Wherever Bono is today (Preparing to tout his fight against AIDS and third-world debt on Wednesday’s Nightline? Getting started on the new U2 album? Polishing up a tune for that Spider-Man musical?), I bet he’s smiling. I certainly know I’m wearing a broad grin after reading this morning that a federal appeals panel has struck down the Federal Communications Commission’s policy of punishing television networks when they broadcast "fleeting expletives" — a policy which began after NBC showed Bono (pictured) using the phrase "f—ing brilliant" onstage at the 2003 Golden Globes. (NBC wasn’t fined for that incident, since it predated the new rule, but laws passed two years ago by Congress meant that the commission could smack networks with a massive $325,000 penalty for each use of an "indecent" word.) The judges found that the FCC had "fail[ed] to provide a reasoned analysis justifying" this harsh new stance, adding that they "question whether the FCC’s indecency test can survive First Amendment scrutiny." For me, at least, this amounts to stating the staggeringly obvious; the FCC’s constitutional authority to censor artists’ expression based on its own arbitrary notions of "decency" is highly dubious at best.
But this is also great news from the perspective of a pop-culture enthusiast, whatever your politics. Live awards-show broadcasts like the one that got Bono in trouble are boring enough as it is; the last thing we need is a capricious federal agency standing guard against split-second bursts of impolite language. Truth is, people who are mortally afraid of hearing what the FCC maturely referred to as "the F-word" should probably avoid watching live TV altogether. After all, there’s always the chance that someone might say something untoward or uncomfortable, even with punitive fines in place — hey, even if they don’t use taboo words. For the rest of us, that risk adds to the thrill of watching a live broadcast. Have you ever heard someone complain because an awards show had too many surprises?
The FCC did everything it could to restrict scripted shows, too,citing the occasional vulgarities uttered by Dennis Franz’ character onNYPD Blue — which, as fans will recall, were a significant partof the show’s widely praised sense of uncompromising realism. Everwonder why the networks have so often lagged in the race to createshows that are as nuanced and compelling, as moving and as hilarious,as the ones on HBO? One reason is surely that cable stations are beyondthe FCC’s reach. It’s just about impossible to imagine David Chase orDarren Star creating the The Sopranos and Sex and the Citywith a crew of censors hovering over their shoulders. (Actually, wedon’t have to imagine, now that both shows are being syndicated in thevoluntarily profanity-free environments of A&E and TBS. Thosebowdlerized versions are watchable, sure, but I dare you to find a fanwho thinks they’re half as good as the originals.)
Something tells me the FCC commissioners aren’t big Sopranoswatchers, though. The commission’s chairman, Kevin J. Martin, bemoanedyesterday’s ruling in the New York Times: "He said that if the agencywas unable to prohibit some vulgarities during prime time, ‘Hollywoodwill be able to say anything they want, whenever they want.’" Ohgoodness, no! Martin apparently meant to convey a vision of somenightmarish dystopia. To me, it sounds more like a TV viewer’sparadise. Too much of today’s pop culture is overrun by stale,focus-grouped cliches. If the industry’s creative minds go out on a fewmore limbs, follow their wildest impulses once in a while — and, yes,use a dirty word or two — we’ll all get to enjoy an infinitely moreexciting slate of new shows this fall.
So, PopWatchers, what’s your take on the new ruling? Have you everbeen offended by a "fleeting expletive" on one of the networks? Do Ideserve to be fined hundreds of thousands of dollars for my horrifying,indecent view of the FCC?
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I’m all for telling the FCC to back off, because too many networks are so scared of “decency standards” that they neuter basic plotlines out of some mystical fear.
On the other hand, I dare Hollywood to think of ALL the fans and turn out compelling, interesting, funny, dramatic television…without cussing. I’m not saying all, but keep in mind that viewers are diverse and give something to everyone.
(And which means that networks like FOX and The CW need to be more aware of who their audiences are and for god’s sake cancel some of those stupid shows that don’t have ratings or any kind of taste. “The War At Home” doesn’t deserve to be on air. “Married With Children” was a hundred times better. Crass can be good.)
“I dream of a world with swear words on network tv. I dream of a world that doesn’t stop just because a school bus did.” heheheeheh
Seriously, though, “decency” is not owned by one group of people or perspective. The FCC needs to back off.
I would love if network and basic cable could take more risks for the sake of creativity. Unfortunately, right wing watch groups are very organized and even more aggressive in keeping things “family freindly.”
I hate to be the young, childless guy who blames parents for everything, but here I go!: The rest of us have to incur the wrath of the tyrannical Gestapo known as the FCC because television is being used as a free babysitter by the majority of parents who are too busy doing yogalates and using up their free weekend cell phone minutes in the other room to actually glance over and check out what their children are watching. Then, when an “F-word” slips through, we all have to listen to them whine about how television is smut and is corrupting their children. I’m not saying raising children is easy. I’m just saying when I was a child in the early ’90s (when there certainly was some violence and sex on TV), somehow my mother was able to ensure that I (and my 3 siblings) didn’t see anything besides Sesame Street until we were old enough. I think what she was doing was called “parenting her own children” but I’m pretty sure that phrase is considered obsolete now.
Sticks and stones can break my bones, and the FCC finds that type of violence acceptable to air. Heaven forbid a child were to hear a naughty word though. Its about time someone checked them. Is “self righteous hypocrite” a swear word?
Ah this makes me think of the Family Guy where they started to censor real life. So true Peter:
“Peter Griffin [on the FCC's censorship]: What the hell? They let Sarah Jessica Parker’s face on TV, and she looks like a foot! “
Bravo, RayT. You have hit the nail right on the head. That is the root of a lot of these problems. That and puritanical FCC commissoners who apparently think that the only thing that ought to be on TV is Touched by an Angel and Little House on the Prairie reruns. (Oh, and what is up with the whole “violence is fine, but God forbid we should hear a swear word (or the Lord’s name taken in vain) on TV” mentality? Did we get transported back to 1950 all of a sudden?)
How much of our tax dollars were wasted on this?
Not only do right-wing fascists not censor violence, but they cite it during their presidential debates (calling “Jack Bauer” to deal with terrorists) which shows a startling disconect to reality.
But when a woman shows her boob for a split second, all hell breaks loose. Someone needs to hurl uncensored expletives at the FCC until they’re totally desensitized to it.
Amen to you, Simon (and RayT, always a good word).
Guess what, EW readers are liberal, how knew???!!
I agree, RayT. I was the only kid in high school who wasn’t allowed to watch 90210 or Melrose Place, but my mom did what she thought was right. And now, as an adult, I watch the reruns on SoapNet.
And really, this isn’t the first time Bono has used the F-word on network television. He waxed poetic on U2’s ability to continue to “f-up the mainstream” on the Grammys broadcast in 1994.
If the FCC wants to continue to dole out fines for indecent language on network television, they need to be collecting from the offender himself, not the hosting network.
Awww, Hambone, I like little house on the prairie. But I also agree that the FCC commissioners should stop consulting their guide to fascism handbook quite so often.
This was great news in what has generally looked like the FCC getting more and more power to abuse. I’d love it if every channel had the freedom of HBO, and that applies to sex and violence (for everyone talking about how violence is OK but sex is frowned upon, time for a new meme… the FCC was talking about censoring that as well, and censoring violence is going to dull down TV as much as censoring dirty words, nudity and sex).
I’m a huge fan of The Shield and Sopranos and yet a father of two. You know why I don’t worry about profanity on TV? It’s because I actually take the five minutes out of my day to know what my daughter is watching. If Disney changes the name to “Johnny and the M-F’ing Sprites” or “Little G-dd-mn Einsteins” then yeah, maybe I’d be a little worried, but this whole “everything’s got to be for the children” is as insulting to us thinking parents as it is to the single, childless folks.
I don’t see how this will affect the network shows, just the unscripted ones. A scripted show can’t prove it was “a fleeting expletive” ie. done in the heat of the moment or improvised. Scripted shows are just that, scripted and planned ahead of time. While the Oscars might get more interesting- Jack Nicolson?- network shows will remain bland as ever.
I haven’t been offended by fleeting expletives, but I’ve been damn(!) offended by the FCC’s neutering of TV.
As for ‘Hollywood will be able to say anything they want, whenever they want’ – I believe it’s called Freedom of Speech. Y’know… the First Amendment? I agree that people in the public eye (and the rest of us) should use that right with dignity and respect for the audience, but please, don’t treat me like a toddler.
Right on, RayT! I agree wholeheartedly. I love when people complain that their children are exposed to bad language and sex on TV but they are on shows shown at 10 at night. Why are your kids up that late? People need to stop using TV as a babysitter one minute and a scapegoat the next.
Despite the FCC rulings, there were plenty of shows that used naughty language and that pushed the envelope of what was okay on tv. The Boondock’s frequent use of the N word and the Shield’s constant use of that word for excreement were fine by me. And “ass”, which was not present in tv 25 years ago is now said several times during many half hour shows.
Feh, the FCC can complain all they want, but blaming networks for their attempts to compete with pay cable channels is bunk. The FCC should make it so that v chips are not just mandatory, but easy enough to use that parents will actually use them. Kids can’t get into R Rated movies, but we don’t bar hollywood from making them. Instead we keep kids out at the box office.
The FCC finest(?) hour was when ABC was planning a showing of Saving Private Ryan. The Fcc didn’t say they couldn’t show the film uncut, but would fine heavily, if enough people complained. Hopefully, Michael Powell is a greater at Wal-mart.
greeter at Wal-Mart. Damn my typing!
What TV needs — period — is better writing, regardless of whether that includes profanity. I’m sure “Deadwood” would make the FCC staffers reach for their Victorian smelling salts, but there wasn’t a better written show on TV during its last season.
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Here’s the deal – freedom of speech is allowed, but there are also considerations in that right. For example, if your freedom of speech is offensive to another person, i.e. making fraudulent statements, then you cannot speak without suffering the consequences. So it is with using profane language on public media – there are individuals that find it offensive and therefore having some censorship in place is beneficial for all concerned. I personally don’t use expletives and find that I can communicate without any trouble and people understand my mood, emotions and perspective without the bad language. Why does television or music have to include rude and profane language to make it seem more real – if that is the consensus, that just shows me how ignorant our culture has become.