Miss USA Pageant Just a One-Time Event at Reelz?

By Ma. Elena| Aug 11, 2015

Reelz CEO Stan E. Hubbard has no regrets over his decision to take over the airing of Donald Trump's Miss USA pageant in July.

"As many of you know, Reelz has been in the news lately for saving the Miss USA pageant, and we're darn proud of that," Hubbard said at the Television Critics Association summer press tour on Sunday, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter.

Reelz took over the beauty pageant's broadcast after NBC and Univision dropped out in light of the Republican presidential candidate's offensive remarks against Mexican immigrants, which he labeled as rapist, criminals, and drug dealers. Hubbard said in the past that Trump's statement "should not be construed as anything political," CNN reported.

Hubbard insisted that he was also offended by Trump's comments, calling it "ridiculous" and "terrible," but the ladies competing in the pageant should not be punished for the business magnate's statements, The Hollywood Reporter added.

He continued, "We were very happy to stand with the women of the Miss USA pageant."

However, Hubbard said that airing Trump's Miss Universe pageants was probably a one-time matter.

"They belong on a broadcast network," the CEO explained, as quoted by Fox News Latino. "I do believe that there probably has to be an ownership change in the organization. For my two cents I don't see Trump going away easily for NBC. I don't know how it's going to play out. I don't have a dog in the fight. Our agreement for the organization and the pageant was for one event."

Reelz's Miss USA airing was the pageant's smallest audience on record, Deadline reported. However, the presentation gained headlines for the network, which is currently watched in about 60% of American households with one or more TVs.

At the TCA panel, Hubbard also mentioned Reelz's past moves of salvaging controversial broadcasts. In 2011, the network aired the mini-series "The Kennedys" after History dropped the project. Criticisms said that the TV show was filled with "inaccuracies and deliberately unflattering portrayals," Deadline wrote.

Reelz, however, draws the line when it comes to "The Cosby Show."

"If we picked up 'The Cosby Show,' to me it would feel like a direct relationship and supporting (Bill Cosby). From everything I know and read, that's not something I'm going to be supportive of," Hubbard said, as quoted by Fox News Latino.

The exec added that their unofficial family mantra is, "Always do the right thing," and picking up "The Cosby Show" is the opposite of that, The Hollywood Reporter noted. TV Land and African-American targeted Bounce TV took out reruns of the program following allegations from women who claim that the comedian drugged and raped them.

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