PLOY Surprise! Maybe she would consider doing an Ellis cover. And if these projects fail, he could always score a role at the San Diego Zoo. James Brown can feel good again, too. Police say they have not found enough evidence to support the recent accusation made by a utility worker that the Godfather of Soul brandished a knife at him.
The FCC last week avoided what could have been a major First Amendment fight over raunchy lyrics contained in one of 's most popular recordings. Station officials appealed the sanction, arguing that vulgar terms for sex and anatomy contained in the original recording were edited from the version they aired. If the fine had been upheld, countless rap and pop-music stations around the country could have faced similar fines. Kathleen Kirby, attorney for station owner Citadel, said in responding in July when the fine was levied that the edited version of the song had aired , times as of June In vacating the fine, FCC staffers decided that sexual references contained in the radio version "are not expressed in terms sufficiently explicit or graphic enough to be found patently offensive" and "do not appear to pander to or to be used to titillate or shock its audience.
On Feb. For years the FCC has neglected its oversight role concerning radio content. The station has until July 1 to appeal the fine. The station's lawyers will likely note that the original complaint was filed by a listener nearly one year ago -- predating the FCC's current indecency guidelines.