Spike Lee is a jackass.

[Sinn Fein]

Spike Lee Sues Viacom for Changing TNN to Spike TV (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,88518,00.html)

NEW YORK — Filmmaker Spike Lee (search) has sued Viacom Inc. (search) over plans to rename its TNN cable channel Spike TV as part of its campaign to attract male viewers.

In court papers filed Tuesday, Lee asked for an injunction against Viacom's use of the name, saying he had never given his consent for it to be used.

"The media description of this change of name, as well as comments made to me and my wife, confirmed what was obvious -- that Spike TV referred to Spike Lee," Lee said in court papers.

The judge directed Viacom to explain why it shouldn't be barred from using the name.

TNN, which bills Spike TV as "the first network for men," said it was "confident that the court will reject any legal claims by Mr. Lee to the popular word and name Spike."

Viacom bought TNN in 2000, and said in April that it would change the channel's name to Spike TV on June 16 in an attempt to increase the number of men in an audience that is already about two-thirds male. It said on Tuesday that it was confident the court would reject Lee's claims to the name Spike.

Viacom also owns CBS, Showtime movie channel, VH1, UPN, book publisher Simon & Schuster and other properties.

According to Lee, TNN's president, Albie Hecht (search), has said the public associates the name 'Spike' with Lee.

Lee, whose given name is Shelton Jackson Lee, included in court papers affidavits from people including former Sen. Bill Bradley, and actors Ossie Davis and Ed Norton. The affidavits said the signers had thought of Lee when they heard about Spike TV and some said they believed he had become affiliated with the network.

Lee directed Nike sneaker commercials with Michael Jordan. His movies include Malcolm X, Jungle Fever and Do the Right Thing.

[100 Grand]

I agree, he's an ass! I'll bet when Viacom wins they play a bunch of his movies on their debut on the 16th! Oh wait...nevermind, they want to GAIN viewers!;)

[wackadoo]

wait a sec....spike lee is an ass?!?!?! when did this happen?? i thought was a great director and an even better human being.

are you trying to tell me he is a self-centered, no talent, suck ass knick cheerleader? that it?

[AngryHugo]

Cool. I'm going to sue Hugo Boss for using my name.

:D

[Ballbuster1]

What a pompous ass! To think that they were referring
to him just shows his arrogance! F-YOU Spike Lee!:mad:

[RandomNY]

The best part is that SPIKE, isn't his real name. :) It's a F"n stage, knickname. What a douchebag.

[lickasssucks]

What a self centered douche bag. Personally, when I think of the name spike I picture a big, mean biker.
I big biker named Spike needs to beat the shit out of him then ram him in the ass.

[RandomNY]

Originally posted by lickasssucks
What a self centered douche bag. Personally, when I think of the name spike I picture a big, mean biker.
I big biker named Spike needs to beat the shit out of him then ram him in the ass.


When I hear the name SPIKE I think of the DOG from the TOM and JERRY cartoons. :)

[Sinn Fein]

I can't fucking believe it. He actually won the first round of the court battle:

Lee Wins Temporary Halt to Spike TV
(http://kevxml2adsl.verizon.net/_1_GW8TO103FJ25Z3__vzn.dsl/apnws/story.htm?kcfg=apart&sin=D7RKG5J80&qcat=entertain&ran=30145&passqi=&feed=ap&top=1)

[nyoafan]

Why is everyone so anti Spike Lee? true he has no right to the name Spike but he is taking on Viacom/ Infinity, the same douchebags who fired O and A.

[Sinn Fein]

Originally posted by nyoafan
Why is everyone so anti Spike Lee?

You have to ask?

[wackadoo]

Originally posted by nyoafan
Why is everyone so anti Spike Lee? true he has no right to the name Spike but he is taking on Viacom/ Infinity, the same douchebags who fired O and A. he is a racist no talent tool! just because someone takes on infinity/viacom doesn't make them a good person.

[Ballbuster1]

For him to think that if we hear the name "Spike",
we will automatically associate it with him and his
movies, just shows what a jerk-off he really is!:mad:

[popeyeDiceclay]

am i in trouble since my nickname is popeye??
F...please someone back me and tell the courst i have had this nickname since 1981...that should be good enough time..

i was looking forward to Spike tv just because they were gonan be a mans network..
i put my own two cents about them trying to get family guy back on the air, they had(not sure ifd stillup since they cant use spike now??) but asked for requests..so if you all want as well and find out how or where to request, send in family guy requests! the makers are still interested in making more shows, but nobody has offered them any deals from what i understand.

ok back to Spike, has he tried to sue the volley ball teams yet? how about the train tracks? hmmm how about every guy who mousses his hair straight up?
this is just F'n insane!!

I am gonna look up everyone who was born after me with my first name and sue them!

ok ltr all.


The court system is nothing but FARMERS!!

[Butternuts]

No talent, Racist, splib.

Just hate that guy, with a passion.

He always seems to stick his lil worm head up everytime i like something, Im the anti Spike.

I hope they change the name, who cares about the name anyway, good for nothing weasle.

[RandomNY]

I like how now he MR. LEE is dressing up like MALCOM X, like all of sudden this is a racial issue. I'm sure his Lawyer Johnny Cochran was bring up the oppression that Mr. Lee felt having to make crappy movies that exploite people just to put bread and butter on the table because the WHITE MAN was holding him down and now the WHITE MAN is making a mockery of him....


What an ASSHOLE I hope he get hit, by bus walking out of the courtroom.

[bluecell]

I really don't understand how changing TNN to Spike TV would help them gain viewers.

[wackadoo]

Originally posted by bluecell
I really don't understand how changing TNN to Spike TV would help them gain viewers. they want to get away from being known as the nashville network. they tried being known as the naional network.

[Sinn Fein]

What he said.

[carpetbagger]

He's a publicity whore, just like Rev. Al. Lee doesn't care about anything but getting his name in the papers. That's all this lawsuit is about.

[RandomNY]

Originally posted by bluecell
I really don't understand how changing TNN to Spike TV would help them gain viewers.

I think if they just change the programming them it will lose the NASHVILLE NETWORK monicor. Just put all the shows you want on it. They want to attract male veiwers but 75% of TNN's audience is already male. :)

Just call it PAM ANDERSONS TITS as a cartoon network, and be done with it. :)

[Butternuts]

Spike, Bruno, hell theres a ton of Macho shit out there,

Whats funny is that lil worm head would remotley be construed as a Macho icon.

he looks like such an uncontained ass, at the games.....This country better stop being scared of lawyers and start telling it like it is.

[J_Oats]

Does Spike really think the people at TNN were sitting around thinking "Lets name our network after spike lee."

That being said, Spike tv is a pretty stupid name.

[norton23]

That's it i'm changing my name to nike and suing the company.

[popeyeDiceclay]

Originally posted by norton23
That's it i'm changing my name to nike and suing the company.

you will be the one sued...spike had name before tnn..so you need to pick name prior to anyone else..that is why i said i am suing anyoe named same as my name after my birth..i was first right??(hope the original or an older one doesnt come out and sue me then..hehe)

but seriously, TNN wants to change image to male and different MALE audience, they need to stop broadcasting the WwF, or WWE or whatever that F it is, just call it LAME ACTING in ring. but get that off the network and it will change the look right there..you either like wrestling or you dont, and believe me, O&A only liked it for stupidity and the ratings reason.. and yes get rid of that stupid striperella and cheers rat thing..
if i wanted stupid cartoon porn i would buy playboy!
but i want to see the real thing or dont bother!

if they want cartoon for guys, get family guy or the critic, or the simpsons, heck even futurerama is adult enough..

or hell, have the original bugs bunny and such cartoons with out edits!!

FARMERS!!!

[Ballbuster1]

It looks like Spike Lee lost to Spike t.v.
All the t.v. listings in the papers and on
screen cable guide now are calling tnn
by the Spike name. Glad he lost! :biggrinfl

[wackadoo]

Originally posted by Ballbuster1
It looks like Spike Lee lost to Spike t.v.
All the t.v. listings in the papers and on
screen cable guide now are calling tnn
by the Spike name. Glad he lost! :biggrinfl

he didn't lose, they settled out of court. but i am pretty sure he would of lost anyway.

[Ballbuster1]

Cool. Never saw anything about it after the origional
story about the lawsuit. I just assumed he lost his bid
to prevent the name change since it obviously occured.
In court / out of court still gets to be called Spike tv though!

[PyThomas]

I like the fact that another famous "Spike", Spike Jonze the video/movie director, chimed in on Viacom's side, saying that Spike Lee doesn't have a monopoly on that name and that he himself welcomes the new "Spike TV" name.

I always thought of Spike Lee as being pretty hot-headed, but after this little episode I see him now as a total douchebag. What a humorless, angry ni - uh, NINCOMPOOP. Yeah, that's what I was gonna say. :pp: