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They said it in 2004: Special Super Bowl edition

We continue our look back at the quotes of 2004. February started with the most quote-intensive event of the year, the Super Bowl Nipplegate incident. So before we get into the broad scope of sayings for the month, we thought we'd provide a compendium of comment in the immediate aftermath of Janet Jackson's infamous wardrobe malfunction.

* "I am outraged at what I saw during the halftime show of the Super Bowl. Like millions of Americans, my family and I gathered around the television for a celebration. Instead, that celebration was tainted by a classless, crass and deplorable stunt. Our nation's children, parents and citizens deserve better. I have instructed the Commission to open an immediate investigation into last night's broadcast. Our investigation will be thorough and swift." - - FCC Chairman Michael Powell

* "I am shocked and dismayed about what occurred during the half-time show of the Super Bowl. Particularly during an event that families and children watch together, Americans should not have to tolerate such a gratuitous display of nudity. Broadcasters should have more respect for their viewers and exercise a greater degree of social responsibility than what was shown last night. I am pleased that this Commission is opening an immediate investigation into last night's broadcast. I hope that we can be responsive to the concerns raised by the American people by addressing this matter expeditiously." - - FCC Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy

* "Hundreds of Americans have already registered their displeasure at the incident on the Super Bowl halftime show. I'm not surprised. I'll bet there are millions like me who wonder why parents wanting to watch an all-American sports show with their children have to worry about what's coming on their screen next. I urge the Commission to address these complaints promptly. I will review the facts of this case, but I can say that the Commission's tepid action in this area has not accomplished anything to slow down Big Media's race to the bottom." - - FCC Commissioner Michael Copps

* "CBS deeply regrets the incident that occurred during the Super Bowl halftime show. We attended all rehearsals throughout the week and there was no indication that any such thing would happen. The moment did not conform to CBS broadcast standards and we would like to apologize to anyone who was offended." - - CBS Television

* "The tearing of Janet Jackson's costume was unrehearsed, unplanned, completely unintentional and was inconsistent with assurances we had about the content of the performance. MTV regrets this incident occurred and we apologize to anyone who was offended by it." - - MTV

* "I am sorry if anyone was offended by the wardrobe malfunction during the Halftime performance of the Super Bowl It was not intentional and is regrettable." - - Justin Timberlake

* "We were extremely disappointed by elements of the MTV-produced Halftime show. They were totally inconsistent with assurances our office was given about the show. It's unlikely that MTV will produce another Super Bowl halftime."- - NFL

* "Despite promises from MTV that the live half-time show would feature something outlandish, CBS took no steps to prevent Justin Timberlake from exposing the breast of mega-pop-star Janet Jackson during the live performance. The performance, including the offensive material, was obviously scripted. In fact Jackson's people promised there would be 'shocking moments' in the performance. We find Justin Timberlake's apology and explanation to be dishonest and disingenuous." - - Parents Television Council President Brent Bozell

* "If we were implementing our statutory mandate effectively, our rules would serve as a significant deterrent to broadcasters considering the airing of obscene, indecent and profane material, and our fines would punish violators sternly. I am concerned that we are failing on both fronts. Indecency complaints used to number in the hundreds, we now receive them by the tens of thousands. Clearly, consumers are concerned. The FCC needs to respond." - -FCC Commissioner Kevin Martin

* "I applaud the Chairman for launching an immediate investigation into last night's broadcast of the Super Bowl halftime show. The Super Bowl should be a time families can spend together in their homes without the intrusion of tasteless and inappropriate behavior. I look forward to a swift resolution of the FCC's investigation." - - FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein

* "Before the Super Bowl, Jermaine Dupri, Jackson's boyfriend, was telling people that the singer was going to do something sexually explicit, according to an insider. He was saying, 'Don't watch the halftime concert unless you want to see something very R-rated,' says the source." - - item posted on the MSNBC website

* "In general, I think the FCC does have a role in promoting some reasonable standard of decency. However, considering what's on television these days, I think the FCC is being pretty silly about investigating this. I think the FCC probably has a lot of other things they should be pursuing." - - Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean

* "Consensual or not, the breast baring halftime show at the Super Bowl portrayed an act of sexual violence that should have offended and outraged everyone. Surprisingly, not everyone recognized the act as anything but entertainment, missing the real 'story' of sexual violence. In most, if not all states, the act of ripping a dress and exposing a breast is an indecent assault. Yet, entertainment goes too far when it desensitizes millions of viewers, especially children and teens, to acts of sexual violence portrayed as acceptable behavior." - - National Sexual Violence Resource Center Executive Director Delilah Rumburg

* "It was nothing more than a high-tech striptease foisted on tens of millions of unsuspecting Americans. To make it worse, there are reports that top CBS officials not only knew about the planned nudity, but also approved it. I would expect pink slips to be in the mail today, because CBS has destroyed its family-friendly image and reputation for high quality entertainment." - - Focus on the Family

* "CBS would do well to adhere to the adage: if you sleep with dogs you'll get fleas. I am sure there is a lot of scratching going on at CBS today. Over the last several years, evening network television has become off limits for many families. Lack of FCC enforcement has encouraged networks to add more and more sexual incidents, fouler language, and even indecent exposure." - - Family Research Center


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