Tom Shales’ review of the Superbowl–please keep in mind that CBS refused to air the Move On ad saying it’s didn’t fit with their advertising policy, which evidently means that it wasn’t sleazy enough:
Viewers who tuned in expecting a big-time football game saw the Super Bowl of Sleaze instead. Sexy and violent commercials that included jokes about flatulence and bestiality mercilessly interrupted the CBS telecast of Super Bowl XXXVIII from Houston last night, making it a dubious choice for family viewing.
But it was the unexpected climax of the MTV-produced halftime show that shocked viewers and set the CBS switchboard ablaze. As a musical number ended, out popped one of Janet Jackson’s breasts. Fellow performer Justin Timberlake clearly exposed it to the crowd in Reliant Stadium and to the audience of millions watching at home by reaching over and yanking off part of her costume.
… CBS rushed out an apology, but there were reports that MTV had hinted during its afternoon programming that Jackson’s appearance would be one for the record books. MTV and CBS are both owned by media conglomerate Viacom.
… Early in the evening, a supposedly hilarious beer commercial featured a dog that was trained to bite men in the crotch and hold on. The man being bitten moaned and grimaced in pain and finally surrendered his can of Bud Light.
As it happened, Bud Light set the standards for tastelessness and self-congratulatory humor. A later commercial, stealing a joke from a classic episode of the sitcom “Seinfeld,” involved a flatulent horse. The animal, tied to a carriage, emitted an outburst from beneath its tail that caused a candle to burst into flame and burn the hair of the woman holding it. A loud sound effect made it clear that the horse was suffering digestive distress.
… CBS chose to air a spot advertising the upcoming horror movie “Van Helsing” even though it contained extremely disturbing and graphic images of brutality and gore and despite the fact that it has yet to be rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. If the film were eventually to be rated NC-17, it would be contrary to network policy to carry any commercials for it.
… But the ghastly output from Bud Light included a commercial in which a chimpanzee talked to a beautiful girl as they sat together on a couch while she waited for her date to return from the kitchen. The monkey made a pass at the girl and asked, “So, how do you feel about back hair?” There was also an excess of commercials for drugs designed to help men suffering from erectile dysfunction.
Gee, no wonder they rejected the Move On ad. It would have lowered the tone of the whole show, eh?
As you can probably guess, I didn’t watch any of the Superbowl. But I saw photos this morning of the now infamous breast incident. I don’t believe a word of the CBS apology — they knew it was going to happen. They all did. Explain to me why Janet Jackson was wearing a little star on her nipple if she hadn’t planned the move? Or does she wear those all the time? Besides, they promised us a “surprise appearance”, didn’t they?
I don’t know, I blame MTV (owned by viacom btw). CBS knows they have the nations attention and doesn’t need to pull such stunts to get veiwers. MTV on the other hand…. As one who agrees with your rantings about TLC and Discovery, I’d have to say that MTV tops the cake. The whole thing started out by telling everyone to do the right thing and VOTE, but then shows the breast of a singer who we haven’t heard from in 3 years- exposed by a singer who we won’t hear from in 3 years. No one minds looking at Janet’s boob, but there’s a time and a place. MTV is just a big pile of crap.
As far as the comercials, they were pretty damn funny. I wonder, would Tom Shales think that the crotch biting dog was offensive if it was shot by Maplethorpe? If it was an ad for PETA and not Bud? Conservatives are often bashed for their ‘narrow minds that need to relax’ but if you told me Tom’s views were actually that of Pat Robinson’s I’d belive you.
None the less, for the first time in a long time for the Super Bowl, it was a hell of a game.
That Janet Jackson thing was so obviously planned it wasn’t funny, and I agree that Move On had way too much class to even be included in the collection of stupid ads that aired. Although I do agree with Kirk that some of them were funny.
I watched the Super Bowl in Houston from the comfort of my own living room, all the while thinking about the way Houston handled the publicity and hordes of visitors this weekend. The powers that be proved that Houston can really be trashy and not even try too hard doing it:
1. Homeless people were “swept” off the streets temporarily to give the city a “cleaner” look. They’ll be back in their regular spots this morning, you can bet.
2. Our brand new Metro Light Rail Line, put into service just in time for the Super Bowl, was shut down this weekend because officials thought too many people would get run over by the trains. This was probably a good idea since so many pedestrian and vehicle accidents keep happening, due to the stupid placement of some of the rails. So residents and Super Bowl visitors and celebs had to resort to the usual forms of transportation: buses, taxis, limos and(surprise) their own cars.
3. THe Houston Chronicle had a hand in making us look fantastic as well, with articles about the influx of more prostitutes and the sudden rise in applications for exotic dancing at men’s clubs. The exotic dancing article took up practically half of the “Houston” section of the paper. This was BIG NEWS! There were actual ratings on the ambiance of the various clubs, along with drink costs, cover charges and who was the “best dancer”. Wow, with this info everyone can have a field day!!!!! Gee, Houston, you’re a town with CLASS! LOW CLASS!!!
I’m done ranting now.