Opie & Anthony
|
XM's Opie & Anthony have ended their "Assault on the Media" campaign, where fans would disrupt newscasts with guerilla promotions for the duo's radio show, after an "assault" went awry earlier this week. WABC/New York TV newscaster Anthony Johnson was surprised by an O&A fan, who sounded an air horn behind his ear as he held up an O&A sign. The ambush caused an uproar, with New Jersey acting governor Richard Codey even releasing a statement decrying the fan's actions and calling the "Assault" plan "inappropriate and dangerous."O&A announced on-air that they were calling off the campaign, and a spokesperson for XM told the New York Daily News that "This appears to be the unfortunate and irresponsible act of one individual. We do not condone this act." Opie & Anthony had repeatedly told their fans not to swear or get into a fight while conducting the campaign.
Earlier this year, the "Assault" led to a New York TV reporter being distracting and cursing on-air. Reporter Arthur Chi'en was fired for the slip, but later hired by another station.
In other O&A news, the duo appear to be indirectly taking a swipe at Howard Stern's Sirius content, announcing "Tissue Time With Beth And Allison." The phone sex-themed show sound remarkably similar to Stern's "Tissue Time With Heidi" show that airs on his Sirius station. In a statement, Gregg "Opie" Hughes says, "I think this one is so brilliant it is bound to be ripped off sooner than later." Co-host Anthony Cumia added, "The key to the success of the 'Tissue Time with Beth & Allison' show will be that we will have listeners come forward and participate, as opposed to trying to lull the audience to sleep."
