ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 8, 1995 TAG: 9512080074
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
A woman who ran off with her daughter's fiance! Mudwrestling sisters! A father and the daughter he molested!
And now, a word to the sponsors.
Two Democratic senators joined Thursday with William Bennett, author of the popular ``Book of Virtues,'' to criticize advertisers who support what critics call ``trash TV'' talk shows. The three said the shows were contributing to a decline in morals in America.
In television and radio ads to begin airing today, Bennett and Sens. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., and Sam Nunn, D-Ga., urged companies to withdraw advertising dollars from ``Ricki Lake,'' ``Sally Jessy Raphael,'' and ``Jenny Jones.'' Other talk shows singled out for criticism included ``Jerry Springer,'' ``Montel Williams,'' ``Maury Povich,'' ``Geraldo,'' ``Charles Perez,'' ``Rolonda,'' and ``Richard Bey.''
The ads did not target specific shows, but the programs were named in materials distributed at the press conference.
In a letter addressed to Bennett and Lieberman, Steve Goldman, president of Paramount Domestic Television, which produces ``Maury Povich'' and ``Montel Williams,'' said,
"We feel equally strongly that the content of this programming must not be dictated by the views of any particular organization.''
Nunn urged viewers angered with the content of talk shows to boycott products advertised during the programs.
LENGTH: Short : 37 linesby CNB