1WRESTLING.COM - NEWSLINE - PRO WRESTLING'S DAILY NEWS SOURCE

NEWSLINE

test

By: Dave Whitaker
3/29/2002 12:13:04 AM

WWF CEO Linda McMahon was one of many guests on the O'Reilly Factor Special "The Corruption Of the American Child" on March 29. The interview with McMahon began after an interview with Jack Valenti of the Motion Picture Association. Before McMahon and O'Reilly begin talking, a montage of scenes from WWF programming are shown set to Drowning Pool's "Bodies."

McMahon begins by saying research shows that kids between 2-11 are usually watching with parents, making it a family affair. O'Reilly seemed incredulous, and said he wouldn't let his two-year old watch, McMahon said she wasn't sure if it was appropriate for kids that young to be watching. She said though that parents could make that choice. O'Reilly asked what about kids without responsible parents, McMahon said it wasn't their responsibility to make those decisions.

O'Reilly then showed a piece about some kid who broke his neck while having a wrestling move done on him. Then did a recap of the Lionel Tate case. McMahon responded by saying that research shows most youngsters watching do understand the difference between fantasy and reality. They also did a clip of the "Please don't try this at home bit." One more video montage with "Bodies" interspersed with backyard wrestling, WWF clips, and I think I saw an ECW clip also. O'Reilly asked Linda if the WWF was having a "coarsening effect" on society. McMahon said directly "We like what we do."

Opinion: As someone who likes Bill O'Reilly, I really think he was attempting to smear the WWF here unfairly. There were way too many backyard wrestling clips used, and too little attention paid to the "Please don't try this at home" spots which air during WWF programming. For a man who purports to have a "No-Spin Zone", Bill O'Reilly did some spinning.

<< Return to Home Page

Your Ad Here