Does Disney's Stricter Performance Policy Open A New Chapter On Lambertgate?
It’s been more than a week since Adam Lambert set tongues wagging and complaints firing with his AMA performance, and Disney is continuing to take a hard line against the sexually-charged theatrics. The latest expression of the network’s disapproval, which began with a cancelled invitation to appear on “Good Morning America”? Yesterday’s announcement that ABC would be setting stricter standards in place for on-air performances including contractual stipulations that final stage shows should closely mirror rehearsals. Seems like an airtight and loophole-free strategy for addressing the issues at hand here. Riiight…
Seriously though, what this reveals about the double standard against gay male entertainers aside, the fallout got me to thinking about the nature of these “unpredictable” live performances, the choices it presents to breakout stars and why it does become such a difficult line to tread. Here are my thoughts…
Not Exactly An Interpretive Dance
It feels like we’ve seen this time and again with public personalities who have a cross to bear. Whether it be Adam Lambert and a male backup dancer or Miley with her stripper pole, there is no clearer way to get a message about identity in transition across (closeted to openly gay; squeaky-clean tween star to… not) than through spectacle. Is it appropriate for tween and teen fans to watch the results? Not always. But it is a conscious choice by someone (star or star’s handler) to mark the distinction between Disney/American Idol star and a burgeoning independent brand set apart from that wholesomeness. Of course, the situation is a little messier for stars like Miley who opt to act out when they’re still actively attached by the purse strings and contract ties to their original brand, but the question posed outwardly to fans — young, old, liberal, conservative — remains the same: how do you like me now?
Careful what you advertise for…
I buy the defense that ABC/Disney was caught unawares by certain improvised moments. No doubt, what happened on stage at those points was probably not what Adam “I Got Carried Away” Lambert had been practicing in rehearsal. At the same time, from the heavily hyped sex appeal leading up to the show to the S&M influenced costume and set design to the slate of other risqué performers on tap for Sunday night, including Lady Gaga, Janet Jackson and Eminem, it’s understandable why Adam might believe that viewers, and the network by extension, were expecting something on par with the shock factor of an MTV VMA-type stunt. The whole point of the appearance, after all, was to get people talking before Adam’s album release.. and the AMAs. Will Disney’s new policy stop stunts like this from happening next time around (if not for a temporarily blacklisted Adam. Update: Apparently Adam’s now scheduled to perform on the Jimmy Kimmel Outdoor Stage Concert on ABC later in December. Should we prepare for a more demure performance?) Maybe. Would there be even close to this much buzz happening around the American Music Awards if Adam hadn’t gone all out? Probably not.
Viral goodness
As it becomes more of a challenge for networks to get tweens and teens to watch lengthy award show ceremonies on TV, these heavily circulated unplanned moments become increasingly valuable to stars with products to push or any agenda to get across. And while choreographed stunts like Sacha Baron Cohen descending from the rafters as Bruno and landing on Eminem’s face are obviously guaranteed to get some play in the next day event coverage, it can’t compare with the appeal of a totally unscripted, surreal moment like Kanye crashing the stage with his “Ima let you finish” speech. Of course, this again just points to the difference between the “family friendly” image that ABC is supposedly trying to protect, and the likes of teen favorites MTV and FOX (home of the Teen Choice Awards) who both court and savor this type of behavior from award show attendees, even going so far as providing a platform after the event to further capitalize on an incident. You know, versus pulling that platform out from under them.
Ypulse readers, what are your thoughts on Disney’s overall response to Adam’s performance and the new policy? Leave them in comments.
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