Several Affiliates Nixing Simpson Show - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 11-20-2006, 11:32 AM

Several Fox affiliates have chosen not to broadcast "If I Did It," the two-part special where O.J. Simpson talks in hypothetical terms about his role in the 1994 killing of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman.

Lin Broadcasting and Pappas Broadcasting, which own a combined nine Fox affiliates, have said they won't air it. Fox has scheduled the Simpson interview for Nov. 27 and 29.

The television special precedes the Nov. 30 publication of a book where Simpson talks about how he would have committed the murders "if he were the one responsible."

"After careful consideration regarding the nature of the show, as well as the feedback we received from the viewers of northeast Wisconsin, we determined that this programming was not serving the local public interest," wrote Jay Zollar, general manager of WLUK-TV in Green Bay.

WLUK is a Lin-owned station, along with other Fox affiliates in Mobile, Ala.; Toledo, Ohio; Albuquerque, N.M.; and Providence, R.I.

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The Pappas stations said they were uninterested in helping Simpson profit from the project. Pappas owns Fox stations in Omaha and Lincoln, Neb.; Fresno, Calif.; and Dakota Dunes, S.D.

There are about 200 Fox affiliates across the country.

Scott Grogin, Fox spokesman, said Sunday the network had no comment about the decision by its affiliates.

Simpson was acquitted in 1995 of murder in a case that became its own television drama. The former football star and announcer was later found liable for the deaths in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Goldman family.

Judith Regan, publisher of "If I Did It," said she considered the book to be Simpson's confession.

The television special will air on two of the final three nights of the November sweeps, when ratings are watched closely to set local advertising rates. It has been a particularly tough fall for Fox, which has seen none of its new shows catch on and is waiting for the January bows of "American Idol" and "24."

The show is expected to draw high ratings among the curious, but there's some question about how much Fox can take advantage of it given an expected reluctance of advertisers to be associated with it.

The Fox stations in most of the nation's biggest cities, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, are owned by Fox, so they would abide by the network's decision on what to air.

Cactus Jack · 11-20-2006, 12:31 PM

BEST.NEWS.EVER.THIS.WEEK

MsOrange · 11-20-2006, 01:50 PM

Good. I hope others follow this example.

gilligan fanatic · 11-20-2006, 02:22 PM

I was real annoyed at Fox News Channel for not airing War Stories last night. They aired a special about the OJ special.

stevedqfan · 11-20-2006, 02:52 PM

I really hope the ratings for this special go down the tubes. I hope more fox affilaties will decide not to air. Fox has gone way too low this time.
my local affilate has to air this trash because there owned by fox but i really hope no one watches it.

Chocoholic · 11-20-2006, 04:28 PM

I can't believe FOX is airing this trash. The only Simpsons I want to watch on FOX are Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. (Notice I didn't say Jessica and Ashlee.)

Brent88 · 11-20-2006, 04:29 PM

FOX has pulled it according to Fox News Channel!!!

Scoobiedoo30 · 11-20-2006, 05:10 PM

I just heard on The FOX News Channel that FOX has Cancelled The O.J. Simpsons Special on The 3:00 pm News Update

Brian Damage · 11-20-2006, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent88

FOX has pulled it according to Fox News Channel!!!

The Best News Ever!

Scoobiedoo30 · 11-21-2006, 11:40 AM

this is the best news ever.

Janice · 11-21-2006, 11:57 AM

I'm happy to hear it. That scum doesn't deserve any airtime or publicity.

Scoobiedoo30 · 11-21-2006, 12:05 PM

if The FOX still had The O.J. Simpson inviewer WALA TV would have have scheduled Sitcoms in the time slot that had The O.J. Simpson Inviewer

AKA · 11-21-2006, 12:08 PM

KAYU in Spokane is one of the affiliates that had pulled it. They had episodes of the syndicated American Idol Rewind scheduled for both nights instead.

I think that even though it's been canceled, all Fox affiliates that opted to pull the special should be listed and given kudos.

Scoobiedoo30 · 11-21-2006, 12:12 PM

I guess Bones will now air at 8:00 pm Central Time

11-20-2006, 11:32 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	Several Affiliates Nixing Simpson Show Several Fox affiliates have chosen not to broadcast "If I Did It," the two-part special where O.J. Simpson talks in hypothetical terms about his role in the 1994 killing of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman. Lin Broadcasting and Pappas Broadcasting, which own a combined nine Fox affiliates, have said they won't air it. Fox has scheduled the Simpson interview for Nov. 27 and 29. The television special precedes the Nov. 30 publication of a book where Simpson talks about how he would have committed the murders "if he were the one responsible." "After careful consideration regarding the nature of the show, as well as the feedback we received from the viewers of northeast Wisconsin, we determined that this programming was not serving the local public interest," wrote Jay Zollar, general manager of WLUK-TV in Green Bay. WLUK is a Lin-owned station, along with other Fox affiliates in Mobile, Ala.; Toledo, Ohio; Albuquerque, N.M.; and Providence, R.I. ADVERTISEMENT The Pappas stations said they were uninterested in helping Simpson profit from the project. Pappas owns Fox stations in Omaha and Lincoln, Neb.; Fresno, Calif.; and Dakota Dunes, S.D. There are about 200 Fox affiliates across the country. Scott Grogin, Fox spokesman, said Sunday the network had no comment about the decision by its affiliates. Simpson was acquitted in 1995 of murder in a case that became its own television drama. The former football star and announcer was later found liable for the deaths in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Goldman family. Judith Regan, publisher of "If I Did It," said she considered the book to be Simpson's confession. The television special will air on two of the final three nights of the November sweeps, when ratings are watched closely to set local advertising rates. It has been a particularly tough fall for Fox, which has seen none of its new shows catch on and is waiting for the January bows of "American Idol" and "24." The show is expected to draw high ratings among the curious, but there's some question about how much Fox can take advantage of it given an expected reluctance of advertisers to be associated with it. The Fox stations in most of the nation's biggest cities, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, are owned by Fox, so they would abide by the network's decision on what to air.
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11-20-2006, 12:31 PM	#2
Cactus Jack RonFingSwanson Forum Idol Join Date: Dec 09, 2001 Location: Santa Rosa Beach,FL Posts: 103,099	BEST.NEWS.EVER.THIS.WEEK
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11-20-2006, 02:22 PM	#4
gilligan fanatic Born to Be Bad Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: down by the Lagoon Posts: 9,954	I was real annoyed at Fox News Channel for not airing War Stories last night. They aired a special about the OJ special.
	__________________ Matt Filmaf ~ Twitter ~ Last.FM

11-20-2006, 04:29 PM	#7
Brent88 Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 01, 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 16,180	FOX has pulled it according to Fox News Channel!!!
	__________________ Brent

11-20-2006, 05:10 PM	#8
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	*I just heard on The FOX News Channel that FOX has Cancelled The O.J. Simpsons Special on The 3:00 pm News Update*
	__________________ Who Dat

11-20-2006, 01:50 PM	#3
MsOrange Bringin' Sexy Back Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 6,133	Good. I hope others follow this example.

11-20-2006, 02:52 PM	#5
stevedqfan Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 07, 2002 Posts: 43	I really hope the ratings for this special go down the tubes. I hope more fox affilaties will decide not to air. Fox has gone way too low this time. my local affilate has to air this trash because there owned by fox but i really hope no one watches it.

11-20-2006, 04:28 PM	#6
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	I can't believe FOX is airing this trash. The only Simpsons I want to watch on FOX are Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. (Notice I didn't say Jessica and Ashlee.)

11-21-2006, 11:40 AM	#10
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	*this is the best news ever.*

11-21-2006, 11:57 AM	#11
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,389	I'm happy to hear it. That scum doesn't deserve any airtime or publicity.

11-21-2006, 12:05 PM	#12
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	*if The FOX still had The O.J. Simpson inviewer WALA TV would have have scheduled Sitcoms in the time slot that had The O.J. Simpson Inviewer*

11-21-2006, 12:08 PM	#13
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	KAYU in Spokane is one of the affiliates that had pulled it. They had episodes of the syndicated American Idol Rewind scheduled for both nights instead. I think that even though it's been canceled, all Fox affiliates that opted to pull the special should be listed and given kudos.

11-21-2006, 12:12 PM	#14
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	*I guess Bones will now air at 8:00 pm Central Time*