Comedienne's Second TV Show Canceled This Year
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ESPN Suspends Kornheiser Over Hannah Storm Remarks
by Joel Keller, posted Feb 23rd 2010 5:02PM
For a cable network that is far and away the leader in sports television -- so much so that they've called themselves "The Worldwide Leader in Sports" for over 30 years now -- ESPN seems to be quite the tight-assed organization. Despite forging a reputation for opinionated sports coverage via TV, radio, and internet, they have issued an edict to their employees to not say anything critical about fellow ESPNers, under threat of suspension or other finger-wagging punishment. Bill Simmons has chafed the most under these regulations, but Tony Kornheiser isn't far behind.
So when Kornheiser opened his radio show last week by criticizing the semi-revealing outfit 'SportsCenter' anchor Hannah Storm wore that morning, you knew something was coming. Sure enough, ESPN has suspended Kornheiser from 'Pardon the Interruption' for an indeterminate period of time, according to FanHouse.
Kornheiser did apologize to Storm, whom he said wore "red go-go boots" and a sweater he thought was too tight. Even the apology seemed more than necessary, so a suspension seems to be a bit extreme on ESPN's part.
Had Kornheiser said the same thing about, for instance, one of the short-skirted blondes on Fox News, would he have gotten the same punishment? Not sure. But I don't see why ESPNites are off limits in this case; Kornheiser was giving an honest opinion and trying to be funny all at the same time, which is what the network seems to be encouraging. Either Storm or the ESPN management -- or both -- really need to be able to roll with this kind of thing more, given the vast array of voices and opinions they boast among all their properties.
As for Storm's wardrobe... who cares? The Big Lead thinks she needs to revert to a more low-key approach with her clothing, citing both her age (she's 47... TBL found the outfits akin to something "you might see on a cougar at a bar") and the fact that other female sports anchors dress more conservatively. But, from everything I've read about Storm, she's the one who's choosing to dress in these outfits, looking to shed the blander outfits she wore for years on CBS' 'The Early Show.' It's not like she's flirting her way through the locker room like Erin Andrews was accused of doing a couple of years ago. It's a sports show, not a news show; if she wants to feel comfortable and loose on camera while showing people that the concepts of "sexy" and "forty-seven" aren't mutually exclusive, so be it.
Of course, if her employer is uncomfortable with her mode of dress, that's a whole other matter. Deadspin has reported that, despite suspending Kornheiser, the Worldwide Leader has asked Storm to tone down a few of the outfits she wears on the air. So I guess if all you liked about ESPN was 'PTI' and Hannah Storm's red boots, you're out of luck on both counts.
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