JV & Elvis Fired, Asian Groups Celebrate, Rosie O'Donnell

CELEBRATION

After Jocks Canned, Asian Activists Overjoyed







News that FREE FM / New York's JV & Elvis show had been cancelled spread quickly over the weekend among Asian activist groups, with some even taking partial credit for the move by CBS Radio.

Meanwhile, considering some of Rosie O'Donnell's recent behavior, isn't there an obvious double- standard? More on that below.

First, from Fallout Central, here's some of the gloat- fest:

Yes, thanks to the strength and solidarity of the Asian American community, “The Dog House” has been taken off of CBS Radio. Jeff Vandergrift (”JV”), Dan Lay (”Elvis”), and the producer of the CBS Radio show “The Dog House” have all been canned by CBS.

[...]

On April 27, 2007, FALLOUT CENTRAL stood alongside 120 members of the Asian American community in protest directly in front of CBS headquarters demanding that Vandergrift and Lay be fired. This massive show of solidarity sent a loud message to CBS executives that immediate action must be taken, and they heard us loud and clear!! One week later, FALLOUT CENTRAL stood by the leaders of several Asian American community organization leaders in a face to face meeting with Thomas Chiusano, President and General Manager, WFNY 92.3 Free FM, and other CBS executives. During this meeting, CBS apologized for the highly offensive nature of these radio broadcasts, agreed with our position, and opened up the discussion with us regarding the immediate action that they were prepared to take.

[...]

Each of these sponsors quickly retracted their sponsorship from Vandergrift & Lay’s radio show “The Dog House”, thereby standing in solidarity with us in our determined effort to bring dignity to the Asian American Community. Their withdrawal of financial support from this kind of racist radio programming which denigrates the Asian American community served to further strengthen our loud and clear message to CBS, and to the world, that our community will not tolerate racist portrayals and blatantly offensive –yet seemingly excusable— “comedy” skits which denigrate our community.

CBS, consistent with its own conduct policy, made a bold statement against the racist and highly offensive nature of this kind of radio programming, and canned Jeff Vandergrift ,Dan Lay, and “The Dog House” show producer today.

This represents a significant step forward for the Asian American community. This is only the beginning.

If anyone attempts to denigrate our community expecting that we’ll “just accept it” and “just go away”, we look forward to surprising them with our response. The days of attacking, marginalizing and dehumanizing Asians in the media without any repercussions are over.

To see our previous coverage, click here.


Meanwhile, a loyal Radio Equalizer reader sends along this compelling thought:

How is it that these guys -- however obnoxious -- get fired for mocking a single, specific asian, while that overstuffed sack o' suet Rosie got a complete pass when she mocked ALL asians on The View?

It'd make an interesting coda to this story to repost that video clip.

It certainly seems an appropriate comparison. In case you'd forgotten, here's a reminder of that dubious moment in television history.


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