UF radio program that features homeless races and mentally-ill game shows raises the ire of House lawmakers
by Michael C. Bender | September 16th, 2009
The kind of entertainment you'll find at lexandterry.com.
A syndicated program on a University of Florida radio station that features segments like “Running of the Bums” and “Mental Challenge, ” which asks callers to pick the real “mentally challenged” person, has been targeted by a pair of Florida House lawmakers who are asking college President Bernie Machen to step in and address the “unacceptable” material for a station at taxpayer-funded university.
“It is not our intention to censor positions or views. However, subject matter which is dehumanizing and/or degrading to the physically disabled or offensive to a specific gender or race in unacceptable,” state Reps. Joe Abruzzo, D-Wellington, and Erik Fresen, R-Miami, wrote to Machen. (Read the full letter here.)
The program, Lex & Terry, was originally launched in Jacksonville in 1993 but it now aired out of Dallas, according to the Jacksonville Times-Union. The program recently signed with Clear Channel after splitting with Cox Radio, which owns four radio stations in Florida and whose parent company, Cox Enterprises, also owns The Palm Beach Post.
The program was already canceled once by Machen, who trumpeted the achievement last year in news stories as a sign he was ridding the university of its party school image.
Machen took issue with the show in 2005 when it was airing a segment called “Drunk Bitch Friday.” It was “the most popular radio segment in the Gainesville area,” according to the Independent Florida Alligator. Terry Jaymes, the program’s co-host, told the college paper that “over 2,500 (applied) to be a drunk bitch.”
The show eventually dropped the segment, which featured a female getting drunk on the air. The UF radio station then returned the program to its lineup.
Click here for the Wikipedia list of all the show’s bits.
The segment was cleared by the FCC, but university officials said the show promoted underage drinking.
A university spokeswoman said Machen and John W. Wright II, the College of Journalism & Communication dean, were both in Washington D.C. today and unavailable for comment.
The radio show did not immediately return an interview request.
Tags: Bernie Machen, college radio, Drunk Bitch Friday, Erik Fresen, Joe Abruzzo, Lex & Terry, University of Florida
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Sentenced to die for crimes judged heinous and cruel, inmates await execution in a 9 feet by 6 feet cell.
September 16th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
The kinds of stuff that go on at that school pale in comparison to what is on the radio. BTW, that is TJ from the love docs doing the Monkey Claw
September 16th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Amen Nick, I think this radio show should be the least of their worries.
BTW, I love the Love Doctors and TJ, great show! Don’t care too much for Lex and Terry
September 16th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
The headline is misleading. The “offending” radio program is syndicated - the headline makes it seem that UF created the show. It’s like calling “Jeopardy” a WPBF program, or “Peanuts” a Palm Beach Post comic strip.
September 16th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Shouldn’t Fresen be focused on paying his taxes, his pending foreclosure, etc., rather than what’s on the radio in Gainesville?
September 16th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Hey Fresen, I heard somebody bought a Playboy at the Petro in Perry today - get your butt up there and shut them down!
September 16th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
This is just another sign of idiots we have in Tallahassee who are trying to govern over us who “just don’t get it.” Look, This legislature isn’t doing anything to assist. These guys go downtown and interact with the homeless, where as the majority, if not all of the idiots in Tallahassee, have never been before. They are afraid to interact with the unfortunate. I’m sick and tired of these people not getting their facts straight. Don’t have that have more pressing needs to figure out? Like how to fix this damn budget so that my taxes aren’t incredibly high? Or how I’m going to pay for home insurance because it’s tripled over the last 2 years. Lex and Terry give me a 5 hour break from reality. Maybe you need one too
September 16th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Apparently guys like Adam “just don’t get it” taking a break from reality by making fun of homeless and mental challenged individuals is not interacting in any socially responsible way. These legislators should be applauded for stepping up and criticizing this sensationalistic nonsense. Unfortunately, Adam doesn’t understand social interaction.
September 16th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
If Rep. Erik Fresen was NOT continuing to focuse on his consituents, my guess is you would be criticizing him for allowing his foreclosure to interrupt with his duties! You can’t have it both ways. Cudos to Fresen for continuing to serve the public regardless of his person problems. And BTW, you may want to read the Americans with Disabilities Act to see why some of these shows are so offensive and cruel.
September 17th, 2009 at 12:38 am
[...] UF radio program features homeless races and mentally-ill game shows: What hath Howard Stern wrought? It’s ridiculous that any human beings would think that this [...]
September 17th, 2009 at 11:56 am
In these economically challenged times the opportunity to laugh at ourselves and others is of utmost importance to maintaining our sanity. Lex & Terry always reward those who play their games, win or lose, and never force anyone to do something they don’t want to do … and if TJ wants to swallow his “Monkey Claw” and make grotesque gurgling sounds for the enjoyment of others who are we to stop him?
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Cuber
September 18th, 2009 at 11:51 am
To all who have responded on the blogosphere, written/and have called our office:
I agree with many of your points (censorship is dangerous, other things are important, and the total broadcast may have an entertainment component.) But this is where I stand: When a station is owned and operated by a public university, aired at the public university, and intertwined with our taxpayer dollars, any show which involves making fun of mentally disabled individuals is inappropriate.
My personal belief is that having people pretend they are (retarded) and imitating their diminished mental condition creates significant harm.
The stress and the hardship to the parents and the families living day-to-day in these circumstances are extraordinary and deserve great consideration from we, the lucky, and the fortunate.
Many of us including myself are often caught up in the issues of the moment most having to do with the recession, the war, healthcare, education, taxes, and the like.
So I am responding to all of you not to defend myself, nor separate from you but to ask you to consider the greater good. As a society, we must be cautious not to do harm to those who cannot process thoughts as we do, and as a society we must be cautious not to do harm to those who cannot physically function as well as we do.
Sincerely,
Joseph Abruzzo Representative, District 85
September 22nd, 2009 at 7:56 pm
You Go Joe! As a society it truly IS our responsibility to protect those less fortunate and who cannot stand up for themselves. What kind of sick person would find that funny!@!