Unaired Ad Gets Dixie Chicks Flick A Whole Lot of Ink

"It is disappointing and troubling that NBC and The CW would refuse to accept an otherwise appropriate ad merely because it is critical of President Bush," Boies said in the news release.

"Political criticism is at the heart of the First Amendment. The legal issues are complicated; the policy is not. The public deserves to hear more than the official point of view."

All good stuff. But the Weinstein Co. probably should not have thrown in at the end of the release that it is "exploring taking legal action." Way too Snidely Whiplash.

In case you haven't yet seen it, the 15-second version of the ad opens with President Bush saying in a televised speech, "The United States is ridding Iraq of weapons of mass destruction."

Then the words "Lies Exposed" appear on a black screen.

Cut to: Natalie Maines saying she's embarrassed about Bush, to thunderous applause.

Cut to: Clip of some local news chick saying to camera, "The radio station has set up these garbage cans for people to throw out their CDs."

Cut to: Much hooting and hollering at anti-Dixie Chicks protest, with crowd shouting "U.S.A.! U.S.A.! and waving signs suggesting the singers should be tried for treason. "Move to France, Dixie Chicks!" one guy suggests helpfully.

Cut to: The words "Conspiracy Uncovered" on a black screen.

Cut to: The lead singer reading a message that says "Natalie Maines will be shot dead in Dallas, Texas."

Cut to: News conference with someone official-sounding saying, "The FBI had some intelligence, but they didn't share it." (Which in and of itself is actually a very funny line.)

Cut to: Bush saying, presumably to reporters, while walking, "They shouldn't have their feelings hurt because some people don't want to buy their record."