ABC apologizes for steamy MNF intro

[estranged4life]

The network's steamy intro to the Philadelphia-Dallas game, featuring a naked Nicollette Sheridan jumping into the arms of Eagles receiver Terrell Owens, drew complaints from viewers and the NFL.

ABC Sports apologized Tuesday for the segment, used a day earlier to promote the hit show "Desperate Housewives" and broadcast just nine months after another football flap, the Janet Jackson Super Bowl fiasco.

"We have heard from many of our viewers about last night's "MNF" opening segment and we agree that the placement was inappropriate," ABC Sports said in a statement.

The NFL called the intro "inappropriate and unsuitable for our "Monday Night Football" audience."

"While ABC may have gained attention for one of its other shows, the NFL and its fans lost," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.

The FCC is investigating the incident, CNN reported Monday.

The spot showed Owens and Sheridan in an empty locker room, with Sheridan wearing only a towel and provocatively asking Owens to skip the game for her.

After she dropped her towel, he smiled, agreed to be late for the contest and she jumped into his arms. Sheridan was shown only from behind and above the waist after she dropped the towel.

Then the shot panned out to two more stars of "Desperate Housewives" Teri Hatcher and Felicity Huffman, watching the scene unfold on a television and commenting on desperate women.

The Eagles said they appreciated ABC Sports' apology.

"It is normal for teams to cooperate with ABC in the development of an opening for its broadcast," the team said. "After seeing the final piece, we wish it hadn't aired."

ABC has broadcast "Monday Night Football" with a 5-second delay this season, a precaution after Jackson's wardrobe malfunction at February's Super Bowl.

At halftime of that game, Justin Timberlake ripped off part of Jackson's brassiere, exposing her right breast to a TV audience of some 90 million. The Super Bowl was broadcast on CBS, which was fined a record $550,000 by the FCC.

[dissention]

The fundies are just looking for any reason to get Desperate Housewives kicked off the air. I find it rather funny that they complain the show is inappropriate for their young children. Kinda makes you wonder why parents allow their young children to stay up past nine o'clock on a Sunday night to be exposed to such a program. And aren't these the same people who demanded the V-chip?

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by dissention

The fundies are just looking for any reason to get Desperate Housewives kicked off the air. I find it rather funny that they complain the show is inappropriate for their young children. Kinda makes you wonder why parents allow their young children to stay up past nine o'clock on a Sunday night to be exposed to such a program. And aren't these the same people who demanded the V-chip?

They are such losers. Like seeing a naked woman is going to poison them or something. Oh wait, impure thoughts... Jeez Louise, can we fight for important things, please? Ugh!!

Seriously though, what is with this obsession that nudity is evil?

[Lisa1769]

I didn't think the intro was bad at all.

Kinda makes you wonder why parents allow their young children to stay up past nine o'clock on a Sunday night to be exposed to such a program.

It's 6 p.m. on the west coast...8 p.m. central.

They are such losers. Like seeing a naked woman is going to poison them or something. Oh wait, impure thoughts... Jeez Louise, can we fight for important things, please? Ugh!!

I disagree. Being a mother of a 12 year boy you dont quite want them looking at naked bodies in sexual situations. I cringe when the Herbal Essence commercial, mimicking a womans orgasm, comes on. I enjoy them immensely but not ready for my child to know about a womans orgasm. I dunno, I just think our kids are growing up way to fast.

[JohnL]

People need to worry about something that matters. ABC apologized afterward...like they didn't know the kind of reaction this would get. Geez people...lighten up.

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by Lisa1769

I didn't think the intro was bad at all.



It's 6 p.m. on the west coast...8 p.m. central.



I disagree. Being a mother of a 12 year boy you dont quite want them looking at naked bodies in sexual situations. I cringe when the Herbal Essence commercial, mimicking a womans orgasm, comes on. I enjoy them immensely but not ready for my child to know about a womans orgasm. I dunno, I just think our kids are growing up way to fast.

Then people shouldn't let their kids watch that stuff!!

It is NOT the networks fault - it's the fault of the parents if their kids are watching that stuff....my sister maintains strict restrictions on what my nephew watches....if he's still up when they want to watch something lik DH - then they either tape it - or he goes and reads or plays....

So yeah - I don't think tv networks are really the place that should hold the responsibility - I don't want a show I like taken off because some parents don't approve...then don't watch it...

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by Lisa1769

...
I disagree. Being a mother of a 12 year boy you dont quite want them looking at naked bodies in sexual situations. I cringe when the Herbal Essence commercial, mimicking a womans orgasm, comes on. I enjoy them immensely but not ready for my child to know about a womans orgasm. I dunno, I just think our kids are growing up way to fast.

Well, can you tell I don't have kids? I didn't realize this show airs so early in other time zones. I hate that Herbal Essences commercial too. They seem to have a new campaign though that avoids that. To be honest, I didn't see the NS commercial so I am not aware of how explicit it was. I'm just super sensitive to any sort of censorship these days in this political climate.

[David]

Originally Posted by estranged4life

The network's steamy intro to the Philadelphia-Dallas game, featuring a naked Nicollette Sheridan jumping into the arms of Eagles receiver Terrell Owens, drew complaints from viewers and the NFL.

HAAAHAA!!! It's kind of amusing, I'll admit, occasionally watching these stupid networks, representing the worst kind of corporate think, repeatedly flagellate themselves whenever negative "feedback" rolls in.

The NFL called the intro "inappropriate and unsuitable for our "Monday Night Football" audience."

Well, blow me down! So the Monday Night Football audience doesn't like slinky little Nicolette Sheridan? What corporate doublespeak crap.

"While ABC may have gained attention for one of its other shows, the NFL and its fans lost," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.

Ah, yes . . . the inevitable flunkie issues forth.

The FCC is investigating the incident, CNN reported Monday.

My goodness. Does that ever-so-vigilant group of puritanical busybodies have nothing better to do?

God, how I wish Mencken were still alive.

[Lisa1769]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

Then people shouldn't let their kids watch that stuff!!

It is NOT the networks fault - it's the fault of the parents if their kids are watching that stuff....my sister maintains strict restrictions on what my nephew watches....if he's still up when they want to watch something lik DH - then they either tape it - or he goes and reads or plays....

So yeah - I don't think tv networks are really the place that should hold the responsibility - I don't want a show I like taken off because some parents don't approve...then don't watch it...

Ummm, I agree with you totally. I restrict what my son watches. The V Chip is enabled on his television. We watch Monday Night Football, I said I didnt see anything wrong with the intro. But commercials that are on your local stations, abc, nbc & cbs air those kind of commercials and you dont know their coming on, you could be watching a family show and there it is... now unless you're sitting there with remote in hand ready to switch the channel...too late...done over.....

[David]

Originally Posted by Lisa1769

Being a mother of a 12 year boy you dont quite want them looking at naked bodies in sexual situations.

That's certainly a wise stance. However, in practical terms, it would require throwing your TV sets in the trash.

I dunno, I just think our kids are growing up way to fast.

Actually, the kids feeding themselves a daily diet of television of any kind generally don't grow up at all.

[Lisa1769]

Originally Posted by David

That's certainly a wise stance. However, in practical terms, it would require throwing your TV sets in the trash.
Actually, the kids feeding themselves a daily diet of television of any kind generally don't grow up at all.

Very True!

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by Lisa1769

Ummm, I agree with you totally. I restrict what my son watches. The V Chip is enabled on his television. We watch Monday Night Football, I said I didnt see anything wrong with the intro. But commercials that are on your local stations, abc, nbc & cbs air those kind of commercials and you dont know their coming on, you could be watching a family show and there it is... now unless you're sitting there with remote in hand ready to switch the channel...too late...done over.....

Oh - right - that has actually happened where a spotty commercial showed up - so in that case - yeah pretty much out of parental control....side note _ I stopped using Herbal Essences years ago because I found their commercials so utterly stupid...

[Pisces Queen]

I didn't find the skit to be anymore sexual that those darn Levitra ~ Viagra commercials they run through the entire game.

[Lisa1769]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

side note _ I stopped using Herbal Essences years ago because I found their commercials so utterly stupid...

Me too.

[Lisa1769]

Originally Posted by Pisces Queen

I didn't find the skit to be anymore sexual that those darn Levitra ~ Viagra commercials they run through the entire game.

Yea, there's another example.

BTW, I see you're from Dallas. I was so rooting for the Cowboys.