVERSIAL THINGS. It was THE HOMELESS MAN Opie and Anthony were laughing at, not the assualt of Rice and the others! The majority of America doesn’t believe in every single word and thought having to be stamped and approved by government entities like you do!
And most importantly, FRRRRRRRRUNKIS!
May 17th, 2007 at 9:36 pmInterestingly, the “whistle singing in the rain during a rape” joke was a very clear and quite clever reference to a scene from the classic Stanley Kubrick film “A Clockwork Orange” –which anyone who knows the subject matter of that particular film can tell you is pure irony.
May 18th, 2007 at 12:58 amI never listened to DOn Imus because that stuff is not my cup of tea. But after 30 years making millions for a network how do you get dumped on your ass for one callous remark? I thought that was wrong.
Also, go ahead and “Google” “nappy headed ho’s” and about 1000 Amazon CD pages will come up. This lingo is in constant use by hip-hop artists and rappers. Suddenly when a palefaced person says it is an unpardonable sin? Give me a break. That is racism, too.
May 18th, 2007 at 7:48 amRory,
Looks like you got ‘freeped’ here.
I, too, looked askance at your ‘peacock’ reference, but attributed that more to a mixed metaphor than your ignorance of network logos. It’s always easier to criticize style over substance.
Nowhere in your post did I read your advocacy of government interference, so I’m very confused at all the posts accusing you of attacking the Constitution. Using free expression to counter free expression is the essence of an open society.
As a former disc jockey with a degree in communications, I know that complaints to the radio stations that carry the broadcasts are mostly counterproductive. Program directors love it and many live for it.
What happened to Imus is quite rare in the business. Unless there is national media attention, advertising agencies quickly dismiss the relatively few complaints they get.
The only truly effective way to remove an on-air personality is for his/her audience to disappear. That’s why you won’t find me subscribing to any satellite service nor tuning in to any local station that feature a shock-jock format.
My CD’s play just fine in my car.
May 18th, 2007 at 8:37 amWhat is the matter with some of you people? This is not at all a free speech issue. Freedom of speech is guaranteed BY THE GOVERNMENT - not by private and/or coprporate entities. If you came to my home spewing hate I would not have to put up with it, and would be within MY rights to shut you up or make you leave. A boycott of sponsors who pay for this crap is not censorship, it’s is free marketplace. Why is ok for Christian Conservatives to have boycotted sponsors of Ellen Degeneres’s show because of her sexual orientation, but people who think jokes about rape and bigotry are disgusting have to shut up and take it. Stop the hypocrisy.
May 18th, 2007 at 11:13 amFunny jokes about unfunny subjects are nothing new. Why not jump on the bandwagon of freedom haters and CENSOR EVERYTHING that YOU don’t like. Ya nazi.
May 30th, 2007 at 9:30 pmnot sure if i correctly interpreted your phrase “young accomplished..” to refer to condi.. but she is middle aged, not young ( in human years).
accomplished? ok. stalin , s hussein, pol pot, et al were also accomplished.
June 1st, 2007 at 8:53 amanyway. let “the whiner” {http://www.google.com/search?q=%22the+whiner%22+%7C++%22sex+advice%22michael+savage+gay} and those other shockjocks play on whatever privately-operated pipes they’re on, but public airwaves are another matter.
pacifica (warning: some pacifica stations, such as DC’s, may be sludged by too much useless boring jazz airtime) is probably the only reliably liberal radio in the USA, and very entertaining when they play Parenti or some others. xian wacko radio (AM, or low on the FM dial) are most comparable to pacifica, since AFAIK xian radio is also listener funded.
one more argument against snuffing/’censoring’ shockjocks (coulter, sowell, ad nauseum): yes, unfortunately their fans do vote. but the wolrd is better off when those crazies (and their fans who write letters-to-the-editor) expose themselves.
June 1st, 2007 at 9:19 amWow talk about someone that has no clue as to what they are talking about… So funny about ultra liberals and S.P freaks is they are all about their own agenda but god forbid someone gets offended or gets their poor precious feelings hurt, and they will take their seats right next to the publicity driven special interest groups… In our society the free market/majority should decide what stays and what goes due to ratings and success. Jv and ELvis were #1 solid in San Fran.. San Fran without a doubt is one of the most diverse listening audiences. They had a HUGEEE asian american following who till this day is still behind them. They have helped the community numerous times. But to go on national tv and threaten companies to fire them, to call them every name in the book, and to have the talent gagged and not be able to speak what so ever… Not in a million years will I support that change by force, no thank you… I am grown and can choose for myself, I don’t need idiot Sharpton or Smolin to decide.
Shrimp flied lice? A prank call… These people compared the prank call to Nazi Germany, something I don’t need to even explore..
To wrap it up what it really comes down to is the crazy political correct atmosphere… It is really sickening, even more so that god forbid a white person/ radio guy even makes an attempt at humor- if one minority figure is upset, take the “offender,” label him every word that ends in “IST.” Fire him and make a fool out of him. It is a blatant double standard in radio and all entertainment… For example the Doghouse made a prank call to a restaurant= suspended 3 weeks w/out pay and fired. Yet Miss Jones a black female on an urban station makes a whole rap song mocking the tsunami and the massive death yet is still employed.
Thank god people like Hannity and even Colmes called out these “corporate terrorists” that led the witch hunt on JV and ELvis… Exposed them and totally pointed out the obvious flaws and over sights in their “Case” against Jv and Elvis.
…Sticks and stones, grow up..
July 12th, 2007 at 6:33 pm“America the land of over sensitive cry babies”
we have learned from Imus,and now we are ready!Bring it on,we want this fight,and by the way,you will never silence Rush!
July 21st, 2007 at 2:21 amLimbaugh, Boortz,Sclesinger, Stern, Luntz, Smerconish…Mmmh. And what were the family names of Savage, O’Reillty et al when they arrived in the U.S? Germanic? Sounds as if these people are nazies or descendants of nazis, and even if they are not they are coarse bullies and thugs. My father and uncles spent 6 years of their lives fighting Nazi thugs. They had the right idea.
September 14th, 2008 at 2:25 pmAll of the loudmouths of fascist radio and TV, and those who write books egg on the dissension within our country. And then, when one of their mindless sheep act on the hatred they’re spewing, commit murder and then get caught or kill themselves, the evidence is traced back to the fascists of radio, TV and print. But, the members of the fascists nation scatter like cockroaches, running for the shadows, less they be accused. Timothy McVeigh was one of their own, for which loudmouth Rush quickly disavowed McVeigh as being one of their own and disavowing that his rabid talk show bored any responsibility for the Oklahoma City. Limbaugh informed his listeners that McVeigh was a liberal and that the liberals were to blame for the bombing. And that’s another part of the fascist right’s mantra: pass the buck and never accept responsibility. To get this country straight again, I think it’s time the majority of our country marginalized the far right. They are nothing but the tail wagging the dog.
September 17th, 2008 at 1:49 pm