"F" is for... "Rocco"?

By JULIETTE ROSSANT I was just expressing sympathy for the man, when The New York Post's John Mainelli reported that Rocco DiSpirito had grabbed more limelight yesterday when he used "f__k" on his show Food Talk on WOR 710 AM in New York. "It was an unfortunate slip of the tongue and he apologized profusely for it," said general manager Bob Bruno. "He knows it's absolutely unacceptable and he feels very bad about it." According to the article, the matter is "under review." Review? Like steroids in Major League Baseball? Now, New Yorkers have some reputation for being foul-mouthed, rude, and even mean -- and I am Manhattan-born myself (though I, for one, do my best to restrain such in-born urges) -- so keep in mind Rocco may have just forgotten where he was and suffered a slip of the tongue. Still, cynics may note the notoriety that "shock-jock" DJs like Howard Stern have received for their foul-mouthed or sexually charged language... which recalls other successful Media escapades such as Janet Jackson's... Such blips lead to public reactions by the FCC, which leads to more Media coverage... and perhaps public outcry against the scapegoating of Freedom of Speech... I guess we'll have to see how Rocco handles this one to decide for ourselves whether the act was unintentional -- or whether Rocco is morphing from chef to TV star to Radio shock jock or just what... Previous articles: Xmas Spirits: "Club Rocco" Brand? Rocco DiSpirito Wins TV Turkey Dinner Rocco DiSpirito: Pretty in Pink? Rocco DiSpirito: Ridiculed in the Rainbow Room More Reality TV Chefs (or Less)? Video Killed the Radio Star: Can Radio Resurrect Rocco DiSpirito? Rocco DiSpirito: Be Warned by Me! Claude Troisgros: Riding de Rocco DiSpirito Star Rocco Barred from Reality TV Restaurant Rocco: Trapped in Reality TV's Twilight Zone?