Another Prince "Associate" Off His Rocker...

If it ain't Lee, don't call it Spike TV.
Spike Lee and lawyer Johnnie Cochran tried to persuade a Manhattan judge yesterday to stop The National Network from becoming Spike TV - a new cable outlet aimed at men.

"I think the public is being bamboozled. Led astray. Run amok," Lee said after a hearing in Manhattan Supreme Court.

Lee's lawyers argued that Viacom Inc., the parent company of TNN, is "intentionally deceiving and misleading the public" into thinking the director of "Do the Right Thing" is affiliated with the renamed, overhauled network.

"It's clear when you say Spike everybody knows who you are talking about," Cochran told Justice Walter Tolub. "They hope to get a boost in the ratings. They don't have a right to misappropriate his name to do that," he added. The station, set to debut Sunday, features a mix of wrestling, car shows, gadgets and an animated cartoon featuring Pamela Anderson as a superhero who moonlights as a stripper.

Anderson's "Stripperella" character has racy superpowers - including one that gives her a unique way to cut glass.

"I don't want to be associated with some Stripperella crap," Lee said.

Viacom attorney Victor Kovner called Lee "a distinguished director" of motion pictures "of the highest quality" - but said he has no ownership of the name Spike.

"Spike standing alone is not his name. It is, at most, part of his name, and it is many other things in the English language," Kovner said.

He pointed out the word is used as a verb and a noun, and that baseball players wear spikes, and volleyball players try to spike the ball. He also noted spike can describe a sharp rise in financial markets or on medical equipment.

"It is a guy's nickname," Kovner added, listing other Spikes - including director Spike Jonze and Spike, Snoopy's brother.

"There are millions of dogs named Spike, and I daresay all of them are male," Kovner added.

Tolub said he would rule by Sunday.

Originally published on June 9, 2003 (NY Daily News).

Is this true?

gracious. when i hear the word 'spike, i don't automatically think of mr spike lee. man has an EGO, don't he???

I saw this on the news last night. Spike's a fucking idiot.

"Spike" makes me think of Volleyball

and/or a junkyard dog!!!


woof!

They should employ the Chewbacca defence.

When I hear Spike...I think of Buffy!

bkw said:

I love that defence!

He'd really have a case if Viacom had called it AintMadeAGoodMovieSinceDoTheRightThing TV.

I think that corporation should listen carefully and ask itself : "Will men flock to a network that reminds them of a 5 f 2 bespectacled guy who talks a lot?"

doomboogie said:

Funny, when I think of Spike I think of a long, sharp object.

He won't win this case...waste of time & money. U got 2 B very full of yourself 2 pull something like this.

Spike B it a dogs name or a damn steel spike itself was around B4 the little man with a big complex was.

I'm sure the suits at TNN really had Mr. Lee in mind when brainstorming 4 ideas.

doomboogie said:

yeah, like he's actually suffered through a Spike Lee "joint..."

bkw said:

ROTFLMAO





how could a Wokee live on Endor

I think 'Spike Dudley'. Do The Right Thing y'all.

It has to be a publicity stunt. Does he have a new "joint" coming out soon? Why else would he involve Johnnie Cockring? Is he the only working black lawyer in America? Really, he should give someone else to involve themselves in frivolous, attention-grabbing, black celebrity lawsuits!

althom said:

me too! poor heroic spike. .saved the day though didn't he??

POOK said:

everybody stop... POOK is right. in all of this hilarity, we've lost sight of what's important. how will the railroad spikes feel?


go hug a spike.