After first offending the right for refusing to air an anti-abortion ad during the Super Bowl, now they offend the left and reject an ad for a dating service.
On January 18th, ManCrunch, a gay dating service, submitted an ad to CBS with the intention of getting it aired in one of the highly coveted slots available during the Super Bowl.
The spot is 30 seconds and it shows two men on a sofa, watching a football game. After one of the two throws his hands in the air with a cheer for a touch down for his team, he turns to the other guy who is a fan of the opposing team and offers an in your face “you suck” gotchya moment to his teams loss. As they settle back down , their two hands are seen reaching into a bowl of chips and they touch. Next, you see the two men look at each other and suddenly embrace and make out. The scene widens a bit and a guy in a separate chair, next to the sofa, with a chip in his hand and a dropped jaw look on his face, stares at the two men kissing, in awe. (See ad below)
The ad is actually funny. The key to its humor is the surprise of it. From its start, you do not expect the commercial to go in this direction .
Is it inappropriate? I don’t think so but everyone’s tastes are different. Obviously.
The problem is that after the folks at ManCrunch initially checked on the status of the ad, they “claim” CBS told them that it was not yet deemed appropriate in accordance with network standards, but that “all the Super Bowl spots were sold out”, anyway. The people at ManCrunch asked that the ad continue through the approval process that was ready to air in the event that a sponsor pulls out and a slot for the commercial opens up.
Shortly after that , a CBS representative told Pop Tarts that advertising spots were still open.
This has led many at ManCrunch to believe that CBS is not even considering airing a commercial for their dating resource because it’s a “gay“ dating service. They claim that CBS does “not want to officially ‘reject’ the spot out of fear there may be a backlash from gay advocacy groups.”
To that, a CBS representative said “The ad is still under review, the process takes a little while.” “We still have a lot of ads we have yet to review.”
The episode could be an intentionally created controversy geared at getting some earned media. After all, ads that get rejected often get more attention than the ads that get aired. The controversial nature of a rejected advertisement immediately causes people to swarm to where else…………………you tube…………….where the ad winds up getting viewed by more people for more times than it would have after millions of dollars was spent to have it seen once, during the Super Bowl, when most people are in the bathroom relieving themselves.
So the promoters of ManCrunch played this well. They created a lot of doubt about CBS and their intentions. CBS simply made it easy for ManCrunch because they mishandled the situation. But now CBS finally put an end to the questions surrounding whether they approve of the ad or not.
CBS spokeswoman Shannon Jacobs announced;
“After reviewing the ad, which is entirely commercial in nature, our standards and practices department decided not to accept this particular spot,”
She added;
“We are always open to working with a client on alternative submissions.”
ManCrunch is claiming a double standard. They say that CBS runs ads for such things as Viagra during all times of the day and night and so they question the standards that CBS used to reject airing this commercial.
But Viagra commercials do not show couples passionately kissing. Other CBS commercials and programming do though. So what standard is the humorous ManCrunch ad not meeting? Is it not meeting a heterosexual standard? I for one do not know the answer to that question. Only the people in CBS‘ standards and practices department know. But to a degree I am not sure it matters. I have a problem with anyone forcing a private entity to air or censor anything that their service is broadcasting. CBS and all the other networks and cable stations refuse ads of all types, including advocacy commercials.
Last year NBC refused to allow a powerful anti-abortion ad from airing during the Super Bowl. This year, CBS itself has rejected another anti-abortion ad.
Of course there also is the fact that the airwaves any network use are regulated by the government. Because of that, there are certain standards they must abide by. They can’t have cursing, at least not until late in the evening and even then, it is not permitted on the network stations. But the government has yet told a network they can’t air ads for various groups. They merely deal with the content the ads contain regarding language, violence, sex, nudity and in some cases speech, as in hate speech. So like it or not, censorship does exist. But the ManCrunch advertisement is not violent, there is no hate speech or foul language and there is no nudity. Is CBS stating that kissing, in the manner that the two subjects in the ManCrunch commercial are kissing, is inappropriate? If so, why? They air sitcoms and dramas that at times offer such displays of affection. They air commercials where heterosexuals kiss. So why does this commercial not meet CBS’ standards?
The only real reason could be because the two individuals kissing, are men, and they are kissing each other, not two other women.
So the question now becomes, should the government force Viacom, a subsidiary of Westinghouse, to air the commercial for ManCrunch’s gay dating service? Or is Sumner Redstone, the owner of CBS and its parent companies of Westinghouse and Viacom, allowed to air what he wants, so long as it meets the standards of the Federal Communication Commission?
I tend to believe, it’s Sumner Redstone’s call. I don’t own the station. Neither do you and what CBS does as it relates to its success or failure is up to Sumner Redstone not us. We simply have the power and final say in determining whether what is aired or produced, is successful or not. If we like it, it is. If we don‘t, it isn’t.
For me these commercials are much less of a concern than are the prevalent political biases that exist in the programming of the flagship of all networks…..their news divisions.
When Katie Couric or Chris Matthews or someone like Dan Rather, manipulates the news and interjects ever so subtle or not so subtle slants that lead viewers on, in my opinion, that’s when stations need to be called out. News, true news, is not suppose to have a bias. It is suppose to deliver the facts and let you decide. In the case of CBS, it used to be called the Tiffany Network mainly because of news bureau. The fine quality and reputation of its news division.
But, to say the least, standards in news bureaus have slipped After Dan Rather, the news division of CBS has distanced itself so far from fine quality that, today the Tiffany Network of yesterday has become the Dollar Store Network. So I for one am kind of glad to see the predicament that ManCrunch put CBS in. Now after rejecting to air an anti-abortion ad, CBS has offended conservatives, who they always offend with the liberal bias of their news, and the have now offended liberals by rejecting an ad because it featured gay men kissing.
It would seem that CBS is becoming an equal opportunity offender. That does at least help them achieve a fair and balanced standing in one area….offensiveness.
Depending on how gay activists handle this, CBS may just receive “a backlash from gay advocacy groups”. They will surely be seeing a backlash from right-to-life groups. It will be interesting to see if the far left and the far right join forces and really hammer home the impression of CBS as being the “Can‘t Be Seen” network..
Doubtful I know.
In the end, ManCrunch is the winner here. Their ad will get seen and highlighted as it is in this account, and it will have cost them near nothing as compared to a few million dollars. As for CBS, they will still make hundred of millions for all the ads that they do accept for the Super Bowl but their ratings may soon start to slip even more than they already are.
They say you can’t always please everyone. That is true, but for CBS, they are putting a new spin on that old saying as they increasingly become the station that is always not pleasing anyone.
Also, I just got news that Tim Tebow will be appearing in not one, but two anti-abortion ads. But I'm happy that Planned Parenthood got to show an ad as well.
(Is it just me, or does 'Planned Parenthood' sound like it SHOULD be a pro-life organization? It seems oxymoronic that they are a pro-choice org to me.) lol.
good. :) we all can get along. we have different ideas on how to improve our country, but there IS a common denominator. We want to improve our country. I don't think either one of is are stupid, or a moron, or a fraud, or anything like that... We simply have differing ideas, and we both feel that way because it's the point of view that we accept that seems more logical to us. You can show your argument with facts and numbers that show you are right, and I can do the same for mine. It just depends on who you trust.
You have no experience when talking about homosexuality. You shouldn't make prejudiced remarks when when you don't know what you are talking about. Homosexuality isn't just when 2 men want to have sex with each other. Homosexuality is when they love each other. It's the same love you feel with a woman. (That is if you have a heart.) hahaha.
Wrong! The ad itself would have brought no new business. The hoopla surrounding the ad has brought traffic to the website. They should be happy that CBS will not air the ad, they have free advertising going on right now! I will also add that homosexuality is sex, that is all it is it just so happens that some men want to have sex with other men. I find that it turns my stomach to even think about it but hey, to each his own. As far as the ad is concerned, they are lucky it turned out as it did. The Tebow ad, now that is a good one, it won't persuade anyone to not kill a baby but man I love to tweek the far left abortion freaks! This has got them all pissy! I thought they were all about "choice". Tebow's mom CHOSE life!!!!!!
and plus, homosexuality is something you're born with. they weren't trying to "covert" sinceits impossible. the commercial was just for a gay male dating site, which probably would bring business to the site.
It's all political BS anyway. I seriously doubt that a commercial will suddenly make someone go "wow, that looks cool, i'm gay now!" or "awesome, I guess I won't have that abortion after all." A good wings commercial will however make you hungry. I think the point is being missed here. It's not the content of the ad's but the message. The problem is CBS can't decide which side of the spectrum they are on. Looks like they are trying to project a more conservative image by rejecting the gay ad and accepting the pro-life ad. Their news coverage however is a bit skewed in the other direction. Maybe they should just stick to lizard selling beer.
Um, erock, they are showing the anti-abortin ad.
The one with Tim Tebow? It IS airing. And if you don't believe me, be sure to watch the entire Super Bowl, commercials and all. You will see it. ;)
I just wanted to be clear. I have respect for you and the way you carry yourself on this site. I respect your participation in politics and I have no problem with who you decide to sleep with. I would also like to make it clear that I do not want to see or judge your sexual activities. Now I must go drink massive amounts of alcohol in order to get the visual out of my fucking head.
I did not think for one minute that you, Hawk, support the government forcing anything on us. But others I am not so sure about. To be clear I pointed no finger at you on this and believe me, I understand and respect your wish to not be forced to see any conduct or activity that you wish not to see or be a part of. Rest assured that I will not be having sex in front of you or anyone else. I get criticized for enough things already, I do not need an audience of people criticizing my sexual prowess.
I guess if they can show Janet Jackson's tit they can show a pair of homos making out, but if you actually think CBS is going to air an advertisement for gay dating services during the stupid bowl, well, it just ain't gonna happen.
Ok, let me make myself clear. I would never suggest that the government step in and force CBS to show or not show the ad. I understand it is up to CBS to make this call. I am saying I don't want to see it! I have made it clear in the past, I don't care what you people do behind your closed doors! Sleep with your dog if that makes you happy. I don't want to have to explain it to my 6 your old grandson. I don't want to have to explain why some people decide to have their penis chopped off and grow boobs,I don't want to have to explain why two men or two women want to get married, I don't want to be forced to explain why some guys have to take pills in order to get a boner. There is a time and a place for these discussions. They should be between the parents and the kids. That is my take, if CBS shows this ad I will watch CBS even less than I do now. Most of my TV is Fox News withe occasional switch to MSNBC and CNN to get a good laugh. I do watch a few shows with my wife and one or two are on CBS. Fox News is the most trusted name in news and blows the others out of the water. Roger Ailes bitch slapped Huffington this morning with those facts on ABC's this week. Now I hope I have not offended anyone with these comments. I do not care who you sleep with just keep it to yourself! I don't come on here talking about sex with my wife (been married a long time so there would not be much to talk about) so I would appreciate it if you would accept the civil inions and then do what your gonna do anyway with the protections that us married folk enjoy.
That's how I see it too Smashey. Personally I don't care whether they show it or not. I have no need for the web site, at least not now anyway, and since the Jets lost, I probably won't take the the time to watch the Super Bowl, away from other things I'm working on.
I agree that if it is within FCC guidelines and CBS wants to air it and the website can pay for it then that is their right to do so. It may be a decision that costs them viewers but that is their right also. You don't have to agree with someones right to do something or what they do, but you should respect their right to do so.
Hawk at least u admit to using a fake. Kemp and Hawk I have no issue with CBS deciding if they want or do not want the ad to run they are a private company. But IF they decided to run the ad I would support them. I stand by their right to not run the ad which is their choice. I don't and never have said ANY WHERE in this debate that I would force them to air the ad. To suggest otherwise is to LIE.
With differences of opinion that will always exist, which ever one decided on this issue, the diecison will be unsatisfactory to one side or the other. However; I think everyone is missing one of my main points in the post. Given that the airwaves are regulated by the federal government and given that this ad meets FCC standards, the one thing that everyone should be able to agree upon here is that as a private company, the majority stakeholders of CBS should have the right to air what they want. Whether you think the ad should be shown or not, as Americans, everyone should agree that it is CBS' decision to make. If one does not think so and believes that CBS should be ordered to air a commercial that they do not want to, for whatever their reasons, than they need to file a job application with with Cuban Broadcast Network. There, communism dictates what is aired or not. If you are an American, although you may think that the ad in question is appropriate for television and should not have been rejected, you should be able to live with the fact that the decision is not ours, it is the decision of the owners of CBS. Our only decision is whetehr or not we want to watch or not watch what they air.
Erock, maybe, just maybe you are wrong sometimes. I klnow you may find that hard to believe but it is possible. Maybe parents don't want to have to explain gay shit to their children while watching the superbowl. Now shut the fuck up and listen for once in your life. You are worse than Obama, fuck what the people want, YOU RULE! I bet if we took a poll of 1500 people the results would be a landslide against showing gay guys kissing in a superbowl ad.
I agree with the beer commercials - they shouldn't be shown during the stupid bowl or during prime time or targeting youth. Alcohol is a destructive and addictive substance and the advertisement of alcoholic beverages should be regulated.
O please they have beer commercials during the Super Bowl as well. Is that okay for kids to see? What about when they show the cheerleaders should they stop showing them as well? I mean after all one could say that the Dallas Cheerleader's are not something kids should see either. Well actually it does have to do with free speech because if they show a match.com or some straight dating agency would u be okay with that? Or should they block that as well? I mean the list could go on of things not shown during the super bowl.
I truth, I agree with Hawk. While this might be a good Mad TV skit, it's entirely innappropriate for mainstream television. I'm quite sure they won't air it.
Not during the SUPER BOWL. Why should families have to "CHANGE THE FUCKING CHANNEL?" This has nothing to do with free speech. it has everything to do with COMMON SENSE. If I had kids, I would not want that crap inflicted on my KIDS during the SUPER BOWL! :D
Okay. My whole "beef" with this ad... (HAHAHA!) is that I do not think that a parent should have to take a time-out from the game... or from any family activity for that matter, to explain something sexual to their kid because of some asshole's political agenda. No one should infringe on a parent's right to have a sexual conversation with their children when they feel it is right to do so. In a way, this is like molesting kids through the television. And the exact same reasoning applies to the pro-life ad. It is an infringement on parental rights.
"Packers Fans"....Hahahahahahahahaha. But seriously, I understand where Hawk is coming from and while I respect his view, I am sure even when he disagrees with me, he respects mine, and I think we both understad that we are free to change to any channel we want if we do not like what we are seeing. I do agree that all these ads about erections and even these ads with crazed aerobic instructors, screaming at you about cleaning your colon, do go too far and are too much. Whether one approves or disapproves of this ad though, I do firmly believe that a privately owned network has the right to air or not air whatever it wants to or does not want to. If one wants a station with all gay programming or with all straight programming ......they can buy their own station or they can watch Logo or the Christian Broadcasting Network. That's what's great about America, you have choices, many choices, in som,e cases more choices than we can handle, and if you are 18 or older, you have the right to pick from those available choices. At least that was the case until the liberal regime of comrades B.H. Obama, N.P. Pelosi and H. M. Reid took control of the nation.
I do not want to sound as though I am homophobic but I do not want a gay ad aired on TV. I would also like to see the boner pill ads stopped. It is tough enough to raise children in America as it is. I have a grandchild on the way and I am not looking forward to a 6 or 7 year old asking me questions about gay sex and boner pills. Lets allow children to grow up without all the crap. When they are of age we can, as parents explain the whole birds and bees thing. I will also add that I love football, I look forward to the superbowl. I like watching the ads, I do not want to see two men making out while I am watching football. I agree with anon, If you want to watch two men making out then go down to the local porn store and buy a video.
It's a stupid and gay ad, but so are most of the commercials I see on TV. In fact, American television is gay and so is the stupid bowl. It fits. Air it!
This website has gotten more free publicity from this than they ever would have otherwise. I agree, a great marketing tactic that worked to perfection.
Well BD, I respect your orientation and I believe you respect mine, while we both prefer our own, so I do not take issue with that. And as for your assessment about the ad and characterizing it as "tame", I wholeheartedly agree. It is as you say "free enterprise in action. As I pointed out in the post, I also agree that ManCrunch pulled off a viral marketing success here. That said, I still stand behind allowing privately own networks to air what they wish and take money from the customers they choose to. So long as it fulfills the basic FCC standards that all other networks must abide by, I don't think there is anything wrong with CBS not airing that commercial if they don't want to. As for ManCrunch itself......I honestly sdo not know anything about it....honestly. I have heard of Manhunt.com and took a look at it, just a look....really! But never heard of or seen ManCrunch. Lawd only knows who is on there from U4Prez but I betchya the fake profile problem for ManCrunch is even more prolific there than it is here.
i think the ad is quite tame. you do not see to guys kissing, merely the insinuation that they are since the director was quite obviously trying to keep the maturity level down will still getting the joke across. do i support gay activity, no i find it personally disgusting but i do understand that the ad is a peice of free enterprise in action. a service to fill a need (no pun intended) is looking to be advertised, and with the viral marketing of youtube thier goal has been acheived. congratz mancrunch, you failure has led to success. P.S. i hear that Musicman made a profile on ManCrunch.com,,, but that is justr what i heard.
Sorry kempite but this one I am going to say too damned bad to. I don't want to see two men making out period. If you want to see that buy gay porn and watch it but don't force me too OK?
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