Knoxville turns tail on MTVs Jackass

New episodes still in discussion, cabler sez

If it’s up to Johnny Knoxville, he won’t be MTV’s “Jackass” any longer.

Knoxville, whose real name is Philip John Clapp, recently told his hometown paper, the Knoxville News-Sentinel, that he’s calling it quits to focus on his burgeoning movie career.

“We told MTV we would do specials down the road,” Knoxville told the Knoxville News-Sentinel. “But this is enough. We have done enough.”

According to MTV, however, the net is still in discussions about new episodes of “Jackass.”

The music cabler is, no doubt, reluctant to bid adieu to Knoxville, who could be using the press to negotiate his next contract. Knoxville, who co-created “Jackass” with Jeff Tremaine and Spike Jonze, will play a two-headed alien in next summer’s “Men in Black 2.”

Last year, after a boy suffered burns when he tried to copy a stunt on the show, Sen. Joseph Lieberman called for “Jackass” to be reformed or taken off the air.

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Regardless of the controversy it sparked, “Jackass” has earned MTV big ratings. For the week ended Aug. 12, the show was MTV’s highest rated and tied for eighth-highest rated on basic cable.

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