Not the most weighty diary this Thanksgiving evening. Nevertheless, this story caught my eye:
ABC has booked Rihanna-beater Chris Brown for an interview and a performance on "Good Morning America" -- right after the network canceled guy-kisser Adam Lambert.
Brown will do a taped tell-all with Robin Roberts, followed by a performance of songs from his new album. But TV insiders say the appearance, slated to air the week after next, has outraged feminists and gay activists who wonder why a convicted girlfriend abuser is more palatable to the network than an openly gay man who broke no laws with his raunchy performance on the "American Music Awards."
An ABC source said, "The network is giving a mixed message -- that it doesn't trust someone who shocked with an unpredictable show and a gay kiss, but then it is happy to go ahead with Chris Brown, who was convicted of felony assault."
Lambert was purposely being provocative - probably to cover-up for a lousy song. Nevertheless, I have to agree that there is still a huge taboo on network television when it comes to two men giving each other a lusty kiss. However, they have no problem showing two women doing the same thing:
CBS' "Early Show" hosted Lambert — after ABC's "Good Morning America" canceled his appearance — to discuss his controversial performance at Sunday's American Music Awards, where he kissed a man and simulated oral sex...
CBS blurred footage of Lambert's male-on-male kiss, but did not blur the footage of Madonna kissing Britney Spears at the MTV Video Music Awards, a move many are seeing as hypocritical.
"I think there's obviously a double standard when it comes to gay male entertainers," the Advocate's arts and entertainment editor, Jeremy Kinser, tells "Extra." "It's ridiculous they can show two women but can't show two men. I think it makes them look kind of silly. That's what's so ironic: they decided to put him on after 'Good Morning America' canceled him, and they seem really hypocritical to blur the moment that has everybody talking."
How does CBS justify their actions? Here's how:
"We gave this some real thought. The Madonna image is very familiar and has appeared countless times including many times on morning television. The Adam Lambert image is a subject of great current controversy, has not been nearly as widely disseminated, and for all we know, may still lead to legal consequences."
Legal consequences? For kissing another guy? It wasn't like they were showing the portion where he simulates oral sex. It was the kiss between him and another guy.
So, to sum up network TV policy:
- Displays of raw female sexuality, especially girl-on-girl action, and/or forums for convicted girlfriend beaters? A-OKAY
- Dude-on-Dude expressions of sexuality? Big NO-NO - enough so to warrant cancellation of appearances on fluff news programs and the blurring of such images to protect the public from such offensive displays.
I could have at least a modicum of respect for ABC and CBS if they admitted that expressions of gay male sexuality are still too taboo for their shows. When they deny that their decisions have nothing to do with Lambert's sexuality, their actions simply scream: don't believe your lying eyes.