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CNN Live Today

A Hit Show Takes a Hit

Aired August 23, 2002 - 12:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A hit show takes a hit. New York radio station WNEW, telling Opie and Anthony to take a hike.
James Ford of CNN affiliate WNYW has more on the salacious stunt that got the shock jock sacked and the Opie and Anthony show canceled.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMES FORD, WNYW REPORTER: Brian Florence and Loretta Harper had tried to avoid publicity today, but their quest for publicity is what brought them to court in the first place. Their charged with public lewdness for allegedly having sex in the St. Patrick's Cathedral as a stunt for the Opie and Anthony radio show. They had nothing to say before the judge, so when they tried to sneak out of court, we were there asking questions.

What do you have to say to parishioners and worshipers who are offended by what happened?

Nothing from them, but big changes at the show that got them arrested. The general manager and program director at the Opie and Anthony show station, WNEW, are suspended. The two radio shock jocks are off the air. Their producer, Paul Mercurio (ph), is also charged with public lewdness.

Do you have anything you want to say?

Meanwhile, the couple that allegedly had sex in the cathedral must return to court in October. Their attorney asked that they not have to come here from their homes in Virginia.

The judge ended up siding with prosecutors saying, if a couple could come from Virginia to New York to allegedly do a crime, they can come back to account for it.

Reporting from lower Manhattan, James Ford, Fox 5 News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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