The co-host of the student produced comedy show "BSU Late Night" was fired after a practical joke in which Student Government Association President Frank Hood said the word "boner" during a taping.
"Some people think as the SGA president I need to be 100 percent serious all the time," Hood said. "I'm sorry, I'm not going to be. I still like to joke around with friends."
Executive producer Jeff Higgens was trying to tone down the Nov. 24 episode's content to be aired on local cable. Being featured on Comcast would allow "Late Night" to compete for a regional Emmy Award.
Since leaving Comcast after season six, being aired has been a problem for the show.
Comcast sent Higgens a letter outlining the requirements for being aired on public airwaves, Higgens said. Comcast wrote, "the reason we have not aired is because the title would suggest that there is questionable material..." Higgens said.
In an effort to alleviate the assumption made by Comcast, Higgens said he was determined to make an episode appropriate for Emmy submission.
The goal was outlined to the Late Night staff during meetings, he said. Co-host Landon Knepp didn't attend these meetings and was unaware of the content changes that would make the Nov. 24 show suitable for all audiences.
Hood, a guest for that episode, said he and Higgens were friends from freshman year, and agreed to appear on the show as a favor to Higgens. Prior to the taping the staff displayed promotional signs featuring an embarrassing pubescent picture of Hood, he said. The film crew also taped a skit with the help of Ball State students showcasing Hood as unknown, he said.
Hood said he was embarrassed and ready to retaliate against Higgens for the pranks he pulled.
Knepp said he and Hood were collaborating on an idea with the rest of the staff when Higgens' dislike for the word "boner" came up. Knepp dared Hood a dollar to say the word on-air.
Hood said he found the perfect opportunity to drop the words "boner" and "bonerific" during an on-air conversation with co-host Mike Taylor.
Knepp said he didn't expect to Hood to go through with it, but that even when he did, it shouldn't have been a big deal.
"In my opinion, it's not a bad word," Knepp said. "It's just a silly word."
With an Emmy submission on the line, Higgens reaction to the joke wasn't as funny as Knepp and Hood had hoped. Shortly after the show was taped Knepp was fired. The incident wasn't the only reason for Knepp's dismissal, Higgens said.
In the wake of this incident, Knepp said he is trying to make the best of the situation. Instead of fighting Higgens' decision, he is working toward creating a new student-run comedy show that would feature character recurring characters. Knepp said the project is in the early stages, but he found a faculty adviser to sponsor the show. The first taping was Wednesday night.
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