Image Credit: Ron P. Jaffe/CBSThe Parents Television Council is once again campaigning against CBS’ new show $#*! My Dad Says, and this time they’re convinced that the sitcom, starring William Shatner, is about poop. This morning, the PTC issued a stern warning letter to 300 advertisers, urging them that buying time during the sitcom would make them “complicit in the effort to serve up excrement in front of children and families.”
When asked to comment, Max Mutchnick, co-creator and executive producer of $#*! My Dad Says, assured EW there is no title change planned. “As a parent, it is my opinion that the Parents Television Council has much more important s–t to focus on than the title of a sitcom called ‘BLEEP My Dad Says,’” said Mutchnick. Well, s–t.
Previously: Parents Television Council object to CBS’ ‘$#*! My Dad Says’
Annie on Twitter: @EWAnnieBarrett
I can’t wait to see this show! I am SO onboard!
Don’t have high hopes for this. Why would they base a sitcom on a book that really isn’t all that funny??
Not usually a good sign when the title is the most noteworthy thing about a TV show/movie.
CBS should (and will) milk the publicity before the show actually airs and it inevitably turns out that there’s nothing to fuss over.
Of course there’s nothing to fuss over. The PTC only fusses about things there’s nothing to fuss over. I think it’s anti-genius that they tend to drive publicity for all the things they strive to condemn. Classic “you-are/love-the-thing-you-publicly-hate.” These people have a hard-on for profanity. They LOVE hearing it and complaining. It gets them off.
Except that it’s not the title that’s the most noteworthy thing about this show. It’s Shatner, in a sitcom, playing a character based on a popular twitter feed. This thing is going to be the next “Two and a Half Men” in terms of popularity; the only thing that will sink it is if Shatner dies.
In theory, you’re right…Shatner SHOULD be the draw here because he’s obviously a TV legend.
However, when people talk/write about this show, are they REALLY talking about Shatner, or are they talking about the titl? (Do we say “s-it”? Do we say “bleep”, Do we say “crap”? Is CBS going to cave in and change it?)
I would argue people are talking about the title.
Please, we aren’t going to see 13 episodes of this show before it’s cancelled, I heard nothing but bad things about it. (and not because of the title, because it’s unfunny)
Stacy: Seriously, what have you heard? I’ve been combing movie and TV news and haven’t heard anything about the show. So what have you heard and where did you hear it?
Yeah because a sitcom based on a Twitter feed is soooo cutting edge. It will not be the next Two and a Half Men IMO, more like the next Cop Rock.
I still think they should call it Shat My Dad Says.
EXACTLY!!!! Why else have the Shat star? Other than the obvious fact that he is way cool.
I think they should call it S*** My Dad Poops. Hi De Ho!
Brilliant!
The concept of curse words is utterly absurd. It’s the intent behind what you say, not the random sounds themselves, that are offensive. Particularly since curse words always have less-offensive synonyms…it just doesn’t make sense. I plan to teach my future kids that they can use whatever language they want in my house, so long as they are still reasonably controlling any emotional outbursts (nothing wrong with a harmless and laughing “aw f*ck” when you mess up in a video game, for instance). I’ll respect that other people find it offensive and won’t cuss outside the home/around strangers, but I’ll never understand it, with the exception of racial slurs. My problem with “Shit My Dad Says” is that it’s a hilarious Twitter thing, but I’m concerned that the whole idea will be ruined in a sitcom format, particularly one starring Shatner. I love Shatner, but I see him playing this as affably grumpy rather than hilariously and unapologetically d*ckish. But I’ll reserve judgment till I see it – hopefully it won’t suck as much as I think it might.
You are far to intelligent and thought out to be posting here.
Not to me. So because this person doesn’t “understand” why curse words are a big deal and sees no big deal with her kids dropping a good natured F bomb. Sounds like you and, by extension, those kids you are raising are fairly stupid. I curse sometimes but to not recognize that cursing just shows your own ignorance that you cannot find another way to express yourself intelligently. But you have a problem with racial slurs. Why, what’s the difference. If curses are just words why are slurs given more power then when they are also just words? Also, Twitter is for idiots with short attention spans.
This can not possibly translate well to network TV. The best thing about the twitter feed is that it is crude and uses profanity.
Sara: the last word in EVERYTHING.
Oh, so remarkably untrue. The best thing about the twitter feed is that it’s such an insightful and blunt commentary by the common sense generation on the current idiot generation.
Right on.
The PTC is far more offensive than the word “Sh@t”.
The PTC can go frak themselves. I am so sick and tired of these uptight parental buttholes determining what is acceptable for me and their children. Turn off your fecking TV and be a PARENT. Guess what? when I was a kid my Dad just turned off the TV. I know, novel idea, being a parent to your child and making those decisions. HE was a genius obviously and thought of that all on his own. God those people are morons who spend more time concerned about what is on MY TV then how to actually be a parent to their child and control what comes into their homes by turning OFF their TV. //rant
Who says they’re determining what is acceptable for you and your children? Do you let them make decisions for you? If so, that’s your problem not theirs. Parents and citizens have a right to speak out publicly about what concerns them. They are no different than a feminist group, and environmental group, the NAACP, the AFL-CIO, or any of a thousand other groups who organize to present a viewpoint. If you disagree with them, ignore them or join an opposing group.
Joblo, I think it’s the fact that they are actually trying to stop/prevent networks from airing these shows. Which of course, is censorship, which also translates into this group trying to ‘determine what is acceptable’ for other people. Also, reread the article: They actually think this show is going to be all about pooping. I mean, they seriously think that.
Excuse me joblo but you can’t compare organizations that defend the rights of groups of people and organizations who’re just trying to censor things they don’t want to see when no-one forces them to.
These are the people who have no problem with somebody blowing somebody elses brains out in a prime-time aired movie but a few curse words out of the mouth of a crotchety old man are SO horrid.
So our TV brain drained folks are ok with protesting a show that has #$@ in the title because it implies that “SH*T”. These are the same people that sooo love shows like Desperate Housewives, 90210, and Gossip Girls that show a more than a little “Sh*t”. They actually will do more and say more that will affect those easily offended. How about spending equal time on shows that actually are full of “Sh*t”
The PTC is pretty strongly against Gossip Girl, as I recall.
True. They were so annoying with the all threesome storyline. Which turned out to be much ado about nothing like everytime their spokesperson opens his mouth.
Anything William Shatner is on, I won’t watch
Anything Shatner is on, I WILL watch. He’s hilarious. Boston Legal was one of my favorite shows.
He was a pathetic caricature on Boston Legal.
I agree with Lizzie. If you don’t think it’s appropriate for your kids/family then either watch something else or turn off the tv and-here’s a novel idea spend some non-tv time with your family! One last thought to ponder- “Those who deny freedom of speech for others deserve it not for themselves.” Abraham Lincoln
Freedom of speech is not comparable to movie / television language standards. You can say it in the real world but is it right for TV? Not in my opinion but I think I’m in the minority here. It’s certainly not a free speech issue calling for a Lincoln quote.
HA! What a load of BS – all of your comments have been ridiculous. How much do you make over there at PTC, BlackIrish4094?
I am so confused?? How can Shatner play the dad of Malia and Sasha?? Seems too far fetched.
I bought that book “S*ht my Dad says” and it is a very funny book! So I hope they don’t ruin it with “the Price-line negotiator” Shatner. I am hoping his acting skills have improved over the years.
its shatner, his acting skills are as good as they will ever be.
Check out a movie he did in 1962 called THE INTRUDER. Shatner gives an excellent performance.
Shatner is a much better actor than he generally gets credit for, in part because of things like the Priceline ads and his efforts as a recording artist and in part because of all the really bad Captain Kirk imitations other people have done over the years. The man is a classically trained stage actor with some damn fine roles on his resume. What a lot of people who criticize him for the Priceline ads and certain other things he’s done in recent years fail to realize is that he is simply poking fun at himself.
Actually, every time I hear someone make fun of Shatner as an actor they’re mainly imitating his appearance on Twilight Zone.
Which says more about the imitators than it does Shatner, since the episode you refer to is generally considered to be not only one of the best episodes of that series but one of the classic TV half-hours of all time by anyone who knows anything about the history of the medium.
I think it has more to do with parody than anything. I think it started as parodies of people who enjoyed the show, and people nowadays took it the wrong way. Shatner had a unique way of delivering lines at the time, which had more to do with his stage background. People who don’t watch old movies or TV shows don’t understand the difference in how people acted in TV and movies back then to how they do now. There used to be a closer association between stage and screen acting than there is now that a lot of the younger audience now doesn’t quite understand. Of course, Shatner has also let his eccentricities define who he is in the public eye moreso than his acting as of late.
Shatner’s CD “Has Been” was one of the best releases the year it came out. Yes his “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” in the 60′s was laughably bad but he’s learned a lot since then.
I read some of the book. Could be funny but a one trick pony.
And in the end, the show will suck and all will be forgotten.
The voice of reason…
The PTC is nothing but a bunch of right-wing, religious whack jobs looking to get their sanctimonious mitts on the nation’s morality. It’s not the first time this has happened, and it certainly won’t be the last.
Amen
Shut up James, we can’t have you spittin’ truth all over this post.