The fall television season hasn't started yet but CBS is already getting all the press. In a summer where they're advertising one show with the catch phrase, "Start Spreading the News," CBS has been making news by spreading verbal barbs.
At the TV Critics Association press tour Viacom's Les Moonves vigorously defended CBS (which is owned by Viacom) against the proposed FCC fine ($550,000) for the now-notorious "wardrobe malfunction" and pledged to fight any fine in court.
Moonves called the suggested fine "grossly unfair," "perilously dangerous" and a "rush to judgment." He also took the opportunity to slip in the standard line that the FCC's new enforcement attitude is "coming dangerously close to infringing on First Amendment rights."
In short, Moonves and Viacom have adopted the strategy of painting themselves as the victims of the whole affair.
They're simultaneously attempting to intimidate the FCC from fining them while painting murals of McCarthyism to gain sympathy. CBS is sticking to that "strategery" while simultaneously noting that they were unaware that Justin planned to fondle Janet that night.
To be fair to CBS, there's little doubt that they had no inkling that that "wardrobe malfunction" would occur. But the bottom line is the MTV-produced show was aired on CBS, which puts them in the FCC's crosshairs.
At some point a resolution to the hostilities must occur. Maybe the FCC should deal with CBS as they deal with similar situations in-house.
CBS recently canned actors George Eads and Jorja Fox from their top-rated show, "CSI."-á Eads and Fox had been angling strongly for significant raises and then didn't show up for work when they were supposed to. No excuses were allowed.
Moonves talked tough again, stating that "there comes a point where we feel a contract is a contract."-á The Viacom big shot also noted the problematic occurrence of stars holding out for big money over the past few years, declaring "this behavior has to stop."
The message conveyed: don't cross the boss. CBS made their point loud and clear but they've not applied that message to themselves. They have a boss too: the FCC.
Just as a contract is a contract, decency standards are decency standards. There are rules that CBS has to play by just as their actors have to respect their contracts. The FCC's standards apply to CBS not to quash free speech but keep indecency from the public airwaves, rules the public networks have to play by since they're licensed by the FCC.
When you violate those rules, there are consequences.-áArguing that you're being picked on (rightly or wrongly) doesn't apply because CBS knew the rules and they aired something that broke those standards and that means punishment can be instituted.-áJust as the actors must be responsible to meet their obligations to the network, CBS needs to be responsible to meet the overseeing FCC standards.
If the FCC dealt with CBS the way they dealt with Fox and Eads then CBS will get a healthy dose of its own medicine. Or, they could simply agree to honor the oversight of the FCC and face the music. The latter would be preferable; Moonves' boorish behavior needs to stop. After all, a contract is a contract.
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