Adam Lambert, second place finisher on season eight of "American Idol" put on quite the performance at the 2009 American Music Awards on Nov. 22.
Lambert busted out some of the crazy vocals he was known for on the show, but also went a bit further than he ever did on idol. Several of his dancers were dressed in leather and one was on a leash. Lambert put a dancer's face into his crotch and simulated a sexual act that caused caused ABC to cut to an overhead shot of the audience and kissed a male dancer.
Lambert said he didn't plan on being so controversial with his performance, but that didn't stop "Good Morning America" from canceling an interview with him the following day. They replaced him with Chris Brown, a singer who has seen legal trouble lately for beating his girlfriend, singer Rihanna.
Talk show "The View" discussed it the next day, but didn't show the performance.
CBS seemed more accepting than ABC, the channel that is home to both "Good Morning America" and "The View" and showed the performance, but blurred out the man-on-man kiss. However, CBS showed Britney Spears, Madonna and Christina Aguilera kiss on the MTV Video Music Awards in 2003.
This leads "Rad and Bad Reality" (and a ton of other people) wondering why a man-on-man kiss caused controversy, but a woman-on-woman kiss did not. Does the blocking of this performance have anything to with Lambert's statement that he is homosexual or do you, the readers and viewers, believe it would have been cut and blurred if it was a heterosexual act as well? Feel free to take the poll on this blog and let "Rad and Bad Reality" know your thoughts.
"Rad and Bad Reality" believes this is a very important post that touches on numerous traditional news values including audience, conflict and impact.
Audience obviously plays a very big role in this story. If there was no audience and no one saw the performance, it would not have caused controversy and there would be no story. But because there is an audience and ABC was afraid of what the audience might think about the performance, the audience is the most critical part of the story. Conflict also plays a big role because the performance was, as stated, very controversial. The conflict between American values and morals and homosexuality is what created the controversy. Lastly, impact is important as well because the performance impacted our culture just the way the Britney, Christina and Madonna performance did, but even more so. This story is also making news elsewhere. News and entertainment media are buzzing with this story and it is sparking conversations about our society and homophobia. The conflict started it, audience contributed to the story by viewing it, and the impact has been tremendous.
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"Generation Hot"
14 years ago
Not exactly family oriented programming.
ReplyDeleteGregory,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment. I agree with you. I understand the reasons for ABC not wanting to air this performance because the show was supposed to be a family-oriented program. However, it also aired at 11 p.m. and children should have probably been in bed by then.
When Saturday Night Live puts digital shorts on their Web site that is from the live show, there is a warning before it plays that says it originally aired at whatever time and is not intended for children. I believe that putting programming on that late is in a way saying that children should probably already be in bed. Who knows, maybe ABC purposely scheduled Lambert to perform last because they thought he might do actually what he did. Or, maybe they actually did know.
-Kaitlin
I must say I didn't see the ordeal that occurred during Adam Lambert's performance, but based on other things that have happened on live television, shows that were supposed to be family-oriented, I don't see what the big deal was.
ReplyDeleteWe've seen girls kiss girls (as you stated above), we've seen boys touch girls, and the list goes on. I do think it was a wise decision for ABC to not air this, but at the same time eventually something worse will happen and it will make its way onto television. Then we won't think guys kissing guys is such a big deal.
But, I must say I agree with Gregory as well. Since it was intended to be a family show, it would be essential to be sure those families were not appalled (those that allowed their children to stay up that late).
Lorry,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about not really knowing what the big deal was. I saw it live and will admit that I was a little taken aback by it. Not really because of what he was doing (after all, I did watch "American Idol" and am not really shocked to see Lambert do any of those things) but because it was on ABC and was probably supposed to be a family program. But yes, we have seen girls kiss girls with no problem (yes, there was at first, but at least news organizations like CBS showed the kiss, unlike they would do with Lambert's performance).
I also agree that something worse will happen eventually and end up on television. Then it will make men kissing not seem like a big deal, just like you said.
I think that there need to be people out there like Lambert who are pushing the envelope. That's what musicians do and it should be expected of them. We need people like him because it pushes what we see as the norm. Once we see something as over the top as his performance, simply being gay may not be such a taboo anymore. It will take time and many people will be shunned just as he has, but I admire his bravery. Also, as far as the show being "family-oriented," not only did his perfomance air at 11 pm (far past children's bed times), the whole show was rated TV-14. If parents don't pay attention to the ratings, that's their own problem. As Lambert said, "I'm not a babysitter."
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Bailey. I didn't know the show was rated TV-14, but I didn't remember watching at 11 p.m. I thought the same thing as you in the fact that children should have been in bed. Lambert is right about not being a babysitter. Plus, he said he did not plan to do what he did. It was probably not in the best judgment, and I'm sure he sees that now, but because it was not planned and did air so late, I think every one may be blowing it out of proportion a bit.
ReplyDeleteI really can't believe the big deal people are making over this. Does anyone besides me remember Madonna on stage simulating masturbation? Or how about that time that she made out with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera?
ReplyDeleteI think that the issue people have with this is that he is gay. I think that is he had made those moves toward women, people would have said something, but it wouldn't be as big of a deal that people are making of it. And that really bums me out.
I agree, Amanda. I honestly do believe it is because of his homosexuality. It may have still been controversial if he did it with a woman, but probably not nearly as much. It makes me sad that our culture still acts like this when there are more important, and controversial things in the world.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Witty sad if it's made a big deal over because he is homosexual.
ReplyDeleteI think Adam did nothing more controversial than Madonna and other female stars of the era. Also, what he did with regards to the time is in a way appopriate. Elvis shocked television viewers decades ago. Now, with gay pride and awareness how is not apt for a male perfomer to perform as he pleases? It is not so shocking in comparison to other pop stars and the cultural atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Elvis' hips weren't even allowed to be shown on TV during his era. I just wish our culture would open up a little more and just accept these things. I was not offended and I don't honestly believe a ton of people were. And, as mentioned before, children should have been sleeping anyway. And, as you mentioned, there are other shocking pop stars...this is just one of the "shocking" things that happen in the entertainment industry.
ReplyDeleteI didnt have the time to read everyones comments, but I definietly have something to say about this posting, so if I repeat anything, I apologize ahead of time.
ReplyDeleteFor starters, I think these days people need to be open minded. Times have changed and with that, people need to also change.
I get that some things are not "planned," but I find it hard to believe he had no intentions of making out with his male keyboardist. However, if thats what he chose to do, more power to him. People like Lil' Kim decided to grace us with their present on live TV wearing a purple star over their boob. Or other events, such as Kanye Wests most recent embarassment to himself during Taylor Swifts acceptance speech. Its things like this that still seem to amaze people.
Lambert chose to kiss another male companion, just as Brittney Spears and Madonna kissed years ago. So what...
However, what kills me, is the fact that ABC decided to cancel Lamberts performance on "Good Morning America" because of....? It wasnt suitable? No offense, I'm sure Lambert had enough talk about his night performance, that he wasn't going to go on "Good Morning America" and make out with his keyboardist at 9 oclock in the morning.
Also, if anyone (which I am sure it will never happen, but just in case) from the ABC network happens to see this...way to go on taking off a gay guy on live TV and putting on a spousal abuser. Good move.