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Apology Not Enough for ABC’s ‘Monday Nude Football’ Skit Desperate for a ratings boost, network shows why Congress must increase indecency fines.
The broadcast opened with a cross-promotional skit for the TV program Desperate Housewives. Actress Nicholette Sheridan, who plays Edie on the show, is seen in an empty locker room with Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens. Sheridan, clad only in a bath towel, asks Owens to skip the game and “play” with her instead. When he refuses, she drops the towel. Owens is then seen smiling and Sheridan jumps into his arms. After the towel is dropped, Sheridan is seen only from the rear, waist up.
That scripted introduction to the November 15, 2004, National Football League (NFL) game, taped the week before in the Eagles locker room, generated many complaints from viewers, causing the network to issue an apology the next day.
“We have heard from many of our viewers about last night’s MNF opening segment and we agree that the placement was inappropriate,” reads the ABC statement. “We apologize.”
The half-hearted apology was echoed by Mark Mandel, vice president of media relations for ABC Sports. “The placement of last night’s Monday Night Football opening segment was inappropriate. We apologize,” he told Broadcasting & Cable.
“This is the weakest, most insincere apology in television history,” said Jan LaRue, chief counsel for Concerned Women for America. “ABC is couching its words so that it sounds like they are apologizing for airing the opening segment at the start of the program. The issue is not ‘placement,’ but airing tasteless and pornographic material when children are most likely in the audience.”
Viewers weren’t the only ones complaining. The NFL, still stinging from the Janet Jackson Super Bowl Halftime stunt, called the MNF opening segment “inappropriate and unsuitable for our Monday Night Football audience.” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello added in a written statement: “While ABC may have gained attention for one of its other shows, the NFL and its fans lost.”
The Philadelphia Eagles also issued a statement: “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.”
While the NFL has reclaimed control over halftime shows in the wake of the Super Bowl fiasco, the league has no control over ABC’s introduction to Monday Night Football. However, the NFL has become more pro-active in protecting its image.
The FCC has received numerous complaints about the segment and is reviewing them.
“Folks who are rightly offended by this double insult should write and call ABC Sports and send a copy to the FCC,” LaRue added. “Canned laughter on the soundtrack of insipid sitcoms is bad enough; a canned, phony ‘apology’ after an intentional offense is more offensive.”
Contact info:
ABC Network:
The NFL:
Terrell Owens, Philadelphia Eagles:
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Concerned Women for America 1015 Fifteenth St. N.W., Suite 1100 Washington, D.C. 20005 Phone: (202) 488-7000 Fax: (202) 488-0806 |
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