XM suspends Opie and Anthony

**steveo56** · 05.15.07, 01:13 PM

XM suspends Opie and Anthony
FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

May 15, 2007, 3:03 PM EDT

Satellite radio giant XM announced Tuesday that it has suspended Long Island shock jocks Gregg "Opie" Hughes and Anthony Cumia and ceased broadcast of their show for 30 days, effective immediately.

The duo had issued an apology last week after airing a segment in which a guest expressed desire to have sex with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, as well as First Lady Laura Bush and Queen Elizabeth.

According to XM "comments made by Opie and Anthony on yesterday's broadcast put into question whether they appreciate the seriousness of the matter." The decision to suspend the duo was "to make clear that our on-air talent must take seriously the responsibility that creative freedom requires of them."

The original remarks were made on their show last Wednesday by a guest the duo call Homeless Charlie. As the name of each woman came up, the guest said he would like to have sex with her -- using language not fit for print.

Opie and Anthony laughed as they imagined Rice's "horror" while describing a violent sexual encounter in which Rice is punched in the face.

Washington-based XM condemned the remarks at the time.

"We deplore the comments made on Wednesday's 'Opie & Anthony Show,"' XM spokesman Nathaniel Brown told The Associated Press last week.

Opie and Anthony apologized to listeners on Friday's show.

"We apologize to the public officials for comments that we made on our XM show on May 9th. We take very seriously the responsibility that comes with our creative freedom and regret any offense that this segment has caused," they said.

Because the show airs on satellite radio, there are no federal restrictions on its content. According to XM's Web site, the radio service has parental controls that allow users to block access to channels that frequently contain explicit language. Those channels are designated with an "XL" notation.

The same radio duo was dumped by CBS Radio in August 2002 for running a contest in which they said two listeners had sex in New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral. They were hired by XM in 2004.

The remarks could become an issue as XM seeks approval from the Federal Communications Commission to merge with New York-based Sirius Satellite Radio, said Tom Taylor, editor of the trade magazine Inside Radio.

"XM and Sirius don't want any regulation," he said in Friday's New York Daily News. "But it's come up in four congressional hearings -- and at this point, the merger is such a close call, any issue could become important."

Copyright 2007 Newsday Inc.

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah i'm stuck on terrestrial radio waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

**twonabomber** · 05.15.07, 01:29 PM

is this the definition of "winning in the end?"

**Mikey Metalhead** · 05.15.07, 01:31 PM

they should be removed for the same reason they have been removed from Dallas Mornings... they suck

**Brett** · 05.15.07, 01:31 PM

Where's Bostonian? BWAHAHAHAHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

**twonabomber** · 05.15.07, 01:33 PM

two of the "major" O&A fansites are down...there's a hundred fat basement dwellers crying into their keyboards.

**Brett** · 05.15.07, 01:34 PM

They're having a big gay circle jerk of tears.

**TheresOnlyOneWay** · 05.15.07, 01:40 PM

Like anyone's gonna miss 'em.

**steveo56** · 05.15.07, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by Brett

They're having a big gay circle jerk of tears.

Dropping loads all over OanA's show!!!! Wet nerds !!!!

**steveo56** · 05.15.07, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by steveo56

Dropping loads all over OanA's show!!!! Wet nerds !!!!

Is this cool Brett?

LOL

**Bostonian** · 05.15.07, 02:19 PM

Wow do you really see what is going on and the blow to freedom of speech? I guess you're too concerned what Howard Stern is saying. The fact that a guest entered the studio and spouted off something on the private subscriber based programming has caused them the be removed is outlandish. Your buddy bubby the love sponge did it too and there is some press about a rage against the machine spoof.

Was the statement uncalled for and disturbing, yes... but is it grounds for dismissal? More importantly is it any different then when your hero Howard was praying for the then FCC chair to get cancer and die? If it is different please explain to me how, since under the same standard Howard should have been given the boot too.