| . | . | |
Morality and Decency Conference Speakers
|
||
Newsletter Updates
January 30, 2008
 As the 'Circuit Girls' head to the Super Bowl - the market is ready, but consider the ads and other entertainment. Watch O'Reilly tonight. A car speeds down a dark highway, its headlights illuminating the road ahead to reveal none other than . . . '80s fitness icon Richard Simmons, doing jumping jacks in his little striped shorts. "Squeeze those buns! You are so worth it! C'mon, girls!" chirps Simmons before the car bears down on him and his aerobic cheers turn to screams.
A wish-fulfillment fantasy for millions of Americans? The glorious dream I had last night? No - Bridgestone tires' first-ever Super Bowl ad, which will air during the third quarter of Sunday's game between the undefeated New England Patriots and the underdog New York Giants.
Yep, it's that time of year again, when the on-field action in Phoenix will be overwhelmed by pre-game hype and post-game quarterbacking over which pricey Super Bowl commercials scored highest with viewers. The stakes may be bigger than ever: With the writers' strike canceling such scripted hits as "Heroes," and maybe even the Oscars, Sunday's game could be advertisers' only opportunity this winter to reach a mass audience.
That's why Fox is getting a record $2.7 million for a 30-second Super Bowl spot. (This trend in profiteering should not be confused with a recent CBS.com story headlined, "Prostitutes Look to Score at Super Bowl," which is about actual prostitutes.)
That's also why Audi paid Paramount Pictures between $500,000 and $1.5 million to spoof
the Advertisement  horse's head scene from "The Godfather" for a Super Bowl ad touting its R8 sports car. The tag line: "Old luxury has been put on notice." Considering the R8's $109,000 price tag, buyers' financial health may be put on notice, too.
Among other ads we'll see Sunday:
* A Budweiser spot in which a Clydesdale, cut from the brewer's iconic wagon team, trains for a "Rocky"-like comeback with the help of a cute Dalmatian. Sounds, um, "heartwarming."
* Six ads for Bud Light, including one in which some guys sneak beer into a wine-and-cheese party (hoo-hah!) and another in which - get this - Bud Light gives its drinkers X-ray vision, allowing guys to see through women's clothes! Ha! Stop it, you're killing me here!
* A Pepsi ad in which two deaf pals, communicating through sign language, seek out a friend's Super Bowl party. The groundbreaking spot is subtitled and completely silent for its entire 60 seconds, which may lead confused viewers to check their mute buttons.
* Eight zillion plugs for Fox's "American Idol," which is apparently some sort of talent show. Maybe you've heard of it. |
 |
|||
FCC RESULTS The Federal Communications Commission issued a $1.43 million indecency fine against 52 ABC affiliates Jan. 25 for airing nudity during an episode of "NYPD Blue" in 2003, marking the second-largest indecency fine ever proposed for a television broadcaster. Though ABC has said it will appeal the ruling, The Wall Street Journal said the fine is "notable for its size and because it could signal the beginning of a new round of indecency fines that may soon emanate from the agency.""Our action today should serve as a reminder to all broadcasters that Congress and American families continue to be concerned about protecting children from harmful material and that the FCC will enforce the laws of the land vigilantly," FCC commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate said in a statement.
A decision on the 2003 incident has been so long in coming because the "lightly staffed FCC enforcement bureau must go up against broadcasters, which have more legal and financial resources to battle the proposed fine and have a vested interest in dragging out the proceeding," according to The Washington Post.
The Journal noted that complaints have been mounting at the FCC in recent years while the agency spends time defending previous decisions in federal appeals courts."We are thankful that the FCC has finally taken a stand for children and families with this unanimous order," said Tim Winter, president of the Parents Television Council. "The delay in getting here has been frustrating, but we are delighted by the decision."
PTC had led the public outcry against the scene, which featured the nude buttocks of a woman in a bathroom scene with a young boy, when it initially aired. "Despite the TV networks' scurrilous lawsuits claiming a right to air profanity, and that a striptease in the middle of the Super Bowl was somehow not indecent, this order should serve as a reminder to every broadcaster and every network that they must use the public airwaves responsibly and in a manner which serves the public interest," Winter said. ABC draws heavy FCC indecency fine
|
 | |||
FAMILY CONCERNS
|
||||
Centers for Decency is apart of a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization which encourages, motivates, educates, and equips the family and community in morality and decency offering information, articles, volunteers to make the difference, with conference speakers thereby battling the pornography and obscenity. If you appreciate our focus and hard work, send any dollar amount for donations or creative gifts to Centers for Decency, 1415 S. Voss Road, Suite 110393, Houston, Texas 77057 or call 713.266.2715.
|
||||