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FCC Allows the F* word, rumor or truth? (1 Viewer)

Christ Reynolds

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I asked a question about the "shit" episode of South Park on this very forum and was told that the FCC doesn't regulate Comedy Central because it's a cable channel. I guess the channel can technically say what it wants
so why was it such a big deal? i remember hearing about that episode and the new years eve thing, all the hype surrounding it. guess it was just to drum up some publicity. cc made it sound like they were giving the fcc the finger but didnt care. unless...the cc in fcc actually stands for comedy central? nah.

CJ
 

Joseph DeMartino

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so why was it such a big deal?
Because most basic cable channels voluntarily adhere to the same rules and conventions as the broadcast networks. Basic channels are just that, the ones you automatically get with your cable/satellite subscription, so they are analogous to over-the-air signals insofar as they are not indvidually and deliberately chosen. (As premium services such as HBO and Showtime are.) Even most of the premium services draw the line at hardcore porn, although the rules would presumably allow it.

Less about what does and does not appear in American television programming (as opposed to American television commercials) is a matter of law than people think. Mostly it is based on informal in-house "rules", and a perception of the audience's tastes and limits. The reason we don't have nudity in broadcast prime time TV or basic cable isn't Big Government sitting on the broadcasters, it is the fact that most Americans would prefer not to have that kind of thing dumped into their homes. Our (collective) attitudes are different than European attitudes - and no necessarily inferior. It comes down to a matter of taste and aesthetics. Sometimes less really is more.

Regards,

Joe
 

Chris

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It's a big deal because, while cable channels are not regulated by it - and many have allowed it within the sake of interviews, etc. (see: CNN in interviews with dignitaries who've dropped a few language bombs ;) It's generally been considered "bad taste" and wards away advertisers. Thus, it was a big deal.

In the case of the F-word, yes, the way the decree words it, you could use it ala Bend It Like Beckham british style "that's fucking brilliant" etc., but not in the manner as pointed out above "I f**ked both of them, twice" as a punch line (line stolen from Eddie Murphy).

The issue, however, is not that it will "warp our wee little minds" the issue is that due to it being public broadcast, many view it as too easily reachable for smaller children, etc. etc. and so the FCC and others have always enforced those guidelines.. to quote Hillary Clinton, it's somewhat "It takes a village" :)

Now, as far as that goes, I find it all pointless, and in the era of everything mic'd, if you really wanted to hear a stream of profanity, you can watch any NFL football game on FOX/ABC/CBS where you can always hear the mic'd player and coach yell things like "that f*" and "you f*" and "what the f" or "did you see the F*ing ball?" or "why won't you watch the f*'ing replay!" and, of course, the obvious in case you're watching a Tampa Bay game: "can someone go punch f*'ing Keyshawn?"
 

Edwin-S

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Well, I know in Canada "The Osbournes" is played sans beeping. The network that broadcasts the show is a freely available national network. For the most part, foul language is no longer censored out of shows broadcast in Canada.

I've seen shows with quite a bit of nudity being played during primetime hours as well.
 

Joseph DeMartino

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The other thing that makes non-premium cable channels cautious, regardless of the technical rules, is that they're advertiser-supported and ratings-driven. If they put something on that offends more people than it attracts then they lose ratings points, and therefore advertising dollars and pretty soon they don't have a network. That's without even considering things like boycotts (either of shows or advertisers) or sponsors pulling out on their own if they don't like a show. It simply isn't worth the potential hassle to Kraft Foods or the Ford Motor Company to have its products associated with a show that a lot of consumers find offensive. Subscription paid channels like HBO and Showtime had a lot more leeway.

Regards,

Joe
 

Ted Lee

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my friend told me he heard a commercial-spoof on the radio (howard stern?).

"when you think couches, think sofa king. our prices aren't just low, they're sofa king low!"

there's no way, anytime in the near future, the fcc is gonna let us start using the f word. heck, we just barely got bitch out of the way. my vote for the next word?

shit!
 

Craig S

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The "shit" barrier has already been broken at least twice on broadcast TV. Mark Harmon was the first, on an episode of "Chicago Hope" in its last season. This one got a lot of advance publicity. The other (that I'm aware of) was Anthony Edwards during his final episode of "ER" last spring. I don't recall hearing a peep of publicity about the "ER" utterance.
 

Seth--L

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Added cursing would only reduce viewership, like my grandparents who get upset when I refer to certain people as "that mother fucking asshole."
 

Sebastian

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I hope not, I would have to stop watching TV. I get very offended when people use the F word. I only read about two replies to this thread because of the use of the F word in their response.
 

Joseph DeMartino

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Added cursing would only reduce viewership, like my grandparents who get upset when I refer to certain people as "that mother fucking asshole."
Well, naturally your grandfather gets upset when you refer to your grandmother that way. What do you expect? :)

Oddly "bullshit" seems to be more widely accepted than just plain "shit" on broadcast television these days. I've heard it used on NYPD Blue. And, of course, the formerly banned "ass" just crossed line a couple of years ago, seemingly unnoticed. It was like I suddenly became aware that I was hearing it all over the place and thought, "didn't that used to be a no-no on TV?" But it had happened so subtly I couldn't tell you when or where I first heard it.

Regards,

Joe
 

Tyler Beridge

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Do both Scrubs and NYPD Blue (I never watched nor cared watching TV comedies and police dramas) aired in the 9-10 p.m. time slots?
 

Joseph DeMartino

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NYPD Blue has always aired at 10 PM. I don't know about Scrubs.

No cop shows or sitcoms, eh? Poor fool. You've missed some of the very best storytelling in the history of television because you dismiss entire genres based on their worst examples. I've never understood that kind of thinking. Oh well, your loss.

Regards,

Joe
 

Andrew 'Ange Hamm' Hamm

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That's B.S. I can remember hearing Who songs with the F bomb on the radio in the 70s and 80s (and even now on classirc rock stations), the ban on certain words is just not enforced much.
True, Phil, but it's a famous Daltrey anecdote that he had to go into the studio just to record the line "Ahh, who the hell are you" for American radio as well. Shortest session he'd ever done.

As for the shit barrier, that was broken back in the early 80s with a network broadcast of On Golden Pond. The word "bullshit" features rather prominently in that film.

"You like that word, don't you?"

"Yeah."

"It's a good word."
 

Glenn Overholt

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Scrubs is on at 9:30 tonight, but I think it followed Friends last year, so that would have put it at 8:30.

Yes, the kids are all supposed to be in bed by nine, but in the Central Time Zone they all get an extra free hour to watch, so they can see Scrubs.

As if they haven't heard the words already. I'm beginning to wonder why they are still 'bad' words. What makes them bad? Why should the morality police restrict our freedom of speech?

For those of you that asked, my soapbox just fell apart, and I hurt my ankle.....

Anyway, most TV shows already list what to expect with their ratings. Why can't they just add a letter for offensive or dirty?

Glenn
 

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