Nickelodeon's Kid's Choice Awards tainted with Phelps and Brown

Ok, so maybe it’s just me. Perhaps I am one of the few people that have a problem with Nickelodeon’s decision making abilities. Rather I should say the apparent lack thereof. Though it could just be a lack of balls.

Nickelodeon’s Kid’s Choice Awards are the subject of contention. Specifically the issue is with Chris Brown, and Michael Phelps. I believe neither should be in the competition for the categories they were nominated for. In fact I believe both should be publicly and vociferously pulled.

Michael Phelps does not deserve to be recognized, or available as a choice because he smokes marijuana. Pictures and his own admission to the fact are proof enough. It’s an illegal act, and detrimental to the health of children. The picture was taken after he won his gold medals in the Olympics – when it was clear that he had become a media figure and instant role model to children around the world.

Phelps had no problem accepting all that his instant fame provided, except when it came to a bit of self-discipline and an illegal drug. No matter what an individual may feel, as an adult, about illegal drug use I believe we all can agree that minors should be protected from such promotion. Phelps felt no such need, though he was happy to accept money from all sources, including those promoting him to children.

With every action is a consequence. With lack of self-discipline comes negative ramifications. Removing him from the Kid’s Choice Awards is the least that should happen to him.

In much the same reasoning is Chris Brown. While he is still only alleged to have battered and assaulted Rihanna, he has all but admitted his actions to the public. There is no question of his guilt. Which means he is a criminal of the worst sort.

Now I realize that when both men were nominated they had not committed the criminal acts yet. But once they did do so, and then publicly acknowledged their wrong-headed actions (actually let me get it right, criminal is the key word), they forfeited their place in this competition.

Are we saying to the youth of America that to break the law is without consequence? That drugs are in fact ok to use? That the vicious and unwarranted brutality against women is condoned? Because if that is what Nickelodeon believes they should just state that to us all.

If Nickelodeon does not believe those acts to be decent or lawfully then they must remove Chris Brown and Michael Phelps. There really is no other choice. And inaction in this matter makes one thing very clear. Nickelodeon would pimp children in any manner necessary to gain more ratings, and therefore money. Given they are a television networks and seeking a profit. But most would draw a line on profit at the potential expense of children. The longer Nickelodeon fails to act, the more they seem to admit that children are just an expendable means to get the dollars of parents everywhere.

The last thing about this that I want to note is the inclusion of Rihanna in a petition, signed by 4,655 so far, to have Chris Brown removed from the Kid’s Choice Awards. Rihanna is a victim. The fact that she is apparently forgiving the illegal, brutal, cowardly actions of Chris Brown are beyond anyone’s ability to know. Perhaps she is suffering from Battered Women’s Syndrome, Perhaps she is planning for the opportunity to get him to relax and sleep in her presence so she can smack him around with a frying pan. A really heavy one I would hope (as I would hope that is her reasoning).

But whatever the reason it does not change the fact that Rihanna is a victim. As such she does not need to be further penalized for actions she did not request or deserve. To remove her name is to add to the brutality she has already suffered.

Is it just me? Am I too sensitive to the thought of promoting criminals to children? Is it too much to ask a business to have a moral backbone and ignore profits when the potential damage is only the future abilities and actions of the most innocent and easily influenced group in America. Our children.

I really can’t believe it’s just me.

DMX, Michael Phelps, the law and media

It’s amazing the messages the media and legal system sends to kids these days. Not that all the blame resides with just the media. But they do their fair share of making sure kids get conflicting images, to be sure.

I mean there is the adulation that has been poured over Olympic gold medal winner Michael Phelps. Raising him up as a star with huge visibility. Only for the public to become aware of his pot smoking. Not that this is a media caused problem, though how they respond to this will say a lot to kids about the acceptability of drugs.

And I am sure the media will likely play this out in much the same way rappers are treated when they get in trouble (as if they spend time out of trouble). Take the recent sentencing of DMX, Earl Simmons.

DMX, who is no stranger to a courtroom, was just recently sentenced to 90 days. What did he do? Well he plead guilty, to reduced charges, of theft, animal cruelty, and drugs. That kind of leaves out the gun charges, and ignores his anything but law abiding past. Basically he has been given a slap on the wrists.

So it seems that drugs are fine, and animal cruelty is ok too. I mean Phelps is hardly being brandished as having done anything wrong, and DMX is sure to continue to be promoted in music videos and low-end movies. In fact both men might have a boost in media coverage and job opportunities if past history continues to be true.

And there is no question that if I were to be arrested, and plead guilty to any one of these crimes, I would hardly be given 90 days. I have no doubt that I would be watching bars for some number of years, and that is with a spotless past, which DMX does not have.

But there is the seemingly never-ending news about Britney Spears and her poor (at best) skills as a mother, the travails of Lindsey Lohan (sober or drunk/high), the highly publicized for no reason life of Paris Hilton, and a slew of other nay-do-wells. All of this is the daily diet given to kids, with the ultimate statement being drugs are ok, crime is relative to the money in your pocket, and nothing matters more than being known. Tell me that isn’t a poor message.

Where has the message of hard work and success gone? Where is the thought of responsible actions are the core of adult life? Where is the idea of being anything but a screw-up in life is preferred?

I realize that news, real news and not tabloid fodder, needs to be presented to the masses. But the way the media frames the news, and the way the legal system collapses in the face of promotable celebrity is absurd.

Maybe it’s me, but I just long for the days where adults in the view of children acted like adults. It seems that’s just too much to ask for in the 21st century.

Hardball swings for the bleachers while NBC serves leftovers

Things over at NBC must really be bad. I'm sure that parent company GE is screaming that the bills need to get cut down a notch or 3. This has to be the reason why NBC will be replaying the Olympics this weekend.

2 hours of competition that everyone who cared has seen already. All on Saturday. Because Saturday Night Live may be getting better ratings that in several years, but they still suck overall.

If you ask me it's just a way to save money. It's far easier to put on a rerun than to have paid original programming. And since America loves to win a night of the wins of Michael Phelps should bring in as many viewers as they normally would get. At half the cost.

But things are not all gloomy. MSNBC's Hardball lead Chris Matthews might not renew his contract. That's an extra $5 million a year that can stay in the bank.

I really would enjoy if he gets off the air. I can't imagine 4 years of Matthews discussing his erection everytime that President Obama speaks. Seriously, he needs to stop sharing. Not that anyone really noticed his bluster. The naysayers will polispeak all they want but Hardball is hardly a ratings winner.

Though the program is up huge in percentages, MSNBC and Hardball still trail badly in total viewers - which is the only thing that really matters. And that is with massive amounts of selling-out to Democrats and rallying for Obama like political cheerleaders.

Now the real question is if Chris Matthews does leave it will be to run for Senate in Pennsylvania. So could he win? I can imagine his slogan now, "I just want to be closer to Obama, please elect me."

Representative Murtha, and various polls, may state that much of Pennsylvania is redneck, but Matthews is still unpleasant, a sellout, and liberal. I can't imagine him winning. But I will say this in his favor, he is more qualified than Caroline Kennedy. Yet that isn't saying much.

So GE is looking forward to a couple of Christmas gifts. And we the public get a retread and a worn old tread at best. Must see TV, I think not.