What wardrobe malfunction? One and-a-half years after the Superbowl incident that threatened to turn America Amish, is it possible that adult-oriented entertainment is back in the mainstream? We're not talking about porno here, but movies with boobs and the "F" word. In other words, subject matter not appropriate for kids. Thank god! We cannot and should not make all of our entertainment "safe" for the little ones. There needs to be art and culture made for adults. Kids have Harry Potter, let us have "Wait (The Whisper Song)" by the Ying Yang Twins. Or films like Wedding Crashers opening this weekend, that proudly earn their "R" rating. Although Matt Drudge may be upset by this trend, it follows in the echoes of Caddyshack, Porky's, The Last American Virgin with recent films like Dodgeball and Team America.
Given our more cautious climate after Janet's malfunction, the strategy to market racy material presents risks. But it also works to attract those like myself upset by puritanical politics. "In a summer full of sequels and remakes rated PG-13, we feel an original R-rated comedy will stand out,” said Rolf Mittweg, president for worldwide distribution and marketing at the studio releasing Wedding Crashers in a New York Times article by Stephen Farber.
While movie studios are counter programming controversial films, the TV world is finding its own freedom fighters. Like TV Watch, a coalition led by a former RNC Communications Director who stand against special interest and government regulation of content. Their campaign is being supported by TV site Media Village (home of my TV blog) who urge Americans to use parental controls, and not the government, to self-monitor their family's TV intake
TV Watch has a petition that can be signed. It is important to stand up to special interest groups and their faux-outrage, which can lead to censorship. TV and radio are completely under the thumb of government regulation, but it also threatens to get at the music, Internet, satellite radio and even pay cable according to the statements of some politicians. Since his sex-fueled new album broke big last week, I expect a Congressional hearing with R. Kelly soon.
More good stuff on my site, Culture Drift
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