Look, I wasn’t a huge fan of Adam Lambert’s now infamous American Music Awards set — the groping and kissing and simulated fellatio seemed more Read the full post.
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ABC is a great big bully. They got the performance and ratings and press that they wanted for the AMA’s and then they go and dump Adam after the fact. Spineless moronic cowards.
The blatant hypocrisy is what slays me. It’s fine for Courteney Cox to simulate oral sex on the scripted show Cougartown and for DWTS to have simulated and rehearsed sex moves (both well before the 11pm cut off). It’s fine for them to have him on Barbara Walters (but not to tell him about the GMA cancellation until after the interview was taped). All of that was fine, but this is not? Moreover, Kimmel is taped and segments of NYRE are as well, plus Lambert could have gone on after 11pm on NYE, so ABC’s excuses are thin indeed, especially when others networks immediately snap him up for their shows. If ABC were so concerned about the FCC, they would have issued an apology, which they have not. Moreover, if they hope to appeal a FCC ruling, acting in this punitive way indicates guilt, which puts their appeal on shakier legal ground. Bad ideas all around, ABC.
Honestly, I’m exasperated by the whole situation. ABC’s continual over-reaction hypocrisy just further alienates me from that network, and encourages me to side exclusively with Adam. And, really, it was his first-time performing on TV, outside of Idol – are we not judging him rather harshly, for being, so hot, out the box? Sure, Gaga killed it – but how many of these shows has she done? And has she been touring 4-5 cities/week while putting out an album and doing the crazy publicity circuit for the past 6 months? Adam has had no rest, and doesn’t even have a partner to keep him sane – so let’s just cut him a little slack, ok?
While I don’t necessarily approve of ABC’s handling of this issue…I don’t think there should be cries of homophobia against NBC or anything like that.
First off…the last time I checked, ABC has the most gay characters on TV right now. They’ve done some pretty ~edgy~ gay storylines on some of their shows before (Off the top of my head, there was a kiss between two gay male military characters on an episode of Grey’s Anatomy last season)
Second…The FCC is a pretty terrifying force. If enough people have complained about the AMA performance, ABC could be in some deep you know what. The prospect of a quarter/half a million dollar fine coupled with the potential of losing sponsors would be enough to make me cancel on the Pope for Rockin’ New Years Eve.
It’s terrible that we still live in a country where homophobia and bigotry are alive and well…but be frustrated with the people who complained about the performance, not ABC for trying to cover their behinds.
Sorry, it should say “cries of homophobia against ABC” not NBC
I AM SO DISGUSTED AT ABC’S KNEE-JERK REACTION TO ADAM’S GAY. NOBODY YELLED ABOUT HIM SIMULATING SEX WITH HIS FEMALE DANCER. I AM WONDERING WHEN HIGH PROFILE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO STAND UP AND DEFEND HIM. THIS IS CRAP, SO I AM BOYCOTTING ABC AND IT’S SPONSORS. SAD TOO, CUZ I LIKE ME SOME M&M’S.
I don’t think that is true. Everyone complained about the whole performance, but the majority here and Adam is just pointing out the gay portion. I found the whole thing dis tasteful.
I am disgusted by ABCs lack of ethics and professionalism. I think I will be watching a lot more of CBS from now on.
Don’t care for his music or style, but he is engaging and makes me LOL.
This has nothing to do with the fact that he’s gay – his performance was disgusting and too over the top, gay or straight, male of female. And I really liked the guy. (But I’m beginning to think the cute, humble nice Adam from AI was just an act.) And don’t try and tell me “pink did the same thing” – hers was a brief, isolated move compared to Adam’s 4 minutes of lasciviousness. The whole thing was indecent and I’m glad to see somebody stand up to this and let performers know we’d rather see a performance (as in singing) as opposed to watching sex acts on stage (as in Adam’s AMAs.)I usually agree with you Slezak, but I think you are wrong on this one. I applaud ABC (a network I normally am not a fan of) for their position.
Ash – as long as you understand that your ‘was disgusting’ statement is your opinion ONLY, and not a fact. I for one loved it, and did NOT find it the least bit offputting. Rock has always been about pushing the comfort zone button. It’s about time that attitude returns in my opinion.
I totally agree with you. What some people thought was disgusting didn’t faze me a bit. I enjoyed the whole show. What is the big deal? Nobody stripped down and had sex on tv. There’s much more nudity and sexual acts on daytime tv. And there’s such a thing call remote control. My young nephew can’t watch the shark on “Finding Nemo”—”Scary” says 10 yr. old, He has to turn away so the 5 & 7 yr. olds can enjoy. I just visited Mainland China and found out some of my favorite websites are censored there and most of the popular tv show from US, not shown. Well, I never loved and missed America more. The “freedom to choose” never looked more beautiful. Yet, here we are, some people missed out on our sexual revolution and wants to censor the rest of us. In china, they are concerned about violent crimes on US tv, not sexuality.
Ash,
ABC was well aware of the entire perofrmance that was planned for Adam’s number, and actually advertised it as they went to break throughout the show. The only parts they weren’t aware of were the faceplant in the crotch and the kiss – the overall theme of the song and the performance is sexual in nature. There are many things I am offended by on TV – that absolutely disgusting show Fear Factor was one example, as well as the blatant gratuitous violence in so many shows. You know what? I have the power to change the channel or turn the show off. It was the end of the night, after everything was done – staying to watch something you didn’t like is totally your choice, and dictating to the rest of us how we should feel about it, or that we should be prevented from seeing it is censorship.
Hey Ash…what did you think of Janet Jackson grabbing one of her dancer’s balls? I guess in America that was fine. I didn’t hear of ABC cancelling her.
Ash, but here’s the thing: if you were disgusted by the whole 4 minutes, and not just the ‘dirtiest’ bits, then you should realize that AMAs producers saw the performance in rehearsal and APPROVED it. So how can you applaud ABC for approving and deciding to show a disgusting performance?
Also, if you want Adam to “just sing”, then he did exactly that on the Early Show, on Letterman, and on Ellen. So yes, he is capable of doing that and should be given another chance.
How about if ABC just stops inviting him at all and then they don’t have to retract or cancel! Adam doesn’t deserve to be on a network that spawns discrimination and hypocrisy. So let him go elsewhere and give his great ratings to a network that deserves it! Bonnie Hunt just tweeted him this morning that she would be thrilled to have him! Go NBC and Bye ABC! Adam is keeping his head in the positive so let’s finally move on and ABC can go back to obscurity.
ABC is completely in the right here. If Adam is allowed to “express” himself on national TV as he did, then they are allowed to pull him from their line-up if they so choose. Get mad all you want but just don’t watch ABC if you don’t like it. I find it funny that probably some of the same people that were getting mad at the PTC for wanting Gossip Girl to pull the “threesome episode” told anyone who didn’t like that type of programming and didn’t agree with it to just not watch. Yet, when a network does something they don’t agree with (i.e. yank any television appearances Adam has upcoming) they’re ticked that he’s been wronged. Seriously, he made his choice to do what he did on live t.v. and they’re doing the same by not having him back. If you don’t agree with it, then no longer watch ABC. He should have thought it thru more before performing that way.
Hey Sarah, Are you sure you watched the WHOLE awards show? There were MANY over the top and racy performances!! Eminem talked about RAPE, Janet Jackson simulated sex on stage! Why aren’t you upset about that? The point is, Adam is being wrongly SINGLED OUT and punished over and over again. He has performed many times before and they were not racy perforamances, people like you have BOXED him in based on one performance that was at 11 pm on a racy awards show. He’s already been on GMA and did perfectly fine, as well as Ellen, CBS, etc. He’s a great performer. If you had half a brain, you would retract your statement. What ABC is saying to our kids is you can NEVER make a mistake and you’ll pay for it FOREVER. Isn’t it better to say, ok, let’s have you on our show and you can “redeem” yourself, as he did on Ellen and other shows. I’d hate to be your kid, you’d kick them out of the house at their first transgression! How sad.
I am dismayed that ABC and Disney chooses to inflict their antiquated moral code on the masses. I am more dismayed that they refuse to give us a reason which forces me to believe it is an example of blatant homophobia. FCC rules weren’t broken; he was on AFTER the 10pm timeline. It couldn’t have been the “sexual” incidences; they have been done on award shows for eternity. I will no longer support any sponsors of ABC nor will I support Disney in any way (which is painful as I USE to collect Disney movies) as I cannot condone homophobia or double standards in any instance.
I have so much disrespect for ABC, I will ban them from my remote.
I love Adam, what was HE thinking? My objection is the violent nature of his performance because Adam seems so kind and decent and sensitive. I hope he does go back to being himself, forget Lady Gaga and other violent references to sex.
The song was about aggressive, rough sex.
What did you want him to do, cuddle onstage?
ROFL- yes and toss teddy bears into the audience (of course they would be dressed in leather)
With the Snuggle fabric softner bear on back up vocals.
I will not watch ABC again…what’s their point? they’re angering a lot of people and they aren’t hurting ADAM, he will rise above this pettiness and to Grace etc. don’t let the door hit your backside on the way out…
ABC is beyond ridiculous. I will no longer watch the network nor will I financially support the sponsors of the network. This is hatred and discrimination, period.
I do think it’s time to move on.
What bothers me now is the scapegoating. Such a waste of energy. Actions have consequences and it’s not anybody else’s fault. He miscalculated learned and it’s time to move on. ABC will have Adam back when the timing is right. He will still incorporate his moves but they will be more like the “For Your Entertainment” video for broadcast TV and more like AMA at pay performances. Adam is fine and selling fine.
I’m an adult and could care less about anybodies orientation. Never the less AMA was very uncomfortable at times. Not entertaining for me several times long before Adam came on. I really hope the good that comes out of this (thanks to Adam for raising awareness) is recognition that inappropriate touching is not OK in public especially on TV by anybody.
I started commenting but there are just too many points to raise and too little time. Your definition of “inappropriate touching” is obviously off-base here however.
What the hell is inappropriate touching? Why is this country so scared of sex and sexuality?