Apparently, MTV writers have to grovel and apologize should they write a column that offends an unnamed artist's representatives. Even after the company deletes the "offending" column.
In short, one of their writers wrote a column that sarcastically/jokingly said the next offerings from "super hyped" bands like Panic! At the Disco, Thrice, Weezer, Cobra Starship, 50 Cent, and Blake Lewis would flop for various reasons. The article wasn't particularly harsh, though -- here's what he wrote:
50 Cent's Curtis
Why Will It Suck?: Take a handful of highly touted singles that have landed with mostly a thud (the latest, a hornball collabo with Justin Timberlake called "She Wants It," is perhaps the worst of all); add in a continually changing release date (see "50 Cent's Curtis Is Bumped Again - Album Now Slated For September 11 Release"); a ton of bad buzz on the street (thanks, Cam); and a disastrous live-TV screw up (see "50 Cent Explains BET Awards Mishap: 'I Just Wasn't Concentrating' "), and it's not much of a leap to say that 50's time at the top might be coming to a close. Please don't kill me.
Thrice's Elements Project
Why Will It Suck?: Because no matter what Dustin Kensrue and company will tell you about "changing the band's sound" and "pushing boundaries" - something they seemingly do whenever there's a new album to promote - everything the band does sounds exactly the same. Throw in a half-baked "concept" (four EPs, each based on one of the Earth's elements) and this one has the potential to blow everything past, present or future directly out of the water in terms of suckitude.
Blake Lewis' Yet-Untitled Debut Why Will It Suck?:
Lewis himself describes his first album as "electro-funk-soul-pop," and to that end, he's already lined up a techno guy to produce it (BT) and promises (threatens?) that it'll feature a beatboxing spot by Doug E. Fresh. Also, given that this is Blake Lewis, one can only assume that there will also be cameos from dude-core greats like 311 and Pepper. Also, throw in "American Idol" buddy/ poor-man's JT Chris Richardson too. Sounds awful.
Weezer's Yet-Untitled Sixth Album
Why Will It Suck?: Expect hooks-by-the-books and unabashed stadium anthems hidden beneath a veneer of self-deprecation and humility (which, at this point, is so beyond annoying that it's not even funny). Also, Weezer haven't been good since Pinkerton, and I'm pretty sure the bass player dude hates me based on our interactions during the Weez's tour with the Foo Fighters. Cue the hate mail!
Cobra Starship's Yet-Unititled Sophomore Album
Why Will It Suck?: Because Cobra Starship are involved.
Big deal, right? What's so offensive about that? Nothing, really. Honestly, there's little to even disagree with that, though the Cobra Starship one was a bit of a cheap shot.
So today, the writer had to come out and look like the world's biggest wuss, writing an article explaining himself and where his last column went. It goes on, but here's the part that made me start thinking, "wow, when I interviewed at MTV a few years ago? I dodged a bullet":
As a news department, we don't make a practice of kowtowing to the demands of artists' representatives — but we also don't make a practice of running borderline-unprofessional "columns," either. Yet both of those things seemingly happened in this instance.
So who's to blame? Well, certainly, I am. The biggest problem with the column wasn't the fact that I was taking potshots at some of our most sacred cows — but that I didn't do it in a very professional (or, for that matter, very good) manner in the service of proving a strong and worth-making point.
Now maybe I'm just the sort who doesn't even believe in "sacred cows," but I fail to see how anyone, or anything, is so far above reproach or criticism that they can't be mocked a little -- or a lot.
The entire idea of celebrity is, in and of itself, hilarious. Someone does something moderately well, or has the fortune of winning the gene pool lottery and has a gorgeous face, and we place them on a pedestal. We all but worship these people, and God forbid you say something negative about them!
I actually feel bad for this writer. He's eating crow and towing the line like he did something wrong, just for saying what a lot of people already think and/or know. Why bother letting someone express their opinion at all if it's just going to be removed because someone takes personal offense?
You can't please everybody, you know....
And who, exactly, is MTV pleasing these days, anyway, other than the occasional artist representative?
P.S. to MTV: this is the Internet. Nothing truly disappears. And suddenly, a small article that most people didn't read is getting more coverage than it ever would have if you didn't delete it.
