Geek chic.
Look, I know everyone is all aghast about how MTV defiled the honor and sanctity of the Super Bowl, a game where drug-addicted, steroid-fueled, undereducated and overpaid millionaires beat the crap out of each other and then give praise to God all for the viewing pleasure of billions of viewers and more importantly thousands of advertisers, by showing *gasp* a breast, a breast with a piercing no less, but what I'm more concerned about is the negative image Justin Timberlake is giving to rock stars and wannabe rock stars the world over. It’s the Super Bowl (I mean "Big Game"), a billion viewers, he’s on stage with a cultural icon like Janet, and he shows up wearing a pair of Dockers and a t-shirt?
Christ, Justin. Put at least a LITTLE effort into it. You're still a rock star last time I checked. I'm not asking for a codpiece or a sequined glove or anything, but how about some designer jeans or leather pants or a jump suit or a strategically placed band-aid or something? You're a rock star! You are allowed, no, EXPECTED to be flamboyant and eccentric. But then again, by that logic, maybe Dockers ARE rebellious. Maybe Dockers are the new punk rock.
Maybe next year we will have rock stars parading around in bad polo shirts with their band logo embroidered on the breast. Maybe they will wear their cell phones on their belts and will mismatch their socks too. Maybe geek is the new chic.
I better get to that sale at Mervyns today.
Comments
Sorry, Jim... I disagree with you completely on the JJ thing. I'm not one to complain about public displays of nudity, believe me, but that crossed the line last night.
Why? Because lots of parents were watching the game with their kids and had to explain why Justin ripped off part of Janet's top and exposed her private parts... and why that's not something they should do on the playground Monday.
If they want to do that at the VMAs in late prime time on cable, more power to them. I'm all for pushing the envelope. But the Super Bowl, as obnoxiously commercial as it has become, is still a family show.
Posted by: AVERAGE JOE | February 2, 2004 01:10 PM
khaki is the new black, didn't you get the memo? Get your ass to Mervyns a.s.a.p.!!
Actually, overpaying is the new punk. If you have $50 for the hip flame shirt at Hot Topic, then you're punk... or if you pay $40 for a faded tee at A&F or Banana Republic. THAT is fashion.
Nothing beats your fur pants though ;)
Posted by: mia | February 2, 2004 01:22 PM
Hey, now. I bought my forty-dollar dancing snowman from Mervyn's. If you do end up in S.A. I'll bring it along with me.
Posted by: melly | February 2, 2004 02:20 PM
Ooohh I’m sort of with Joe on this one. I’ve noticed a distinct change in most programming over the past two or so years. (Remember when it was headlines that they showed a butt on NYPD Blue?) I’ve noticed ramped up sex scenes, pretty brutal violence, and a whole new level of language. I blame it on networks trying to compete with HBO shows like Sex & the City and Sopranos (both shows I love.) I guess it’s harder and harder to make headlines and grab the attention of viewers becoming slowly inured. Where does this all go? Sipowicz’s ass, Janet’s boob, tomorrow someone’s dick?
Posted by: xdm | February 2, 2004 04:29 PM
Justin just likes to get things off the rack.
(ducking & running)
Posted by: sid | February 2, 2004 08:52 PM
You assume that Justin picked out his own clothes for last night's show, but that's very unlikely.
The person who *should* be fired is the costume designer, who somehow thought that his casual preppy-meets-skater look would compliment Janet's over-the-top-rock-diva look.
Bad, bad choice.
Posted by: Lyonesse | February 2, 2004 08:53 PM
sid wins the digitalcatharsis 2004 best worst comment award - and it's only february.
i'm pissed i didn't think of it first.
Posted by: the mighty jimbo | February 2, 2004 10:23 PM
I feel like a disgruntled hooker. I've been working this corner a long time. Sid comes in with a really bad pun and he gets an award? Hookers just don't get any respect these days.
Posted by: melly | February 3, 2004 07:32 AM
Wow jimbo...good call. Janet's boob had me so distracted that I failed to notice how frumpily dressed JT really was. Your are so on target about what the real tragedy here is: lack of fabulousness on JTs part. It truly is the real crime here.
Posted by: jimbo | February 3, 2004 07:58 AM
We were wathcing the game with our 10 year old son, and while we are pretty tolerant of things like nudity (yep, we're one of those "naked families") my wife and I thought the JJ thing was out of line. It was no big deal in or house, but we did explain to our son that ripping a girl's shirt off is not typical behavior.
Like someone else said, it's all about expectations. You knkow that at the VMA's, someone is gonna say "fuck" and Lil' Kim is gonna show her (quite lovely) boobies. But the Super Bowl, as tacky and crass as it may be, is not a broadcast where nudity is to be expected. And not just nudity, but a man rippnig womena's shirt off and the woman feigning surprise and shock while the man feigns indifference. That's a rather complicated message to digest for a 10 year old. It wold have been much healthier if it was simply a Vegas showgirl type of nudity. Nothing wrong with that.
Posted by: el kabong | February 3, 2004 09:03 AM
I think that next week they'll do "Breastgate - next on E! True Hollywood Story" and then it's just a month or two until we get...
Breastgate - the Musical
But, you're right... JT was dressed like an overgrown frat boy. Blech.
Posted by: Daniella | February 3, 2004 12:06 PM
You've proved something fascinating. I am so out of it lately I swear I didn't hear about this whole fiasco until today. I'd like someone to explain it to me. Unbelievably, my teenage brother did not even mention it when I spoke to him. Times have already changed, you people.
But I am far more interested in the Dockers! Dockers? Really??? This disproves my belief that someone famous can do any absurd and uncool thing and somehow get it glamorized. But Dockers? You are so right!
Posted by: Miel | February 3, 2004 12:07 PM
i think jt was going for that "GAP is designer clothing isn't it?" look
Posted by: Anonymous | February 3, 2004 02:39 PM
i thought Janet hair looked flat, and Justin Timberlake is way off my radar for expecting anything like originality in dress, Maybe his dressers think it makes him look "Homey". What do I know? I found a 100% polyester shirt in my fathers clothes and actually tried it on and am seriously considering wearing it, the lapels alone are remarkable! nothing clings like polyester. It is a chemical success story.
now I get it, "rack" Ha Ha, Sid's comment was a hooter. LOL
Posted by: Timothy | February 3, 2004 07:09 PM