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Ernie�s dirty dancing turns off some A commercial airing on KOBI-TV for "The Bob and Tom Show," a nationally syndicated program that plays on KBOY radio, has dozens of viewers outraged at what they call its poor taste. TV and radio stations defend the ad, which has run in other places By Jonel Aleccia A television ad featuring "Disco Ernie," an old man who bumps and grinds in nothing but a bow tie and leopard-print underpants, has outraged local TV viewers and radio listeners. Dozens of calls and e-mails have been sent to KOBI-TV, the station that aired the controversial spot, and KBOY, the radio station that ordered it. "It�s disgusting," said Carol Murray, a viewer from Medford. "That tongue thing he did is enough to gross you out completely." The 30-second spot began airing Friday on Channel 5 as a promotion for "The Bob and Tom Show," a nationally syndicated radio program based in Indianapolis. The ad is scheduled to air soon on other local TV stations. The ad features two elderly actors, a woman seated on a park bench and "Disco Ernie." He�s an 80-ish man who discards a gold lam� jacket in favor of a skimpy bathing suit. He performs a suggestive dance, flicks his tongue rapidly at the woman and ends by tossing his underwear onto her head. "It pushes the bounds of good taste, but it�s not prurient," said Christopher Stoney, a DJ at KBOY. "He ain�t naked and the woman is completely clothed." Still, the ad has shocked many older audience members, even as it amused others, said John Larkin, general manager for KOBI-TV. "Some people, especially seniors, are thinking it�s offensive; others think it�s funny," said Larkin, who has answered 50 phone calls or e-mails since last week. KBOY decided to air the TV ads to boost popularity of "The Bob and Tom Show," a racy news and entertainment radio program that airs from 6 to 10 a.m. weekdays, according to Bret Fox, general manager of station operator Marathon Media. "They�ve run this campaign with great success in other markets," said Fox. "I guess we happen to be a little more conservative in Medford." Fox said he would continue running the ads on KOBI and other stations despite viewer protests. "I�ve heard from some people who say, �That�s the funniest commercial I�ve ever seen,� " he said. Most important, perhaps, is the fact that the protesters fall outside the KBOY primary demographic of males ages 18 to 54 who love classic rock �n� roll music. "The people who called to complain are not and never will be �Tom and Bob� listeners," Stoney noted. "You�d think they never watched �Baywatch.� " And the ad wasn�t offensive enough, in Larkin�s view, to keep it off the air. His own staff disagreed about whether to run it. "It was a decision based on the fact that you don�t want to get into a censorship situation on the one hand," he said. "But on the other hand, it skirts the bounds of good taste." Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.