Today in Sports History: November 15th
11/15/2004 - Saucy skit lands Owens in trouble
In an opening skit for Monday Night Football, Eagles receiver Terrell Owens engaged in a steamy conversation with Desperate Housewives actress Nicole Sheridan. When Sheridan dropped her towel, revealing her naked back, the world became outraged. ABC was levied with thousands of complaint calls. Some related the skit to pornography, others said it was too racy. It forced both ABC executives and Terrell Owens to make an apology.
Months earlier, the Janet Jackson nipple fiasco had the FCC cracking down on anything they deemed inappropriate; ABC was already airing the game with a 5-second delay. Had the opening bit aired years later, ABC may have gotten away with it. Instead, it cost them thousands of dollars from their pant pockets.
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