(2004-02-02) — Executives at Viacom, the parent company of CBS and MTV, this morning reacted with surprise at complaints about partial nudity, off-color commercials and flag desecration during the halftime show of last night’s Super Bowl.

“We produce age-appropriate programming,” said an unnamed Viacom spokesman. “Parents must protect their children from violent sports. That’s why we broadcast the Super Bowl early Sunday evening, when most children will be at church services or working on homework and getting to bed early. What kind of parents allow their kids to stay up after 8 p.m. on a school night to view violent sports?”

The CBS-MTV production included…
- Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson groping each other and simulating sexual activity, topped off by Mr. Timberlake ripping Ms. Jackson’s outfit to reveal her breast.
- Performing artist ‘Kid Rock’ wearing an American flag with a hole in it as a poncho
- Rapper ‘Nelly’ gripping his crotch through most of his performance
- Two commercials depicting damage to men’s groins
- a car commercial where children express awe using an interjection which combines the sacred with the scatalogical
- at least two commercials for medicine to treat male sexual dysfunction
- a beer commercial featuring flaming equine flatulence
- a program promo where a young boy expresses awe at seeing a woman in red, lacy underpants.

The spokesman said Viacom will devote several million dollars of broadcast time this year to public service announcements urging parents to protect their children from “the devastating effects of viewing violent sports.”

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