Watchdog Group Takes Aim At TV Network Over 90210 Scene 9/8/08

Officials at a leading U.S. family group are calling for advertisers to boycott TV network the CW over a controversial scene in the new Beverly Hills, 90210 spin-off 90210.

Just 10 minutes into the new series, which debuted in America last week (02Sep08), lead actor Dustin Milligan appeared to be receiving fellatio from a girlfriend in his truck - and the scene has upset the Parents Television Council.

In a statement, PTC president Tim Winter writes, "The CW Network has openly, wantonly and eagerly violated every business tenet of the broadcast industry.

"They shocked viewers during the family hour by depicting high school children engaged in oral sex in their car. It's such a sucker punch to viewers and a lot of families. No one tuned in to 90210 thinking, 'Hey, maybe I will get to see (oral sex).'"

Network bosses are fighting back, insisting the controversial scene was screened for advertisers before the show aired - and no one took issue with what they saw.

A CW statement reads, "For the record, 90210 was screened in advance of broadcast through the customary advertiser screening service."

This is the latest in a string of disputes between the CW and the PTC - the watchdog group has been very critical of the network's racy Gossip Girls series. One critique, calling the show "mind-blowingly inappropriate", has been used to publicize the project.