CBS Can't Get Out of the Dog House

The headline in today’s New York Post says it all:

ASIAN-SLUR SHOCK JOCKS GET 'IMUSED'

JV and Elvis, who were suspended on April 23 for a mock call made to a Chinese Restaurant on their WFNY morning show called The Dog House got canned by CBS Radio this weekend.

In the call, which was riddled with Asian stereotypes and sexual innuendo, the caller told a woman employee that he would like to "come to your restaurant so I can see your hot Asian spicy ass."

He then attempts to order "flied lice," and uses a series of racial slurs and four lettered words.

The caller tells the first restaurant employee, "I would like some Asian food, son of a bitch" as well as to the second employee; "I would love to have lots of Asian food, son of a bitch."

The caller then tells another employee that he would like some "flied lice," but not "some old dung" and indicated that "I am training in Kung Fu, bitch" before ending with "Tell that hot Asian girl answering the telephone, I'd like to tap her ass."

You Tube has the audio file of JV and Elvis bit. You can listen to it at this link.

The bit was actually performed prior to the famous Imus meltdown on April 4, when he referred to Rutgers women’s basketball team as "nappy-headed hos." For some strange reason it was rebroadcast the next day.

The first airing of the bit did not attract any attention, but when it was rebroadcast it fueled a controversy that spread from Mott Street in New York to Beijing in China.

The Organization of Chinese Americans expressed outrage over the bit, which it described as "racist, vulgar and sexist."

In a press release, the OCA called for an immediate apology from the hosts, their producer and the station. They also demanded the immediate firing of the shock jocks.

CBS still reeling from the Imus fall out, immediately suspended the duo without pay. Now over a month later, the beleaguered network has confirmed on Saturday that the "The Dog House with JV and Elvis," hosted by Jeff Vandergrift and Dan Lay, "will no longer be broadcast on WFNY."

The OCA was pleased with CBS’s decision.

"This is a victory not only for the Asian-American community, but for all communities who find themselves constant targets of racist and sexist programming," said Jeanette Wang, an OCA executive.

No doubt complicating the situation for CBS was the outrageous bit performed by syndicated shock jocks Opie and Anthony on Thursday, where they interviewed a character named Homeless Charlie, who described his desire to have rough sex with Condaleezza Rich, Laura Bush, and Queen Elizabeth. O & A’s performance was recognized by Talking Radio, as the Worst Talk Hosts of the previous week.

CBS confirmed that O & A were not being suspended or cancelled and their show will be broadcast today in its regular time period – 6 AM to 9 AM EST.

Talk radio fans are concerned about whether the firing of JV & Elvis, represents an infringement of free speech rights of talk radio hosts.

More than 100 people turned out for a rally in New York to offer support for them, Imus and other radio personalities under fire.

"It’s not about whether you like what you heard or not," said Debbie Wolf of Far Hills, NJ, president of People Against Censorship. "I find censorship to be far more offensive than anything that was said."