good ol MTV..they don't censor..nahhhh

[Guest guest]

'Super Size Me' Gets Downsized by MTV

 

Wed May 26, 7:14 PM ET Add Entertainment -

Reuters TV to My

 

 

 

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Film documentary "Super

Size Me," a critical look at the health impact of

a fast-food only diet, has been downsized at

cable network MTV which has refused to air

advertisements for the film, its distributors

said on Wednesday.

 

 

Roadside Attractions and Samuel Goldwyn Films

said in a statement the cable TV channel targeted

to young audiences has told them the ads are

"disparaging to fast food restaurants."

 

 

The distributors said MTV sister network VH1 was

planning to use clips from the movie in a program

called "Best Week Ever," but the clips were

pulled before the show aired.

 

 

An MTV spokeswoman was not immediately available

to comment. MTV and VH1 are owned by media giant

Viacom Inc, which depends on advertising for a

major portion of revenues.

 

 

For "Super Size Me," director Morgan Spurlock ate

nothing but food from McDonald's restaurants over

30-day period, and if asked whether he wanted the

larger, "supersize" meal, he always said yes.

 

 

Over the month, he gains weight and his health

declines. Documenting the impact are not only the

cameras but also his doctors. Spurlock mixes in

various facts and figures about food and dieting

as he travels the United States talking to health

and food experts in 20 cities.

 

 

In March, McDonald's said it would eliminate its

supersize menu options by year end. At that time,

a company spokeswoman said the decision was

unrelated to the movie.

 

 

"Super Size Me" has been a hit at box offices,

and it earned Spurlock the Grand Jury Prize for

best documentary director at this year's Sundance

Film Festival (news - web sites).

 

 

The film began playing in theaters about two

weeks ago and rose to No. 10 on domestic theater

box office charts this past week. It has grossed

$2.9 million in ticket sales -- a hit for a

documentary -- and last weekend scored a per

screen average of $6,759, just behind No. 2 film

"Troy" with $7,014.

 

 

The film expands to 165 screens from 148 for the

upcoming Memorial Day Holiday weekend, which the

MTV ads had been timed to promote, a spokesman

for the distributors said.