DePetro fired...

[bill.smith@comcast.net]

Such gnashing of teeth.

And over a talk program --  nothing more than the original reality show, created for entertainment and staged for entertainment by people who may or may not actually believe what they're saying.

Take heed:

1.  Offensive is whatever the licensee decides it is.

2.  When one has poor ratings, one has little economic viability.

1 + 2 = down the stairs.

Pretty simple. It's not about speech, civility, fairness, corporate image, public policy, lesbians being offended or what somebody else might have said that some consider offensive.

Talk shows are like sitcoms.  There are characters, roles, research and scripts.

It's about making money.

Must be a few raised eyebrows at AFTRA these days.