ABC has dropped their option to air the Miss America contest, dealing a severe blow to the pageant's pocketbook and prestige. Barring some major renovation that brings in Johnny Carson to host and has the contestants compete nude, I can't imagine any of the other networks picking up this brontosaurus. The pageant operators will probably put together a syndication arrangement whereby companies that participate in Miss America promotions sponsor the event, and that could allow the hoary institution to continue for quite some time without going topless.
Still, I think it says something nice about our national sensibility that the public has rejected this silly event with its shallow values and blatant commercialization. True, the Tony Awards get low ratings but they have a prestige that the beauty contest lacks. Does any little girl these days dream of growing up to be Miss America? A few boys, maybe…but no girls.