Appealing in the Eye of the Beholder

A U.S. Court of Appeals overturned the FCC fine against CBS for the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show incident where Janet Jackson’s breast was exposed. The FCC said they were surprised and disappointed by today’s decision, the same way the audience was surprised and disappointed by Janet’s boob.

The fine, which was over half a million dollars, was described as gratuitous and arbitrary. Some might say, as gratuitous and arbitrary as celebrity nudity at a football game.

The court further ruled that, in order for CBS to be held responsible, the FCC would have to prove that the network acted recklessly. That made CBS nervous. After all, this is the same network that airs “Big Brother.”