TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Beware Return Of Love Sponge To Airwaves

ADVERTISEMENT

By DAVID CATON

Published: January 8, 2008

The Tampa Tribune reported last month that Bubba the Love Sponge, one of the most pornographic hosts ever to air on terrestrial radio, is returning to Tampa and Jacksonville airwaves today.

Approximately four years ago, Clear Channel radio removed Bubba (real name Todd Clem) from the air after drawing what was then the largest single indecency FCC fine in history.

Bubba's return to terrestrial radio threatens to break a four-year period of historical decency on traditional radio airwaves. It is truly disappointing that Cox Enterprises Inc. is opening the door for Bubba and perhaps other radio hosts who may follow his lead to start polluting our radio airwaves with smut again.

The Tribune news report stated "... Clem acknowledged he might interview porn stars as he has done in the past ..." Bubba is also bringing back his crew, including the Ned character who was heavily used in degrading parodies.
Todd Clem claimed in The Tribune report that he plans to follow FCC rules regarding indecent program content. Nevertheless, we believe that dialogue with porn personalities and potentially pornographic and degrading parodies on unrestricted (anyone can listen) radio airwaves during the morning drive time when tens of thousands of children and teens are on their way to school is inappropriate and irresponsible.

Additionally, given the extremely explicit nature of the show that Bubba will continue to air on satellite radio, the odds are against Bubba producing program content that is significantly different enough to be suitable for airing on terrestrial radio.

Just how disgusting was the Bubba the Love Sponge show before he left the air? Florida Family Association (FFA) filed the first successful complaint that drew a fine from the FCC after Clem aired a live, explicit episode of one man giving another man an enema. Additionally, years ago FFA influenced hundreds, close to 95 percent, of Clem's advertisers to leave the show.

We hope that Florida businesses and corporate America employ extra caution to determine the content format of the Bubba the Love Sponge show before they support it with their advertising dollars. Florida Family Association (FFA) plans to contact companies that advertise on the program immediately after the airing of the first interview with a porn personality or first pornographic or degrading parody.

Given the excellent response that we have received from corporate America regarding other programs that FFA monitors, we are confident the super majority of advertisers will avoid the Bubba the Love Sponge show if the content is objectionable.

David Caton is the executive director of the Florida Family Association.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT