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Last week the Today show cut out a Matt Lauer interview with comedian Chris Rock. The interview aired live on the east coast but was edited from the west coast broadcast. Their spokesperson said, "The language was inappropriate for morning TV, especially for the many children who are off from school and watching at that hour." In case you missed it, what comedian Chris Rock said was that if President Clinton would give him a pardon, "I'd whip Ken Starr's ass." He also referred to Ken Starr as a scumbag, as if we didn't know that. Chris Rock's reaction was, "I find it odd that the people at Today felt that talk of stained dresses and violent crimes was more suitable for morning TV than me joking about whupping Ken Starr." Rock is absolutely right. For the last several years Today show hosts have analyzed the possible characteristics of the President's penis. They never edited Paula Jones or her spin doctors from their broadcasts. They have also discussed the President of the United States receiving oral sex and semen stains on a dress. This was suitable for children. They also show highschools wrapped in police tape after shooting sprees and the wounded after a bloody explosion. Those too apparently suitable for children since they did not edit their broadcast of the violence. A comedian joking Today edits. Matt Lauer nervously emphasized that Today is a morning show. It was evident he did not take to Rock's language or abuse of Starr. What we have learned from NBC's action is that Today and Matt Lauer are about as hip as an old episode of Maude. If the Today staff had done their job they would have known what Rock was going to say. If they did not like it, they should not have invited him on. NBC's double standard is incredible. Children are off from school and watching at that hour so Chris Rock's jokes are inappropriate. Those same children are staying up to watch The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. Leno's jokes are much more vulgar than anything Chris Rock said. Lenny Bruce years ago observed "they are just words. If you say them over and over again they lose their meaning." Maybe Katie Couric and Matt Lauer have said penis and semen stain so many times they have lost their good judgment. Personally I find Rock's "ass" and "scumbag" easier to take in the confines of a joke than Couric and Lauer's words in the confines of a news show. To summarize: Kids are out of school so bad language on Today is wrong. Those same kids are staying up late to watch The Tonight Show. Chances are those kids won't be up that early when Today airs. It's okay for Jay Leno to use vulgarities but not Chris Rock. It's okay for Katie Couric and Matt Lauer to use the words "penis" and "semen" but not for Chris Rock to use the words "ass" and "scumbag" on morning television. NBC's use of selective censorship is wrong. Editing Chris Rock was wrong. Switching to a new morning show is right. Where's the remote? I'm enforcing my own selective censorship. I'm switching channels.
COPYRIGHT 1998, SCOTTY KOWALL.
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