The U.S. government’s campaign against television indecency was dealt a blow on Monday when a court overturned a $550,000 fine against CBS Corp television stations for airing a glimpse of pop singer Janet Jackson’s breast during the 2004 Super Bowl broadcast. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit said the Federal Communications Commission had “arbitrarily and capriciously departed from its prior policy” that exempted fleeting broadcast material from actionable indecency violations.
Jackson’s right breast was exposed to almost 90 million TV viewers for a fraction of a second during the live 2004 Super Bowl football halftime show in what fellow pop singer Justin Timberlake later called a “wardrobe malfunction.” Timberlake ripped off part of Jackson’s bustier exposing Jackson’s breast during the show. Despite the brevity, lawmakers and regulators were outraged and vowed a crackdown on broadcast indecency.
The judges rejected the FCC’s argument that the “fleeting” policy had only applied to words, not images. “Like any agency, the FCC may change its policies without judicial second-guessing. But it cannot change a well- established course of action without supplying notice of and a reasoned explanation for its policy departure,” Chief Judge Anthony Scirica wrote for the three-judge panel that heard the case.
[...]
The decision got a sharp rebuke from the Parents Television Council, an indecency watchdog group. It said the ruling “borders on judicial stupidity” and urged lawmakers in Congress to pass a bill to strengthen anti-indecency enforcement. “If a striptease during the Super Bowl in front of 90 million people, including millions of children, doesn’t fit the parameters of broadcast indecency, then what does?” the group asked.
But, of course, it wasn’t a “striptease” but rather an instantaneous “Did I just see what I thought I saw?!” moment. And, while I don’t believe for a moment that Jackson and/or Timberlake didn’t plan the incident to generate precisely the buzz they got, it’s simply bizarre to fine CBS for airing something that happened outside their control during a live broadcast.
Steven Taylor, whose post on the subject is entitled “Janet Jackson’s Right Breast Ruled Constitutional,” guesses this will be appealed to the Supreme Court. Too bad we don’t Potter Stewart isn’t around any more.
Justin Timberlake does his best Jessica Simpson impersonation as he stands in front of a cutout of the aspiring country singer onstage at the 2008 ESPY Awards held at NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
The singer earned raves as he alternated between self-depricating humor (at one point, he poked fun at his infamous 2004 Super Bowl performance with Janet Jackson, saying “I wanted to be the only guy at a football game to get to second base”) and playfully mocking audience members (he lowered his nose to one of David Beckham’s Tom Ford shoes and proclaimed, “Smells like $250 million to me!”). He also performed several big musical numbers.
“If I made the decisions, I’d ask Justin to be [our] entertainment every week,” Monday Night Football host Stuart Scott told reporters during the show. “After what he’s putting down tonight … Justin can come hang out with us on the set anytime.”
Seconded snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler, who won best female action sport athlete: “Not only is he funny, but he obviously knows [the sports] he’s talking about. I was here two years ago when Lance Armstrong was hosting and he did a great job, but JT is ruling it.”
Even the athletes he poked fun at seemed impressed. “It’s all in good fun,” said Terrell Owens, whose emotional news conference after the Dallas Cowboys’ season ended was spoofed during the show at L.A.’s Nokia Theater. “He’s had some funny dialogue; his interaction with the crowd is good. He’s an entertainer, and he did a great job.”
Pornography is very popular these days with the American working class (Woo! Stimulus checks!).
But that does not make it FCC approved. And it certainly is not an acceptable mixer with children’s rugby in New Zealand. But that’s what parents and fans of the kid’s sport were treated to while watching a live broadcast of “Grassroots Rugby” on the New Zealand television channel Prime.
A spokesman for Prime Television on Monday blamed a mixup in “distribution processes” for the error which inserted the hardcore segment in the regular program “Grassroots Rugby.”
The segment was intended to air on an adult pay-per-view channel.
Yeah, so, um, whoops? On the bright side of things, at least it puts the whole Janet Jackson – Nipplegate thing in perspective. Because, apparently, this was not just a little side boob getting flashed, it was the full hardcore pornography.
The downside is parents are going to complain and steer their kids away from your station. The upshot, though, is that by combining kids’ sports and porn, Prime has corned the market on the coveted “creepjob” demographic.
And now the totally work safe video (sorry…) of the not so thrilled parents being interviewed.
I am putting a lot of weight on the new Seth Rogan film. My guess is that Pineapple Express will be filled with hilarity and be the best movie of the summer. In effort to be the best movie of the summer, Seth and James Franco have been starting to push the film.
During the MTV Movie Awards, the two were up to present an award and pulled out a giant bag of “fake weed†and proceeded to light one up. On stage. Live.
[PG13(?) video -- you have to submit your birth date]
Franco insists that the bag of marijuana and the joint were fake. But MTV, who wrote the scripted presentation involving the weed, tried to jump ship moments before they went on. The station wanted to pull the joke at the last minute and told them they couldn’t actually light up on television. James and Seth did the bit anyway and as they pulled out the contraband, the cameras pulled out wide. Nothing could really be seen from the aired version.
“MTV wrote it! … Then backstage there was this big commotion: ‘You guys can’t say that,’” Franco said. “It says right in the script: ‘Lights fake joint.’”
He liked the bit, saying: “that was the joke, because the No. 1 question we get about ‘Pineapple Express’ is, ‘What kind of research did you guys do?’”
Franco said he was disappointed that the cameras went wide.
“I think they killed the joke,” he said.
So what was really in the bag?
“I don’t know! MTV gave it to us.”
Whateves. TV is getting so boring now that everyone is sitting at home thinking that Rachel Ray is a terrorist in a Dunkin’ Donuts ad and having their eyes poked out by Janet Jackson’s floppy boob circa the Super Bowl.
I say any movie that can make James Franco look less like a douche bag is fine by me.
Source: MTV gave us the bag of ‘fake weed’ [Yahoo News]
A photograph of former model and current First Lady of France, Carla Bruni, sold for $91,000 at Christie’s auction house yesterday.
A topless photo of willowy model-turned-French First Lady Carla Bruni sold for almost six figures Thursday after a furious bidding war erupted at Christie’s auction house.
“There was a protracted bidding battle, on the phone, on the Internet and in the room,” said Rik Pike of Christie’s.
Still, the bare-breasted Bruni pic by photographer Michel Comte couldn’t compete with Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen – or even old-school starlet Brigitte Bardot.
A famed prewardrobe-malfunction shot of Janet Jackson that graced the cover of Rolling Stone sold for just $10,000.
The highest price of the day was $241,000 for a photo of four models titled “Naked and Dressed.”
The 135 pix on the block came from the collection of Gert Elfering, who voraciously bought up iconic images of gorgeous women, especially in their birthday suits.
The 1993 glamour shot of a pert Bruni was taken in her supermodel prime. The shot, in which she covers only her most private part, was expected to draw a measly $3,000.
source: Nude photo of French first lady sells in New York for $91,000 [ny daily news]
The commercial that threatened the well protected bubble of conservative television remains in tact. After Janet Jackson whipped out her floppy boob a few years ago the censors and rules of the game have become strict and raised the bar on boring.
Danica Patrick did a spot for GoDaddy that mentioned the word “beaver.†GASP! The commercial was rejected by FOX network for the slang terminology for lady bits. The ad featured stuffed beavers, as in the woodland creature, while Danica unzipped her jacket and giving the camera come-hither eyes. GoDaddy actually benefited from the axed deal. They managed to keep their spot and run the commercial solely on their website. The ad that aired on FOX directed you to the nearest internet access to get a full view. Being that we lack morals around here, we proudly accept beavers.
I hate to sound like an 80 year old man talking about the hazaa of the good ol’ times, but Super Bowl commercials just aren’t what the used to be. There was a plethora of mediocre ads that failed to make me get that warm tingly Super Bowl commercial love. However, there were a few worthy of mention.
“Mouse Trapâ€- Doritos
Finally something clever among the masses of crap. Who doesn’t love a guy in a giant mouse costume? Best of the commercials this year easily.
“Baby and a Creepy Clownâ€- E-Trade
Clowns totally freak my freak. Who knew E-Trading could be so….oddly funny.
“Studentsâ€- Bud Light
Foreigners are always funny. The advert was just one of many beer commercials.
“Jump Startâ€- Amp
Salt and Peppa! Can I get a holla! Seriously, nipples and a plump fellow getting his swerve on…yes!
“Will Ferrellâ€-Bud Light
Suck one! Priceless. I love the honky man-fro. This is actually one of those dual ads. Bud Light gets pimped along with Will’s new movie “Semi-Pro.â€
“Justin Timberlakeâ€- Pepsi
I enjoyed this one because…well…anyone getting racked in the sack (that is not you of course) is pure entertainment. The fact that it was Timberlake was just a little bonus.
“The Godfatherâ€- Audi
It’s one of the more ingenious ads amongst the blah filled downtime of the football game.
“Carville and the Cokesâ€- Coke (As in Cola)
It is very James Carville meets Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
“Talking Stainâ€- Tide
It’s one of those things that is only funny because it is true. It also sounds Steve Carell in the form of a coffee stain.
“What Is Loveâ€- Pepsi Commercial
This one is worthy due to the simple fact that Chris Kattan makes a cameo at the very end. While the ad itself is rather old hat and lacks a real Super Bowl commercial quality, everyone has seen “Night at the Roxbury.â€
The Worst Ad
Among the many, many candidates for this position is the Under Armor ad. It was like a better dressed version of “The Matrix.†I continually looked for Keanu Reeves to pop out and be like…â€Neo’s back bitches! I always thought I looked fab in red.â€
#25 – “You only lie to two people in your life, your girlfriend and the police. Everybody else you tell the truth to.”
— Jack Nicholson in the April 1994 issue of Vanity Fair.
#24 – “These people are not parenting. They are buying things for their kids — $500 sneakers for what? And won’t spend $200 for Hooked on Phonics.â€
— Bill Cosby, addressing a Washington, D.C., crowd in 2004.
#23 – “The virginity issue. There are so many emotions involved that I would like to be able to wait until I know I’m with the right person and I’m married.â€
— Britney Spears in a 2002 interview with Britain’s Daily Star.
#22 – “I just want one day off when I can go swimming and eat ice cream and look at rainbows.â€
— Mariah Carey on MTV’s TRL in 2001, before entering rehab for exhaustion.
#21 – The jury “was not my class of people. There was not a producer, a press agent, a director, an actor.”
— Zsa Zsa Gabor to People in October 1989, after a jury found her guilty of slapping a Beverly Hills cop.
#20 – “That’s hot.”
— Paris Hilton’s trademark, dating back at least to the first season of The Simple Life in 2003. She eventually had the expression copyrighted.
#19 – “What are you looking at, sugar-tits?â€
— Mel Gibson, to female deputy last summer after being pulled over for speeding and drunken driving.
#18 – “And if they want to hear that I’m dead, sorry, folks. I’m not. And I don’t plan on it.â€
— Elizabeth Taylor on Larry King Live, May 30, 2006.
#17 – “I am sorry if anyone was offended by the wardrobe malfunction during the halftime of the Super Bowl. It was not intentional and is regrettable.”
— Justin Timberlake, in a statement after the 2004 Super Bowl spectacle with Janet Jackson.
#16 – “I’m in shock. And I’m so in love with my brother right now.”
— Angelina Jolie, thanking brother James Haven while accepting the supporting actress Oscar for 1999’s Girl, Interrupted.
#15 – “For an actor, there is no greater loss than the loss of his audience. I can part the Red Sea, but I can’t part with you, which is why I won’t exclude you from this stage in my life.â€
— Charlton Heston on Aug. 9, 2002, revealing he has Alzheimer’s.
#14 – “Psychiatry is a pseudoscience. … You don’t know the history of psychiatry. I do. … Matt, Matt, Matt, Matt, Matt, Matt, you don’t even — you’re glib. You don’t even know what Ritalin is.â€
— Tom Cruise to Matt Lauer on NBC’s Today, June 24, 2005.
#13 – “I’m too much of an erratic moody baby! I don’t have the passion anymore, and so remember, it’s better to burn out than to fade away.â€
— Kurt Cobain’s suicide note from April 5, 1994.
#12 – “Retire? I’m going to stay in show business until I’m the only one left.â€
— George Burns, at his 90th birthday tribute, George Burns 90th Birthday Special, taped Jan. 11, 1986.
#11 “Crack is cheap. I make too much money to ever smoke crack. Let’s get that straight. OK? We don’t do crack. We don’t do that. Crack is whack.â€
— Whitney Houston in 2002 on ABC’s Primetime.
Seriously, “What are you looking at, sugar-tits?†for the win!!
#10 – “The heart wants what it wants. There’s no logic to those things. You meet someone and you fall in love and that’s that.”
— Woody Allen in Time in 1992, about his relationship with Soon-Yi Previn, the daughter of former girlfriend Mia Farrow.
#8 – “I never wanted to be the lesbian actress. I never wanted to be the spokesperson for the gay community. Ever. I did it for my own truth.â€
— Ellen DeGeneres in Time magazine, April 14, 1997, just before her Ellen sitcom character came out as gay, too.
#7 – “This town is a back-stabbing, scum-sucking, small-minded town, but thanks for the money.â€
— Roseanne Barr, in an ad she took out in The Hollywood Reporter for the magazine’s 60th anniversary in October 1990.
#6 – “In the end, you have to come clean and say, ‘I did something dishonorable, shabby and goatish.’â€
— Hugh Grant to Jay Leno on The Tonight Show, July 10, 1995, explaining his June arrest for lewd behavior with a Los Angeles prostitute.
#5 – “Well, I can wear heels now.â€
— Nicole Kidman to David Letterman on Aug. 2, 2001, after her split from Tom Cruise.
#4 – “I can only tell you that it has been an honor and a privilege to come into your homes all these years and entertain you … I bid you a very heartfelt goodnight.â€
— Johnny Carson, saying his final goodbye on The Tonight Show, May 22, 1992.
#3 – “Why can’t you share your bed? The most loving thing to do is to share your bed with someone.â€
— Michael Jackson, defending his practice of letting boys share his bed in a Feb. 3, 2003, interview with BBC/Granada’s Martin Bashir.
#2 – “I’m tough. I’m ambitious. And I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, OK.
— Madonna in People, July 27, 1992.
#1 – “There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.”
— Princess Diana, in a 1995 BBC interview, on her marriage to Prince Charles. They divorced in 1996, and she died a year later. The third party, Camilla Parker Bowles, became Charles’ wife in 2005.
source: Top 25 Celebrity Quotes of All Time [usa today]
Korean pop sensation Daham did Janet Jackson two better when she had three “wardrobe malfunctions” that exposed her breasts during a video shoot.
Pop singer Daham from the group Foxy suffered an embarrassing breast-baring incident while shooting a music video recently.
Daham’s breasts were liberated three times because of a faulty brassiere hook while filming the video in a factory in Kyunggi Province. It happened when the songstress, dressed in a sexy police uniform with a deep plunging neckline and a bra, was dancing aggressively to the new Foxy track. The bra popped open and the singer was unable to catch it before she exposed herself. The accident happened twice more before somebody came to the rescue with a safety pin.
Daham refused to comment on the incident. “I have nothing to say about it. If you’re interested, please watch our music videos.” Foxy will release their new song and music video later this month.
Judging from what I know of the music industry, this can only help sales. And, if she includes the embarrassing incident in the videos, it’ll really help.
No photos so far of the malfunction, but here are a couple of “topless” shots of Daham and her Foxy partner:
Iceberg has shots of Daham nude, although they don’t appear to be from the video shoot in question, unless the “malfunction” actually shot the bra across the room. I’ve placed them below the fold since they’re NSFW.
A federal court has thrown out the FCC’s $550,000 fine against CBS for airing the Janet Jackson – Justin Timberlake “wardrobe malfunction” during the 2004 Super Bowl.
A topless photo of willowy model-turned-French First Lady Carla Bruni sold for almost six figures Thursday after a furious bidding war erupted at Christie’s auction house.
