# Spike Lee thinks a wee bit too much of his fame **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 4, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-lee-thinks-a-wee-bit-too-much-of-his-fame/179629 "2003-06-04T16:24:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-lee-thinks-a-wee-bit-too-much-of-his-fame/179629/1 "2003-06-04T16:24:36Z")
Otherwise, how to explain [this lawsuit.](http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/06/04/spikelee.spiketv.ap/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-lee-thinks-a-wee-bit-too-much-of-his-fame/179629/2 "2003-06-04T16:46:13Z")
I disagree, Mullinator. Much like Bradley and Norton, I would have assumed Spike Lee was involved with the network when I heard the name. Either him or the dog from _Tom & Jerry_. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-lee-thinks-a-wee-bit-too-much-of-his-fame/179629/3 "2003-06-04T16:51:17Z")
First thing that comes to mind when I heard of Spike TV was a big old bulldog, much like the dog from Tom & Jerry as **JuanitaTech** mentioned. But I can see where Spike Lee is coming from. Although everytime I and people I know refer to him they refer to him as Spike Lee, not just Spike. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-lee-thinks-a-wee-bit-too-much-of-his-fame/179629/4 "2003-06-04T16:56:34Z")
My first thought was that they were going to start airing a lot of volleyball. Really. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-lee-thinks-a-wee-bit-too-much-of-his-fame/179629/5 "2003-06-04T17:04:45Z")
Beach volleyball? With chicks in bikinis? Mmmmm…volleyball. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-lee-thinks-a-wee-bit-too-much-of-his-fame/179629/6 "2003-06-04T17:05:03Z")
I think I know where he’s coming from, too. One might argue that Spike Lee is more famous than TNN anyway. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-lee-thinks-a-wee-bit-too-much-of-his-fame/179629/7 "2003-06-04T17:26:35Z")
I don’t get it. How is “Spike TV” supposed to attract more men to watch? When I lived in the LA area, we had to drive past this gay bar called “The Spike Bar” to get to Tommy’s. Is that the audience they are going for? And I don’t see much connection with Lee either. Whatever. I would have figured it was a vollyball channel, too. * * * Fagjunk Theology: Not just for sodomite propagandists anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-lee-thinks-a-wee-bit-too-much-of-his-fame/179629/8 "2003-06-04T17:34:33Z")
Spike Lee needs to get over himself. You can’t trademark the English language. He has a silly nickname that is a common word. Every instance of that word is not now some sort of violation of his rights. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-lee-thinks-a-wee-bit-too-much-of-his-fame/179629/9 "2003-06-04T17:39:46Z")
So when does he sue Buffy the Vampire Slayer? When does he sue Spike Jones? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-lee-thinks-a-wee-bit-too-much-of-his-fame/179629/10 "2003-06-04T17:41:45Z")
> [@](#): > > Every instance of that word is not now some sort of violation of his rights. This isn’t what he’s saying. The argument is that the name of the channel (in his opinion) misleadingly implies his endorsement of it, or involvement with it, and that Viacom should have asked his permission. There are plenty of people named Michael Jordan, but you need permission of the basketball player if you’re going to use his name in certain ways. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-lee-thinks-a-wee-bit-too-much-of-his-fame/179629/11 "2003-06-04T17:42:42Z")
I agree with **Turek**. It’s a word. It doesnt’ seem like the most logical name for a network (unless there _is_ a lot of volleyball shown) but it’s hardly an obvious connection to Spike Lee. What about Spike Jones, or Spike from _Buffy…_? Besides, as well known as Lee is, he hasn’t really very high profile lately, has he? Now, if the network logo resembled him somehow, that’d be different. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-lee-thinks-a-wee-bit-too-much-of-his-fame/179629/12 "2003-06-04T17:46:28Z")
> [@](#): > > What about Spike Jones, or Spike from Buffy…? Spike _Jonze_ seems to take his name from Spike Jones, the old radio host (who predates Spike Lee). In any case, it’s the name of a PERSON, not a TV network. Spike from _Buffy_ is a character on a TV program, and likewise wouldn’t have anything to do with the director. The issue isn’t “nobody is allowed to use the word Spike.” ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-lee-thinks-a-wee-bit-too-much-of-his-fame/179629/13 "2003-06-04T17:50:35Z")
Where can I go to sign an affadavit to swear that never, never, never, never, ever once did I make the association between Spike TV and Spike (Sheldon) Lee? ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-lee-thinks-a-wee-bit-too-much-of-his-fame/179629/14 "2003-06-04T18:27:38Z")
See, and when I saw the ads, I didn’t think of Spike Lee at all. I thought, “Wow, that’s a darned phallic name for a men’s TV station.” I wonder if Joss Whedon is also suing. Hey, I breathe oxygen- think I’ll sue the Oxygen network. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-lee-thinks-a-wee-bit-too-much-of-his-fame/179629/15 "2003-06-04T18:31:00Z")
Much like Microsoft does not own the copyright to Windows, Spike Lee does not own the copyright to Spike. A similar lawsuit happened a few years ago when Sting got pissed that someone other than had registered [sting.com](http://sting.com). It was thrown because sting is a regular word that cannot be copyrighted. The same will happen here. ---
**Author:** ![rmbnxs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9e5f3/32.png) [@rmbnxs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rmbnxs)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-lee-thinks-a-wee-bit-too-much-of-his-fame/179629/16 "2003-06-04T22:00:18Z")
More silliness from someone whose chief claim to fame has been splicing music-videos together and calling the result a “film.” His other claim to fame is having courtside seats at Knicks games. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-lee-thinks-a-wee-bit-too-much-of-his-fame/179629/17 "2003-06-04T22:20:02Z")
And don’t think [Elvis Costello](http://www.aceweekly.com/Backissues_ACEWeekly/010920/cds010920.html) is off the hook. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-lee-thinks-a-wee-bit-too-much-of-his-fame/179629/18 "2003-06-04T22:22:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FisherQueen \* > \*\*See, and when I saw the ads, I didn’t think of Spike Lee at all. I thought, “Wow, that’s a darned phallic name for a men’s TV station.” \*\* If only they’d named it dick TV. Then my dad (Richard) could sue. -Hey, my wife’s name is Sue. Can she sue Spike Lee for using the word “sue?” ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-lee-thinks-a-wee-bit-too-much-of-his-fame/179629/19 "2003-06-04T22:40:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Marley23 \* > \*\*This isn’t what he’s saying. The argument is that the name of the channel (in his opinion) misleadingly implies his endorsement of it, or involvement with it, and that Viacom should have asked his permission. There are plenty of people named Michael Jordan, but you need permission of the basketball player if you’re going to use his name in certain ways. \*\* Sorry, but just because Lee stupidly infers, does NOT mean that Viacom “misleadingly implies.” I’m not usually one to defend media conglomerates, and i’m a fan of some of Lee’s films, but this is stupid. If they had called it “Spike Lee TV” i could understand Lee’s concern, but a search for “Spike” on Google turns up about 2.8 million hits, and most of them–or at least most of those on the first few pages–appear to have nothing to do with Lee. Maybe he should also go after [Spike magazine](http://www.spikemagazine.com/index.php). ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-lee-thinks-a-wee-bit-too-much-of-his-fame/179629/20 "2003-06-04T22:59:59Z")
If you’ve been watching the promos on TNN for the last few months, the last thing that should come to mind is Lee. When I first saw them, I thought, “why not just call it Cock and get it over with”? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-lee-thinks-a-wee-bit-too-much-of-his-fame/179629.md?page=2)