As everyone knows by now, the latest NFL/”Decency”/Terrell Owens kerfuffle is over the comedy skit that ran before this week’s edition of “Monday Night Football,” in which Owens was confronted in the Eagles locker room by towel-clad “Desperate Housewives” actress Nicolette Sheridan, the two flirted, and then Nicolette dropped the towel and jumped into TO’s arms. I tuned in about five minutes too late to actually see it, and the first I heard of the flap was the next day, when the network apologized.
Now perhaps it was inappropriate to run such a salacious bit at 9 PM Eastern time, and as you all know, I’m no TO fan. But having now seen the tape, I must admit- I thought it was hilarious. The acting and reaction shots resembled porn dialogue (which I guess was the point), and unlike the nonsensical Janet Jackson incident, the skit actually worked as entertainment (you can watch it here, on IFilm's awesome Viral Video page). Jarvis, of course, has something to say about this too.
I’ve only seen part of one episode of “Desperate Housewives,” but it’s great to see the return to prominence of Nicolette Sheridan. I had a huge crush on her when I was 12, until she apparently disappeared into nowhere for about 15 years (starring in such cinematic classics as “Deadly Vision,” “Deadly Betrayal,” “Dead Husbands,” and “.com For Murder”) until suddenly resurfacing this year on TV’s hottest show. With Madchen Amick joining “ER,” it’s been a great year for the TV sex symbols of 1990. Kirstie Alley notwithstanding.
I'm just shocked that Bill Simmons wrote a long column today in which he mentioned neither the Owens flap, or the Sheffield/R. Kelly thing. He must still be composing himself.
Posted by Stephen Silver at November 18, 2004 03:19 AM