That Naughty, Naughty T.O!

[Darryl G. Thomas]

ABC's 'MNF' crosses line with opening
By Rudy Martzke USA TODAY
11/16/2004 11:14:00 PM

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Instead of its five-second delay, ABC Sports should have hit the delete button on its opening for the Philadelphia Eagles-Dallas Cowboys game on Monday Night Football.

The network was rightfully rebuked by the NFL and forced to apologize for a gambit that embarrassingly involved suggestive sexual connotations, especially during family time in the West. (Related story: ABC apologetic)

In a cross-promotion for the popular show Desperate Housewives, No. 2 in prime time this season, ABC used Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens in a bit involving Housewives star Nicollette Sheridan.

In an empty Eagles locker room before a game, she asked him to pass on the game, dropping her towel to entice him. With Sheridan shown unclothed to her lower back, Owens said, "Aw, hell, the team's going to have to win without me," and she jumped into his arms.

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Some viewers surely chuckled. And though cynics might say this opening might get others to watch the start of next Monday's telecast, it was no laughing matter to the NFL.

And ABC Sports vice president Mark Mandel apologized in a statement Tuesday for the "inappropriate" placement of the skit on MNF.

The miscues:

¢ The skit was carried at the start of MNF at 9 ET in the East when many youths still are watching. That's 6 PT, when even younger kids might be watching with their parents.

"It was sexually blatant in the family hour," said Charlotte viewer Will Hawkins, 68, who has a 12-year-old daughter. "It crossed the line. ... I turned the whole thing off, and I hope most of the sensible people did."

¢ The segment was shown despite NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue's crackdown on entertainment acts on NFL shows since CBS-owned and -operated stations were fined $550,000 by the FCC for the baring of Janet Jackson's breast during the Super Bowl halftime show.

"The commissioner has taken more control of the production and content of Super Bowl halftime and pregame acts," NFL public relations vice president Greg Aiello said. The league currently does not sign off on ABC's MNF openings and had no knowledge of Monday's script other than Desperate Housewives would be involved, Aiello said. Figure on the league having approval of future MNF entertainment acts.

ABC is not the only party that should take the heat here. How could the Eagles let Owens be involved in such a raunchy stunt? Was no one from the Eagles front office or media relations staff present for the taping in the team locker room? Was no one from the club aware of Desperate Housewives' racy content?

The Eagles issued a statement saying they "appreciate that ABC has taken responsibility and has apologized. ... It is normal for teams to cooperate with ABC in the development of an opening for its broadcast. After seeing the final piece, we wish it hadn't aired." Lame.

Owens, asked after the game why he did the opening, said, "I can't play football forever, so I'm trying to work on the Hollywood thing."

The timing of Monday's fiasco might hurt ABC in ways other than bad public relations. A week after CBS and Fox renewed their NFL contracts in six-year deals starting with the 2006 season that average 27% increases from the current pacts, ABC and Disney partner ESPN are trying to renegotiate their contracts.

"Whatever the issues might be, I don't think this would affect negotiations," TV consultant Neal Pilson said.

Some might say this was not as bad as the Jackson incident on CBS. Then again, while CBS officials did not know in advance of Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction," ABC personnel collaborated to pull off Sheridan's unveiling.

[MRS]

If he were white we wouldn't be talking about MNF on Wednesday.

[Enforcer]

I saw it myself, and I had no idea it would generate any controversy. One of the problems with leading a life of depravity and debauchery is that it's hard to keep your finger on the pulse of what people will consider "going too far."

[tippy]

it wouldve been more wholesome to use Teri Hatcher.

What makes this any different than anything else they show on tv these days?

[clinthopson]

CNN showed the clip about a half dozen times this morning.


Of course they weren't trying to tittilate or anything, right?

[Darryl G. Thomas]

I missed it the first time it was played. I usually watch the first segment of WWE's Raw before turning to MNF because all they're going to do is hype the game and one of their shows. I saw it on Sports Center the next day, laughed my ass off and then found out it was controversial.

I realized I WAS outside of the mainstream and became a Republican, Praise the Lord. (I threw that last bit in to scare Nagel).

All I've got to say is this: T.O.'s usual amount off hate mail has probably just quadrupled.

And being an Eagles' fan I insist on having Nicolette Sheridan in the Philly locker room before every game. The brother caught 3 touchdowns!

[Chris D]

It aired in the same time slot given to "Desparate Housewives" on Sundays.

Yeah, the poor NFL. With its "offical" (logo shield intact) beer being Coors Light and those oh-so-wholesome ads with the "twins" its network partners run all Sunday afternoon. And the cheerleading teams and their lingerie calendars. And the officially licensed video games that allow "players" to taunt and gloat over fallen opponents.

The hypocrisy is stunning.

[Il Anto]

And he personally gave my fantasy team a win this week. What Darryl said.

[graypencil]

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

I saw it myself, and I had no idea it would generate any controversy. One of the problems with leading a life of depravity and debauchery is that it's hard to keep your finger on the pulse of what people will consider "going too far."

possibly Jimmy Johnson inserting a gerbil into Terry Bradshaws' "employees entrance" ???

[MRS]

. . .and four-hour erections, Chris.

[Il Anto]

Originally Posted by Chris D

It aired in the same time slot given to "Desparate Housewives" on Sundays.

Yeah, the poor NFL. With its "offical" (logo shield intact) beer being Coors Light and those oh-so-wholesome ads with the "twins" its network partners run all Sunday afternoon. And the cheerleading teams and their lingerie calendars. And the officially licensed video games that allow "players" to taunt and gloat over fallen opponents.

The hypocrisy is stunning.

Following the hypocrisy surrounding this will make you dizzy.

[Darryl G. Thomas]

Two questions:

1) If you were T.O., what would you have done? Would you have made it for the opening kickoff?

2) Would the skit been controversial if a young Joe Namath had done it?

[GoodSpeak]

So....what....youse guys couldn't post a picture or something?

















sheesh

[Mike Schwartz]

A great big YAWN...are Americans THAT messed up?

How many times will they replay the Marine shooting the guy in Iraq?
It's on the morning, lunchtime,4,5,6,7,8,10PM news everywhere.

Heaven forbid 2 consenting adults [play acting, and badly for that matter] tease one another about getting friendly...and the female drops her towel showing NOTHING.

[Enforcer]

Originally Posted by Darryl G. Thomas

Would the skit been controversial if a young Joe Namath had done it?

Here's the difference.

If it's Joe Namath, then the reaction by most is a shake of the head and maybe a smile, followed by a few words like, "Tch tch tch, that ol' Joe is too much."

Instead, there's the "What the hell was that? How insulting!" response we got from so many with T.O.

[Dr Dave]

Originally Posted by Darryl G. Thomas

Two questions:

1) If you were T.O., what would you have done? Would you have made it for the opening kickoff?

2) Would the skit been controversial if a young Joe Namath had done it?

Uh-oh, no talking about black men and white women. Verboten!

If I were T.O., I would have resisted. Money comes first, so to speak.

[jesus marion joseph]

Maybe T.O. should replace "Leon" in those Budweiser commersials.

[Gentle Giant]

Remember when the most controversial part of MNF was this:

[groover]

Originally Posted by Michael Schaumann

If he were white we wouldn't be talking about MNF on Wednesday.

Or if the woman had been black?

Plenty of black NFL players have very attractive white wives and/or girlfriends, so you have to wonder what all the fuss is about. If Kerry had won, this probably would have been seen as the first sign that the country's going to hell.

Either way, despite the loss to Pittsburgh, the Eagles are looking like a Superbowl contender this year, and T.O.'s a big part of that!

Go Eagles!

[mke]

If this (log in with noone99999@nowhere.com and 123456) is cause for an outcry, the Europe-US chasm really is bigger than I thought.

[Uli]

It's rediculous as we say here and has been discussed in the
"That Naughty, Naughty T.O!" thread.;

[mke]

Originally Posted by Uli

It's rediculous as we say here and has been discussed in the
"That Naughty, Naughty T.O!" thread.;

Oops, sorry.

[mke]

Originally Posted by Michael Schaumann

If he were white we wouldn't be talking about MNF on Wednesday.

Yay, my household is controversial!

[graypencil]

considering the source ..the Dallas Morning News ..an ultra right neo -fascist/christian rag that's been in DUBBya pocket for years ..

none of this surprises me ( having spent way too many years in the DFW area ..the epicenter of jesus, jewelery,ugly trophy houses, and Hummers with gun racks sporting the "fish" on the back )

[Uli]

Originally Posted by mke

Oops, sorry.

Nothing to be sorry about, mke. I can't keep up with every thread anymore either or every fucking controversy. Some of the stuff shouldn't be controverse in the slightest, imho. This particular story is a very good example of that. It feels like these people are from another planet.

[HLJ]

kryptonite.Peace and all that