2008 Woodie Awards
Super Bowl Halftime Show Turns over
Christine Deska
Issue date: 2/16/05 Section: Arts & Entertainment
After last year's wardrobe malfunction fiasco, NFL officials made a safer choice for this year's Super Bowl halftime show. And who is safer than Paul McCartney (fully dressed, of course)? Nobody was worried when he took off his black blazer to reveal a long-sleeved red shirt. Any nipple jewelry was not revealed.
Much to the delight of those that disapproved of the MTV-produced Janet Jackson-Justin Timberlake 2004 show, McCartney performed four songs that were at least 30 years old catering to an older, more "morally conscious" generation.
Of course, last year's sex-infused, breast-baring climax was still at the forefront of many people's minds. Those few minutes of television brought increased scrutiny to virtually everything televised-and arguably changed what was considered decent, or rather indecent on TV screens everywhere.
NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue referred to last year's show as being, "offensive, inappropriate and embarrassing to us and our fans," and promised to change their policy. FCC Commissioner Michael Copps even cited daytime soaps as being indecent in the months following the scandalous show. Indecency fines sky-rocketed from 27 thousand dollars to 500 thousand dollars. Clear Channel even imposed 10 second delays on live shows in an attempt to censor radio and television programming. The government struggled in defining "indecent," while TV personalities everywhere began to "self-censor" in an attempt to avoid possible fines. And it all spawned from the unwarned, unwarranted viewing of Janet Jackson's breast. Way to go, Justin.
Now, one year later, the NFL made sure that this year's show did not raise any red flags. McCartney's stage was set with a giant cross of video boards making the 62-year-old singer appear larger than life. Any one of the 90 million fans watching from home had a clear view of McCartney even as the camera panned the stadium.
McCartney performed Drive My Car, Live and Let Die-and Hey Jude was certainly a sight to see amongst the red, white and blue enlarged graphics on the stage. There was no danger of lip-syncing either. McCartney sang every note like the living legend he truly is.
If controversy was what you were looking for, this year's halftime show came up short, but NFL officials are not complaining.
Much to the delight of those that disapproved of the MTV-produced Janet Jackson-Justin Timberlake 2004 show, McCartney performed four songs that were at least 30 years old catering to an older, more "morally conscious" generation.
Of course, last year's sex-infused, breast-baring climax was still at the forefront of many people's minds. Those few minutes of television brought increased scrutiny to virtually everything televised-and arguably changed what was considered decent, or rather indecent on TV screens everywhere.
NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue referred to last year's show as being, "offensive, inappropriate and embarrassing to us and our fans," and promised to change their policy. FCC Commissioner Michael Copps even cited daytime soaps as being indecent in the months following the scandalous show. Indecency fines sky-rocketed from 27 thousand dollars to 500 thousand dollars. Clear Channel even imposed 10 second delays on live shows in an attempt to censor radio and television programming. The government struggled in defining "indecent," while TV personalities everywhere began to "self-censor" in an attempt to avoid possible fines. And it all spawned from the unwarned, unwarranted viewing of Janet Jackson's breast. Way to go, Justin.
Now, one year later, the NFL made sure that this year's show did not raise any red flags. McCartney's stage was set with a giant cross of video boards making the 62-year-old singer appear larger than life. Any one of the 90 million fans watching from home had a clear view of McCartney even as the camera panned the stadium.
McCartney performed Drive My Car, Live and Let Die-and Hey Jude was certainly a sight to see amongst the red, white and blue enlarged graphics on the stage. There was no danger of lip-syncing either. McCartney sang every note like the living legend he truly is.
If controversy was what you were looking for, this year's halftime show came up short, but NFL officials are not complaining.