08/15/01 - MTV's 'Jackass' May Be Nearing End
By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer
NEW YORK (AP) - MTV's ``Jackass'' host, Johnny Knoxville, is at the center of a bigger mystery than whether he'll emerge from his latest stunt with broken bones or seared skin.
Knoxville, whose real name is P.J. Clapp, told his hometown newspaper, The Knoxville News-Sentinel, that he's quitting the show that has drawn some of MTV's highest ratings and loudest criticism over the past year.
An MTV spokeswoman said Wednesday, however, that ``we're in ongoing discussions about new episodes'' with Knoxville.
Knoxville, who was traveling on Wednesday, could not immediately be reached for comment.
The show, which premiered in October and quickly became a sensation, has featured Knoxville being doused with pepper spray, sitting in a portable bathroom as it was tipped over, and lying down on a barbecue in a fire-resistant suit hung with steaks.
``We told (MTV) we would do specials down the road,'' Knoxville told the newspaper. ``But this is enough. We have done enough.''
When some young people were hurt in copycat stunts, politicians like Sen. Joseph Lieberman began complaining about ``Jackass.'' MTV moved it from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays and ran disclaimers for viewers.
A 13-year-old boy suffered second-degree burns imitating the steak stunt in January, and an 11-year-old boy was burned copying a stunt where he soaked a rag with engine degreaser, wrapped it around his leg and set it on fire. In April, a 19-year-old man told police he was inspired by ``Jackass'' when he stopped traffic by running around with a chain saw in the rain, dressed in a hospital gown.
The last original episode of ``Jackass'' aired Sunday. Knoxville said he has been talking with television networks about creating other shows, and he's filmed appearances in two upcoming movies.
Knoxville was said to be frustrated by MTV's ambivalence about the show - happy to take the profits that came from its success, but skittish because of the controversy it created. He told the News-Sentinel that MTV vetoed spinoffs including a book and soundtrack.
``In MTV's defense, it was an extraordinary case of events, and no one really knew what the right move was,'' he told the newspaper. ``I'm sure they would have liked to have done things differently.''
He said he wanted to quit while the show was still special.
``With this kind of comedy, people become inured to the shock value,'' he said.
Knoxville said MTV plans to continue showing the episodes already taped, but they will be heavily edited to be less objectionable. MTV spokeswoman Marnie Malter said no such editing is planned.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010815/en/mtv_jackass_1.html
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