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Super Bowl Half-Time Show Controversy Prompts Apologies From NBC & NFL
The Parents Television Council this morning criticized NBC and NFL over the Super Bowl halftime show incident involving British rapper M.I.A. briefly flashing a middle finger in front of the camera before the network was able to blur the image. The watchdog called for NBC and NFL to punish those responsible for the flap but stopped short of announcing the filing of a formal complaint with the FCC. At least for now. Here is the statement from PTC president Tim Winter:
“NBC fumbled and the NFL lied because a performer known as M.I.A. felt it necessary to flip off millions of families. It is unfortunate that a spectacular sporting event was overshadowed once again by broadcasting the selfish acts of a desperate performer.
“Last week the NFL formally told the PTC – and the American public – that the Super Bowl halftime show would be ‘appropriate.’ Most families would agree that the middle finger aimed directly at them is not appropriate, especially during the most-watched television event of the year.
“The mechanism NBC had in place to catch this type of material completely failed, and the network cannot say it was caught off guard. It has been eight years since the Janet Jackson striptease, and both NBC and the NFL knew full well what might happen. They chose a lineup full of performers who have based their careers on shock, profanity and titillation. Instead of preventing indecent material, they enabled it. M.I.A. used a middle finger shamelessly to bring controversial attention to herself, while effectively telling an audience filled with children, ‘F– you.’
“A simple apology rings hollow after yet another slap in the face to families, especially when NBC has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court that it should be allowed to air all manner of indecent material at any time of day, even when children are watching.
“Either the NFL and NBC will take immediate steps to hold those accountable for this offensive material in front of a hundred million Americans, or they will feebly sit back and do nothing. The nation – and the PTC – is watching.”
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
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Thwse people need to get a life. Why would the PTC watch a half time show feat Madonna with their kids anyways.
This is Easily solved. Next time, NBC should have Every half-time act sign a contract that stipulates:
1) The performers will not add/include/improvise anything that has not already been approved/seen by the director & station’s standards & practices dept during rehearsal.
2) If the band, performers, singer, does add something something that was not approved, then NBC cancels payment to the performers, and not only that, collects from the band, performers, etc. all Legal Fees, all extraneous charges and monetary amounts for dealing with said ‘improvisation’ – dealing with the FCC, money/time lost for exec staff in dealing with the media over the excess behavior, legal fees, etc.
You think it doesn’t already say that?
exactly-sign it or it’s not happening.
M.I.A. is a one-(s)hit-wonder with very little to lose by committing such an act. I’d bet she’s one of the hottest online searches today as a result of her action.
Bottom Line: There’s no such thing as bad publicity.
The performers are not paid for this performance.
The bigger question is, why would M.I.A. do that?
You’re performing at the Super Bowl, there’s over a 100 million people watching it, everyone’s enjoying the game, the parties and you decide to say f**k you to everybody…?
She always portrays herself as an “artist” more concerned with social justice than being famous, yet she does such a shamelessly stupid act of self-promotion.
Then again this reeks of NBC exec’s telling her to cause some lame controversy, don’t worry we’ll have the blur button ready, in which case she’s just another corporate puppet.
PTC, calm down. You’re going to make this into something bigger than it is. Most people didn’t notice, realize, or care, and you need to relax. You blow everything out of proportion. You’re gross and annoying and unnecessary. You can’t control people and can’t control their actions.
“You’re going to make this into something bigger than it is. ”
That’s the point.
I agree with the PTC 100 percent. Flipping the bird was a desperate act to get attention. If the show is being being for families, it should be for families. There is no “new normal” when it comes to wholesome entertainment.
Raunch has its place, and plenty of shows to promote it. I applaud the PTC for taking a stand.
So these families are offended by a blink-and-miss-it bird flip, but totally cool with the pathetically raunchy Go Daddy ads, constant booze-shilling, and the general violence of the sport?
Yeah, okay. Right.
No. The Go Daddy ads were in poor taste and have no place on such a telecast.
I agree about the sexist Go Daddy ads etc. but though football is a contact sport, when I think of violent sports I usually think of rugby, hockey, boxing… Either way, that Super Bowl game was great! Both team’s palyed well but Manning’s passing and Manningham’s game-changing catch was poetry in motion. I’m not hating on Brady though, he’ll get his chance again soon.
I’m sure the PTC is concerned about what a bunch of unemployed writers in West Hollywood think of them.
In the best falsetto I can manage, “Won’t somebody PLEASE think of the children!?!?”
From what I remember of her – she’s a billionaire’s wife living in LA and she’s a one-hit wonder….right? And it looks like she stole the show from Madonna with the flip. What has she done lately?
New single just came out. Check out the video. It’s awesome.
Yep, her new music video is really good.
Shut up PTC! Nobody even noticed it! Get over yourselves!
Children dont notice things until their parents tell them!
Get over it PTC. It’s cool for families to watch a sport about guys trying to rip each others heads off and a middle finger is offensive?! If your a family that is easily offended maybe you should just stick to the Disney Channel.
oh please. football celebrates violence and tacky commercials objectiy women. on the news in LA, teachers are feeding children semen. But a middle finger upsets people?? white people are uptight and hypocrites. Besides, her new video for ‘Bad Girls’ is amazing.
Please don’t lump in all white people with the easily offended, attention seeking members of the PTC.
WTF? Why bring race into this? You completely undermine your argument as soon as you do that.
I normally dislike the influence of the Parents group, but they’re right in one thing… NBC and the NFL deliberately hired controversial performers well known for “shock” and vulgar behavior. What did they really expect?
I can’t accept their disingenuity. It rings hollow. The Superbowl is watched by people of all ages and sensitivity, not just adults with a high tolerance for “R” rated performance. If they’re going to broadcast adult only musical acts, they ought to warn audiences in advance.
My elderly grandmother was watching… she asked “Did that woman in the fancy headdress just make an obscene gesture on TV?” Yes dear Nana, she did. Nana said “Why did they have to do that? It’s not appropriate”. I had no answer.
Grandma has better eyesight than I do. I didn’t even notice this (until reading about it on the web this morning).
No one where I was noticed a thing, except that NBC blurred a seemingly innocent second of the show. No one had any idea what happened until reading the news later.
why do you give them credence? why not publish press releases from NAMBLA as well?h
This is an open forum AND America. Everyone has a say, including those that YOU don’t agree with.
I agree. Mimi’s grandma has excellent eyesight. I missed it completely. I saw the blur and thought did I miss something? Oh well. The show is great. I see on the web this morning that I did.
I did not record it and look back to see what I might or might not have missed. Unlike the PTC. There response was more like: Oh look they did a blur, lets rewind and see if they caught something…oops they missed a middle finger. I am offended…better start yelling to all corners that I am offended.
PTC – The NFL didn’t LIE, are you kidding me!?! M.I.A. actually does have free will to do what she wants when she wants. Why would she show it during rehearsal when she knew it would be an issue – she wanted to be the after show talk and she succeeded. If they didn’t know she was going to do that, it isn’t a lie. You people are such morons in saying that.
Thank you PTC for standing up to the dirty act NBC allowed. Now if you don’t mind my kids and I wish to resume watching Madonna grind up and down center field.
ZZZZZZZzzzzzz snore. The half time production was splendid. Kudos to the production team including structure, story board, choreographers, graphic artists, camera blocking..etc etc. A truly American experience. I didn’t even notice M.I.A. nor the flip. Chill dudes..the half time experience was fantastic on all levels. Bravo!
Just because you didn’t notice M.I.A. giving the middle finger doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. And complimenting the production values doesn’t negate the fact that there was absolutely no reason for M.I.A. to do what she did.
I’m sure people will get over it. Lives weren’t lost, stock markets didn’t crash. It was a good production…one of the better Super Bowl halftimes I’ve seen in the past few years. For those that were offended, life will go on.
Get a grip, PTC. Sounds like you have severe emotional problems.
Seriously, who cares? No one even noticed it. I didn’t, until I read an article last night. A kid watching wouldn’t even know what the gesture meant — it’s not like nudity.
The Super Bowl is watched by BILLIONS world wide. What halftime shows in the last decade have caused controversy? The ones trying to appeal to a “hip” “youth” market. And they were crap. Not saying that Tom Petty was fun… very boring! But at least it wasn’t profane. Anyone with common sense was waiting for something controversial to happen in this one. This made the choice of having the Stones perform look extremely safe. Granted, how many big names are left to perform at halftime? But if you want edgy, or to try and attract a younger audience at halftime, why not get the Foo Fighters or Coldplay? Enough with the halftime “show” (spectacle). Just have a halftime show that’s entertaining.
As for the “PTC, calm down” comments; you apparently don’t understand the PTC. They NEVER calm down.
“The Super Bowl is watched by BILLIONS world wide.”
Really? I’m pretty sure no one outside of North America cares at all about the Superbowl. When they talk about football in the rest of the world, you know they’re not talking about the NFL, don’t you?
Watched the game and halftime with my son and some buddies- grade school age- none of them saw the finger. I brought it up, and all said “I don’t remember anything.” So quick, I had to rewind to confirm…Relax PTC…just…Relax.
It was rude and it was uncalled for. Why did MIA have to do it? Political statement, wanted to crank her ratings up a notch, has a reputation to uphold? Who knows, but selfish is exactly the word I would use! Perhaps they should cancel the big half time show and focus on football instead?
It’s supposed to be family fare. NBC does have a responsibility to provide family friendly programming. Obviously none of you have kids. You think about these things when you do.
“Why did MIA have to do it?”
Hmmm… Only two reasons come to mind. Stupidity or ignorance being the first. You’ve got to be aware of the size and diversity of the viewing audience.
I think the best one is the second; attention. How better to get attention to a sagging career with some controversy and attention?? Again, you’ve got to be aware of the size and diversity of the viewing audience!
“Controversy”- America at it again. One of the first gestures kids learn is the middle finger. They use it all the time and it doesn’t mean anything to do them, if anything MIA will give them something to giggle over during recess. I find it funny that American families are so concerned with nonesense of this kind but don’t seem to mind the 50% divorce rate. You know what’s really toxic for children? Mommy and daddy being separated and living with boyfriends and girlfriends. I think its about time everyone stops worrying about nonesense shit and starts focusing on the big picture. Plus I was under the impression that the super bowl was just an excuse to get drunk and start fights- it’s not like Big Bird pulled out a crack pipe on sesame street or something.
Actually, I have two young kids. And a football game is not something I would sit down and watch with them (or by myself, for that matter). Between the violence, the objectification of women, and the commercialization, it’s not high on my list of “family” things to do.
I think what M.I.A. did was stupid and selfish, but it’s not as if my kids haven’t seen it before. They know it’s wrong to do and I’ve brought them up well enough that a second flash of someone doing it on television isn’t going to do any damage.
It’s ironic that the reason M.I.A. did it was to get attention and if it wasn’t for organizations like PTC she wouldn’t get it.
Yeah! Cancel the halftime show and air more commercials like the Go Daddy ones with women wearing hardly any clothes! Give me more Teleflora commercials with ladies in lingerie! More trailers for movies like Act of Valor with scenes of war, guns and explosions! The middle finger is just TOO MUCH for kids and grandmas!
Please give it a rest PTC! Most kids won’t know what it meant and there are probably worse things they’re exposed to on television. If anything, parents/guardians simply need to tell any “traumatized” kid that it was wrong and that should be the end of it.
What I’m finding hilarious is I’m seeing comments on sites trashing MIA with language far worse than the middle finger. These people consider themselves “holier than thou” role models by comparison? LOL.
I totally agree with Jordan’s comment above.
To quote Jordan’s comment:
“Children dont notice things until their parents tell them!”
Children will be talking about this, how cool it was, how it garnered attention, without their parents talking about it. And I’m sure that parents didn’t intend to expose their children to it, it being a Super Bowl halftime show, just like they didn’t with the Justin/Janet spectacle. Don’t get me wrong, I’m pretty danged liberal.
Consider that children imitate behavior that grabs attention. When I saw “Austin Powers: The Spy that Shagged Me” and parents bringing kids to it, and there is the scene where Mini Me flips the bird at Austin from a baby buggy, a huge response, huge laughs from the audience… What do you think the children in the theater got from that? Flipping the bird is funny! And now, it gets attention.
Bigger picture, people. I’m glad so many loved the halftime “show”. It wasn’t all that and this is what it will be most remembered for.
I’m pretty sure it will be remembered for being MAFREAKINGDONNA, but to each his own.
If you think a middle finger and a bare breast are anywhere even in the same spectrum, you’re not as liberal as you think you are. There’s a difference between Janet Jackson’s boob flopping out on live TV and a gesture you can see on a t-shirt from Spencer’s.
Also pretty sure kids don’t follow the news. They’ll only know it’s getting so much attention because adults have deemed it newsworthy for whatever reason and won’t stop talking about it.
You can all say forget it…but you know what that does not need to happen. Why does a professional entertainer have to make that universally known jesture at the Superbowl. Sing your song dance like you can and get off the stage. You sign a contract to perform. In the contract I would think their is a morals clause. She breached it and should pay whatever the contract states. At some point artist need to hone up to their responsibility as professional entertainers. Flipping the bone was not by accident. It was intentional. The half time I thought was very entertaining. The only thing being talked about is this singer and her stupid intentional “up yours.” She is just stupid. But thank you Madonna for a great half time show. BETTHEDUCK
I can’t believe that I’m actually agreeing – partly- with those close-minded PTC on this but I am. NBC and the NFL should have known that M.I.A. would pull something like this. She’s repeating what she did in her video for godssakes. NBC and the NFL should be blasted and the damage control they will do/have done is punishment enough. And I’m sure heads will roll somewhere for this screw-up, especially since this is an election year. Don’t forget, the wardrobe malfunction also occured during an election year.
As for half-time entertainment, when someone is billed as “performing live” perhaps they should actually be performing live as opposed to lip-syncing their entire act.
I’m going to disagree. Turning this into a thing gives M.I.A. validation for her self-centered childishness. I hope the FCC doesn’t get involved, but if there’s a fine, the payers should sue M.I.A. In any regard, who is going to approve any future broadcast network appearances for the woman? It’s the big leagues, you got to be very talented, lucky, and smart and no one cares which of those you lack.
As for lip syncing: it’s a multi-media concert where the singer moves around and would need miking and monitoring through multiple zones. The stage is complex, being multi-tiered and having mechanical parts. There are costume changes. It has to be set up and ready to go and broken down and removed perfectly in 7 minutes. It’d be swell if one could get a live performance as well, but how many variables are you willing to add before the probability of breakdown becomes too great? The mission was to create spectacle, not chanteuse intimacy. Forget it Jake, it’s the Super Bowl.
NO ONE BUT YOU CARES, PTC.
Hey I’m giving the PTC the finger right now!
While I DON’T REALLY CARE, is the finger flip really more objectionable than the Go Daddy ads which tease nudity and tell people to go online to see more full nudity?
That MIA… she’s such a rebel.