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AFA JournalNEWS OF INTERESTDisney/ABC assaults TV barriersLingerie-clad models, f-word aired on Mouse television networkEd VitaglianoNew Editor AFA Journal, January 2002 edition November was a big month for breaking barriers at Disney's ABC television network, beginning with a movie containing graphic violence and numerous uses of the f?word, and ending with a peep-show consisting of beautiful women parading in skimpy underwear. Victoria's Secret Fashion Show that aired on prime?time television November 15, revealed so much skin that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is investigating whether the network violated decency regulations. According to USA Today, FCC Commissioner Michael Copps received dozens of complaints, including one from his own 27-year?old daughter. Models posed sensuously and seductively throughout the hour, promoted as the "sexiest night on TV," and the "sultry Super Bowl of underwear." True to its billing, the women wore the barest of bikinis. Parts of one fast?moving segment bordered dangerously on soft?core pornography, as models posed in bed. In another scene, a model simulated oral sex. Just four days earlier, ABC had crushed violence and language standards on network television by airing the award?winning World War II drama Saving Private Ryan uncut and unedited. The movie assaulted viewers with sights and sounds previously seen only on video, cable, and pay television. "Saving Private Ryan is a powerful movie with a powerful message," said AFA President Don Wildmon. "But network television is simply the wrong forum in which to show it unedited." Wildmon said if ABC wanted to air the movie, the network should have edited out some of the most graphic violence and the profanity. According to AFA monitors, besides characters taking the Lord's name in vain numerous times, the f?word was used 21 times. The explicit violence in Saving Private Ryan was also stunningly realistic: men cut in half or literally blown into pieces, intestines hanging out, faces blown off, arms ripped from bodies and extremely bloody scenes in which medics attempted to repair wounded bodies. In answering viewer complaints about the airing of Saving Private Ryan unedited and uncut, ABC said in an E-mail, "With this film, Mr. Spielberg was committed to showing the true horrors of war alongside its moments of victory and heroism. With this telecast, we were committed to that same goal." Wildmon said AFA is certainly proud of the sacrifices made by the men and women who fought against Nazism in Europe, as portrayed by Saving Private Ryan. "The fight against dictatorship during World War II still resonates within the hearts of most Americans as a heroic event - and rightly so," he said. "But using the nobility of the actual events to justify airing a movie with such objectionable content will simply encourage all the networks to do the same thing." The problem, Wildmon added, is that nobility today might very well become ignobility tomorrow. "Hollywood's habit has been to go from high road to low road fairly quickly. The f?word on network television may have appeared first on a movie about World War II heroism, but it will end up being used on some bottom?feeder sitcom." Wildmon said, "Disney and its subsidiaries have long been committed to breaking barriers that attack traditional moral values. We believe ABC could have delivered the same stirring message of heroism without the explicit profanities and graphic gore." As with Victoria' Secret Fashion Show, Saving Private Ryan garnered only about 65% of the normal slate of national advertisers. To Wildmon, that pointed out the remaining leverage that still exists for viewers. "Advertisers are still squeamish about destroying long?standing taboos on television," he said. "At AFA we continue to urge people to take a stand. Let advertisers and local affiliate stations know your views on the sleaze the television networks continue to air." Advertiser Action Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Philips Electronics North America Corp. Pres. William Curran, 1251 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020 1-800-243-7884 Starwood Hotels and Resorts Chrm. Barry S. Sternlicht, 777 West Chester Avenue, White Plains, NY 10604 1-914-640-8100 Saving Private Ryan Ford Motor Co. Chrm. William Clay Ford, Jr., P. O. Box 1899, Dearborn, MI 48121, Phone: 313-322-3000, Toll Free: 1-800-392-3673 Sears, Roebuck and Co. Chrm. Arthur C. Martinez, 3333 Beverly Road, Hoffman Estates, Il. 60179, Phone: 1-800-732-7780 Capital One Financial Corporation Chrm. Richard D. Fairbank, 2980 Fairview Park Dr., Ste. 1300, Falls Church, VA 22042, Phone: 703-205-1000 |
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