Spike Lee, VFW, Michael Powell: More Super Bowl Bitching

The VFW is pissed about Kid Rock wearing an American flag as a poncho in the Super Bowl halftime show:

The VFW is upset that media outlets are ignoring the poncho Rock wore during the Super Bowl halftime show, which was made by cutting a slit in an American flag. Rock later tossed the flag into the crowd.

The VFW’s commander in chief, Edward Banas Senior, says Rock’s outfit was “in poor taste and extremely disrespectful.” Banas lamented that the NFL, MTV and CBS have issued apologies for Justin Timberlake’s ripping Janet Jackson’s clothes but have said nothing about Rock.

….FCC chief Michael Powell said Tuesday that the agency had begun a formal investigation, and a letter was sent to CBS. “It’s well under way,” he said.

All five commissioners expressed concern about the Super Bowl broadcast, but Powell declined to speculate on what the FCC would do once the investigation was finished.

Powell said he wasn’t happy with the halftime show in general, including Rock’s performance. [AP]

Spike Lee – who has become the nation’s scold – is pissed about Janet’s wayward mammary:

Film director Spike Lee criticized Janet Jackson’s surprise breast-baring during the Super Bowl halftime show last weekend as a “new low” of attention-getting antics by entertainers.

….Lee, speaking at Kent State University’s regional campus in Stark County, Ohio, on Tuesday night, said there has been a decline in artistry.

He said it’s not enough to be a good singer, and that entertainers “have to do something extra” – such as the openmouthed kiss Madonna gave Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera during the MTV Video Music Awards in August.

“What’s gonna be next? It’s getting crazy, and it’s all down to money. Money and fame,” said Lee, the director of “Malcolm X” and “Do the Right Thing.” “Somehow the whole value system has been upended.” [AP]

And Janet apologized again:

Jackson issued another apology in a videotape released to the media. The pop star had apologized Monday night in a written statement.

“I am really sorry if I offended anyone. That was truly not my intention,” she said. “MTV, CBS, the NFL had no knowledge of this whatsoever, and unfortunately, the whole thing went wrong in the end.”

Actually, it went wrong in the front.

CBS is instituting a delay system for their Grammy broadcast Sunday:

The one-second flashing continued to cause reverberations Tuesday, as CBS said it would institute a video delay system to avoid any recurrence at the Grammy awards.

Timberlake, who is nominated for five Grammy Awards, is scheduled to perform on Sunday’s telecast. Jackson is supposed to present an award.

“Unfortunately, we cannot count on those who appear on our air to live up to our standards,” said Martin Franks, CBS executive vice president.

CBS faces a Federal Communications Commission investigation into whether the Super Bowl show violated decency laws, with potential fines of up to $27,500. If applied to each CBS station, the fine could reach into the millions.