Editorials > MTV Causes a Stink with Pot Joke

For those of you who watched the MTV Movie Awards (I opted for the waterboarding, myself), you already know what I'm talking about. Seth Rogen and James Franco, stars of the upcoming stoner comedy "Pineapple Express," lit up a joint of allegedly fake marijuana at the MTV Movie Awards and took a few puffs before presenting the dubious award for "Best Summer Movie So Far" (that's right, summer technically begins on June 20th this year). This supposed endorsement of illegal behavior has naturally led to some minor outcry. 

The Associated Press asked Franco about the bit backstage. The actor told them "that MTV put them up to the joke, even supplying the script, the fake marijuana and the fake joint." Egad! You mean that MTV actually gave the stars props and a script to follow while on stage? Is this how television always works? Why the corruption goes to the very top!

Franco also pointed out that MTV "had a last-second change of heart about the bit." Supposedly there were arguments back stage about what could and couldn't be done on the air, and midway through Franco and Rogen's conversation, MTV switched cameras to an uncomfortably wide shot of the audience as the duo finished their dialogue. Franco admits that he doesn't actually know what was in the bag, pointing out that "MTV gave it to us." Sounds like someone won't be invited back next year. 

I can see where this would bother some parents of younger kids, but really, "worse" things are on broadcast television on a regular basis. To me, the most offensive thing about the whole affair is that the bit isn't even funny enough to be "envelope pushing" in a way that we can look back on nostalgically. See for yourself (this is the version in which they don't cut to a wider angle).

What do you think? Is MTV corrupting our nation's young minds with drug propaganda or are some people wound a bit tightly? 

-David Morgan