Rupert Murdoch has suffered a sudden attack of good taste. Minutes ago, Fox announced the cancellation of O.J. Simpson’s TV special and his mysterious, unimaginable-to-humans-with-souls book, If I Did It.
Earlier today, 13 of Fox’s affiliates across the country informed the parent company they’d refuse to air the network’s well-promoted two-part interview with Simpson. They cited the subject matter of his book as "inappropriate," and condemned Fox for attempting to promote the book and the interview together. If I Did It was somehow (but who knows how… or why) supposed to serve as the ex-NFL star’s hypothetical confession to the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.
PopWatch may speculate on the reasons for the reversal at another time. But for now, who wants to join me in a collective THANK YOU?
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I think dropping this show & book was the smartest decision of the year. OJ certainly doesn’t need any more fame – he needs to just go away, sit in a dark corner, and think about what he’s done.
And I have to say I’m fully surprised — there’s an ounce of decency left at FOX after all. Now Rupert — how about tossing Judith Regan out on her ear for even thinking this was a good idea?
I can’t believe that he is as cocky and arrogant as he is. He is talking about the mother of his children of his own children has he no feelings towards them? Or is he that stupid and heartless towards his children?
I am very pleased to see this get cancelled. The idea of a guy who was found “not guilty” by a jury of his peers to then turn around and spend his time saying something to the extent of “ha ha suckers, I did do it and this is how” seems really wrong to me. Now, as Tommy G. suggested, let’s take the limelight away from OJ Simpson and let him grow into the sad small unknown he now deserves to be.
What’s interesting that nobody, on either side of the aisle, seems to be appalled by the censoring of this pathetic loser’s attempt to milk more bucks from a society that usually drools over this kind of drivel.
I’m so surprised they actually did this, for the simple reason that this whole enterprise was a horrible idea in the first place and yet it was still started and on track for apparently months. I wonder what will happen to the presumably already printed copies of this book…
This may not have aired, but I still feel the day where we watch executions and other disgusting stuff will happen.
Just watch the 1976 film “Network” to see what television will look like in some time.
YESSSS!!! Cancelling this new opportunity for OJ Simpson to continue to make a mockery of the justice system was the only sensible decision to make. Unfortunately, however, as I saw on TV this past weekend, this man continues to be treated as a movie star wherever he goes, and apparently receives plenty of money that I imagine, finds its way through third parties into his bank account. I sincerely hope that the Goldman and Brown families will be able to collect. Apparently, OJ Simpson is not suffering for lack of income. What a creep.
I am wondering what will happen to all those books now???? I bet a few are in circulation anyhow, and they’ll be going to big bucks on ebay.
The books are going to be destroyed. I wouldn’t even line my sister’s kitty litter box with the shreds.
I am overjoyed to hear that FOX has decided to cancel this filth. OJ is a creepy jerk who continues to profit from this tragic and gruesome event.
Now if only Fox had the good sense to cancel the ARBY ACTION SPORTS AWARDS SHOW on Dec. 10th, hosted by the cast of Jackass Number Two. Cause I mean, REALLY, I def. think of plopping down watching some sports when I think of eating a big juicy Arby’s Roast Beef sandwich…
Can I get an A M E N?
I’m glad all of this happened – OJ showed he is still as callous and disgusting as the night he murdered Nicole and Ron, and the public backlash showed there is still some level of good taste. The whole world knows he did it – but he won’t make a dime off this scheme.
I think with the O.J. Simpson trial being done adn over with, their is no reason why we would need to watch a t.v. show about him. He doesnt need the fame adn certainly doesn’t deserve what fame he already has. A show about a man who most of the world thought guilty of murdering his wife and then getting off with a jury of who were said to be his friends, does not deserve a television show. It would only make people dislike him more. Fox has made a good decision by canceling it, they are saving themselves money and time to put something on that people will actually watch. Airing that show could have been bad for their rep.
Come on guys, don’t be mean. O.J. isn’t “stupid and heartless.” He’s greedy and desperate for attention. The man is a soulles psychopath who probably isn’t dating (because who wants to be his next ex-wife?)
Gotta be hard to air a show that nobody wants to sponsor and even fewer people want to watch……FOX made a financial decision, not a moral one.
O.J. Simpson should try to stay out of the limelight,but I guess that would be asking too much of such an arrogant jerk. Although it was not proven, I have always believed he was responsible for the deaths of Nicole and Ronald. It just goes to show what money can buy:Get out of jail ticket.
O.J. Simpson is just a stupid clown!
Publicity stunt
maybe he should try something easier?…like marketing orange juice.
Yeah, I’m with everyone on this one. While I feel that everyone should have the choice to watch (and read) whatever they want (remote controls are amazing things), I can’t say that I’m displeased with Murdoch’s call. It’s probably the classiest thing he’s ever done amidst his ridiculous tabloid ridden empire.
Decency wins for a change.
Christmas came early this year, my EW Popwatch friends.
It may have been a financial choice instead of a moral one, but it was still the right one. This was a win for the American public, or at least the ones who screamed loud enough that we didn’t want to see this crap. And just when I was losing faith in us …
They said on GMA this morning, that OJ got paid 3.5 million and he gets to KEEP the MONEY! So for him, it doesnt matter if anyone ever sees the damn thing, he still gets PAID! If Ron Goldman can legally, he should seize that money NOW! Im disgusted that this man makes money for this crap.
Wow, is anyone else surprised that the corporation behind FOX News and When Animals Attack is actually on the side of good taste and, you know, basic human decency for once? THANK YOU!
For once, FOX got what they deserved: negative criticism.
Considering the crap Fox’s network aired over the years, I’m surprised. Guess they don’t want to burn in hell with O.J.
Financial decision or not, it’s a nice change of pace to see network execs listening to people for once.
How sick is our society that someone actually thought this garbage was worth 3.5 mil in the first place?? For anyone (crickets) who still thinks he is not guilty of murder let it be known that he is guilty of horrible greed and narcicism.
Right decision, wrong reason. Point: FOX should not be given credit for suddenly growing a conscience.
I guess the end jusitifes the means here, though, since OJ’s attempt to regain the spotlight was ultimately thwarted, and the memory of the two people who were butchered by him won’t be further sullied by the publicizing of his supposed “theory” of how they died.
Huh? Why in the world would you *NOT* want a murderer to confess???
Do you also wish to PREVENT other murderers from also coming forward and admitting their guilt????
Cases like Ramsey, Keen, Tupac, Crane, B.I.G, Zodiac Kill, Jack The Ripper.
Let’s prevent all those case from ever been solved. Smart.
Let’s ban *ALL* murderers from confessing… in writing… verbally… and on video tape.
I say *NOT* allowing him to confess publicly… would be “sick”, “unfair”, and “outrageous”.
Due to your narrow-mindedness and foolishness… he now will *NOT* admit his guilt on November 27, 2006.
Smart move, everyone.