Emmys' plane-crash spoof raises hackles around the countryBy Jamie Gumbrecht

Debate about the prime-time Emmy Awards’ opening skit flew across CNN, Fox News, the Drudge Report, talk radio and other national outlets today, questioning whether NBC should have broadcast a spoof showing host Conan O’Brien bouncing inside an airplane before it crashed.

Tim Gilbert, president and general manager of Lexington’s NBC affiliate, WLEX, said yesterday that if he’d known about the filmed parody before that night’s live broadcast, Central Kentucky audiences wouldn’t have seen it. Most of the 35 million people who watched the Emmys saw a red-carpet special before the awards show, but the local audience had just watched a half-hour news recap about Comair Flight 5191’s crash, which killed 49 people.

“We wish somebody had thought this through,” Gilbert said last night. “It’s somewhere between ignorance and incompetence.”

The station received phone calls and e-mails from viewers today, Gilbert said, mostly calling the show insensitive. Some people, especially those outside Central Kentucky, defended the skit, noting that it spoofed a famous scene from ABC’s hit show Lost.

NBC officials declined to answer questions about whether an alternative show opener was considered or why WLEX wasn’t informed of the skit.

The network released a statement today that said: “Our hearts and prayers go out to the many families who lost loved ones in the plane crash in Kentucky on Sunday, and to the entire community that has suffered this terrible loss. In no way would we ever want to make light of this terrible tragedy. The filmed opening during the Emmy telecast was meant to spoof some of television’s most well-known scenes. The timing was unfortunate, and we regret any unintentional pain it may have caused.”


SSB- Not to be insensitive...but people need to CHILL. The crash was breaking news! I doubt anyone who was involved with the Emmys even knew about it (OK...I am sure some did), as they were all wrapped up in the event. Anyone else tired of networks supposed imposition on what the public finds offensive or indecent?

amen

I'm sick and FUCKING TIRED of the overly sensitive turn this country has taken. Really, I'm sick of it. Grow some fucking skin America, if you don't like it, that's fine, but stop trying to mold everyone to think the way you do.

Really, plenty things piss me off, but I live with it.