MTV's crass, anything-goes reality show has been targeted by former Vice Presidential contender and frequent Hollywood basher Senator Joseph Lieberman, after a kid in his home state of Connecticut was hospitalized in critical condition after copying a stunt that aired on Jackass Friday.

Jason Lind, 13, suffered second- and third-degree burns after two friends poured gasoline on his legs and feet and then set them on fire following the show. He's listed in critical but stable condition in the burn unit of Boston's Shriner's Hospital.

The boy was imitating a stunt by Jackass host Johnny Knoxville, in which the masochistic show creator put on a fire-resistant suit covered with steaks and stretched over a giant grill for a human BBQ.

When recreating the bit, Lind didn't don the flame-resistant suit.

Now Lieberman says MTV should cancel, tone down or reschedule Jackass to keep kids from watching.

"It is irresponsible for MTV to air these kinds of stunts on a program clearly popular with young teens, to air it at a time when many of them are likely to be watching and to do so without adequate warnings," Lieberman said in a statement.

"I recognize the program is rated for adults and comes with general disclaimers," the senator continued. "But there are some things that are so potentially dangerous and inciting, particularly to vulnerable children, that they simply should not be put on TV."

In a counter-statement, MTV said: "It is made extremely clear through the show, through the use of written and verbal warnings, that none of the stunts featured should be tried at home." MTV also announces on Jackass that it won't accept stunt videos from home viewers.

The show, which is rated TV-MA (for mature audiences only) and airs at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Fridays and 9 p.m. Sundays, usually carries the following disclaimer: "The following show features stunts performed by professionals and/or total idiots under very strict control and supervision. MTV and the producers insist that neither you or anyone else attempt to recreate or perform anything you have seen on this show.

"Our thoughts are with the young man and his family, and we wish him a full and speedy recovery," the cable network added.

This is the second time in the past decade that MTV has been implicated in a fire-related copycat incident triggered by one of its shows. In 1993, a five-year-old Ohio boy decided to torch his mom's trailer home, purportedly after seeing an episode of Beavis and Butt-head.

Police, meanwhile, have charged one of Lind's friends with reckless endangerment. (Because the boy is a minor, his name has not been disclosed.)

When called for comment, Lind family attorney Mike Magistrali said, "Right now, the thing on my clients' minds is the health of their son."

Lind's father, who reportedly has not ruled out a lawsuit against the Viacom-owned music channel, is the one who alerted Lieberman.

The senator took MTV to task Monday. "MTV is an enormously influential force in the world our children inhabit, and with that power and the right to exercise it comes a certain level of responsibility," he said. "I intend to make clear to the network's owners that we expect more from them."

Lieberman, an ardent critic of Hollywood, will be introducing legislation that will give the Federal Trade Commission the authority to hold companies that market adult entertainment products to children responsible.

The FTC released a report last fall that found the entertainment industry routinely markets adult fare, including graphic violence and sex, to kids. In response the industry released a dozen guidelines designed to curb the practice, but Lieberman says it's not enough and is pressing for the new laws on media violence.