RobDale

I suggest you go back to the top of the thread, and read the Washington Post article more closely. I am quoting from it here:

"Late Show" spokesman Steven Rubenstein said yesterday in a statement: "We did not reject the song on the basis of its lyrical content. Rather, we felt the option originally suggested by her representatives was preferable musically."

Three songs were submitted to the show's producers in March. It wasn't until last week, according to Fisher, that the show demanded she perform "Heartbreak Even."

End of quote

Like I said, it looks like cold feet at the last minute about the political content of the song.

I mean, considering the circumstances, I can't imagine that CBS would come out and say:

Hey! We don't want Ani to sing a political song on Letterman, so we cancelled her booking.

C'mon, let's get real here. That is censorship. That isn't giving Ani the choice to sing any one of the three songs they had previously agreed to let her sing.

THAT is the problem here. Is it surprising that CBS acted as it did? Not to me it isn't.

But I also believe in picking battles wisely. This isn't that big of a deal in terms of some much more important free speech issues and First Amendment rights being challenged and ignored.

I would, however, wonder about the contractual liabilities CBS has for possibly violating the terms of the agreement they did have.

One issue remains unclear, though. Did the contract signed with Ani state that she would appear and sing one of the 3 songs she submitted? If the song in question was on such a list, and included in her contract, CBS could well have shot itself in the foot with this one.

Sometimes the censors get a little overzealous, and don't always talk to the lawyers first, like they should!

Personally, I think this is great. Its a lose/lose proposition for CBS, and a win/win situation for Ani.