Saying "Bullshit" On PrimeTV

[DrDel]

Did I miss something?

I was pretty shocked when I realized it was okay to say "ass" on TV a few years ago.

While I was watching my Tivo'd "The Closer" .. one of the detectives counter argued a murder MO by clearly saying "That's bullshit" on prime TV!

I rewound it to confirm what I thought I misheard.

What's next? Okaying "mother____er" on primeTV?

edit for spelling

[Guido Jones]

Is that somehow bad?

[Bill Dungsroman]

Welcome to 2 or 3 years ago. Certain non-f-based profanities are allowed after 10PM on network TV, in limited quantities (like once).

[mouselock]

Actually, more importantly since when are TnT, USA, etc.. "network TV"?

Don't we all remember the huge Comedy Centrall hype about cartman saying the 'S word' on Southpark a few years back? As it turns out, apparently this didn't cause the entire advertising universe to collapse. And since these are cable networks, they really only have to worry about the advertisers and community backlash.

(On the latter front, interestingly, in the last month I lost FX on the limited cable carry and it was replaced with CNBC. I can't figure out if this is cost-saving since limited cable is only like $12 and FX raised their price or if, as I suspect, it had more to do with shows like Nip/Tuck and The Shield upsetting community values here in Salt Lake City. I suspect the latter, seeing as the local NBC affiliate doesn't even show SNL here -- it runs on the local WB/CW affiliate instead, oddly.)

[Bill Dungsroman]

Actually, more importantly since when are TnT, USA, etc.. "network TV"?
My bad. I thought The Closer was on network TV.

[mouselock]

My bad. I thought The Closer was on network TV.

I'm pretty sure this type of stuff doesn't actually get said on network TV. I could be wrong, but I think network TV is still reasonably inviolate (or at least moves a lot slower; I'm pretty sure that I've seen 'dick' show up a lot recently on TV which for whatever reason I find more offensive than 'shit').

It's actually just interesting to me that cable is so pervasive that people don't even notice the difference any longer. I wonder if that will actually drive what's allowable on network TV, since, y'know, if nobody notices the difference between broadcast and cable what's the use of keeping broadcast more pristine?

[DrDel]

It was on network TV

The website for the show says it is on TNT:
http://alt.tnt.tv/tntoriginals/closer/site.html

But since I dont get TNT, I only get network, I Tivo'd it off one of the network channels.. just dont recall which one. I have since deleted the show off my HDD .

[Marcus]

TNT is cable not network.

[dannimal]

You're also in Canada, so none of our american FCC-ruled (for network) opining is going to matter.

[DrDel]

TNT is cable not network.

Oh yeah.. Americans and Canadians also have different definitions for cable TV (I think, correct me if I am wrong).

Cable TV = network TV

all the other stuff is Pay-per-view

or at least that is what we call it in Toronto... can any other Canucks confirm this?

[Alan Dunkin]

They started saying "bullshit" in the later seasons of NYPD Blue. The rules apparently were that you could only use X words Y number of times; for "bullshit" I think they only used it once per episode.

--- Alan

[Albert Woo]

What's next? Okaying "mother____er" on primeTV? Heh, CTV has broadcast The Sopranos uncut and unedited during primetime.

[Marcus]

There is swearing in Saving Private Ryan isnt there? ABC broadcasted that unedited and uncut.

[Andrew Mayer]

There is swearing in Saving Private Ryan isnt there? ABC broadcasted that unedited and uncut.

Only once. I believe the second time it got mau maued by religious conservatives who managed to say "think of the children" enough times to get it censored.

[Alan Dunkin]

Actually they showed it quite a few times, then they let affiliates decide to stop showing it following the Jackson-Timberlake fiasco during the Superbowl.

--- Alan

[Athryn]

Oh yeah.. Americans and Canadians also have different definitions for cable TV (I think, correct me if I am wrong).

Cable TV = network TV

all the other stuff is Pay-per-view

or at least that is what we call it in Toronto... can any other Canucks confirm this?


In the US, the "network" are broadcast networks ... the channels that are broadcast over the air as well as on TV. The major ones are ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC.

Those stations, and any other TV that's broadcast over the airwaves (PBS and independent stations also) are subject to fines by the FCC.

Most "basic" cable networks (TNT, USA, Comedy Central, etc) tend to conform to the FCC rules in pre watershed hours. Post watershed (usually 10PM), you sometimes (not always) hear coarser language, and see more violence/sex. Comedy Central airs uncensored stuff in the 1am time slot on sundays.

But these cable channels could actually broadcast anything they wanted to without any sort of fines from the FCC, they only choose to do so out of courtesy. Over the last couple of years, the FCC has tried to get their paws on being able to regulate content on cable, but luckily nothing has come of it.

Now Pay Per View channels (HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, etc) never censor anything, as far as I can tell. Well ... I don't think they show the Sopranos on the HBO family channel, but that's about it. :p

Hopefully this isn't too much information about the subject!

[Bill Dungsroman]

What I do know is the first network to do it was CBS and the first show was Chicago Hope. Mark Harmon said "Shit happens."

[steve]

The "dick" situation is awesome. We looked it up when someone complained about us using it in the magazine, and the FCC has ruled on its usage on network TV.

Basically, someone can be a dick but they can't have a dick on network TV.

[mouselock]

They started saying "bullshit" in the later seasons of NYPD Blue. The rules apparently were that you could only use X words Y number of times; for "bullshit" I think they only used it once per episode.

--- Alan

Aha.. yes.. this is the example that was running around at the back of my mind. I've only seen these on FX as reruns, but I presume they were broadcast the same on their original network. I remember thinking specifically "Wait, isn't this a broadcast show originally; I'm surprised they said that." Then it completely ceased to even register.

[Athryn]

There was also a time in the 90s, period Pre-Nipplegate, when TV shows were getting away with a lot more (NYPD blue being one of them.)

Once Nipplegate happened, we started getting that one christian group that would call in anything anything remotely naughty happened, and Bush put in a hardline asshole as the head of the FCC.

[LesJarvis]

I suspect the latter, seeing as the local NBC affiliate doesn't even show SNL here -- it runs on the local WB/CW affiliate instead, oddly.

Ahh, I remember that from living in SLC. The perils of having the mormons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonneville_International) own the local NBC affiliate.

I was actually a bit surprised to hear Stewie get bleeped, South Park style, on Family Guy last night (oh the shame, I watch Family Guy sometimes.) Not that that's the type of thing that would typically get a network fined, but it was the first time I can recall a network doing a pre-planned bleep like that.

[Glenn]

What's next? Okaying "mother____er" on primeTV?You can say motherfucker on the internet. We don't have an FCC here, just Tom.

[Kevin Grey]

I thought that after 10pm was pretty much anything goes and that it's really only the fear of lost ad revenue that keeps things in check on the networks in that slot and not the FCC.

In fact, according to the FCC's site (http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/obscene.html)


Like indecency, profane speech is prohibited on broadcast radio and television between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

I also seem to recall rumors that Comedy Central has aired the South Park movie uncensored during late nights.

[John Sansker]

[QUOTE=Kevin GreyI also seem to recall rumors that Comedy Central has aired the South Park movie uncensored during late nights.[/QUOTE]

Actually, Comedy Central has what they call "Secret Stash" that is 2 or 3 am on Friday and Saturday nights, where they air the Southpark movie as well as other movies and shows completely uncut.
Examples include the roast of William Shatner and Pam Anderson, as well as some Richard Pryor standup movies.

I thought that NYPD Blue did that "shit happens" and South Park followed up by saying shit 120?-something times in one episode.

[Bob Violence]

I was actually a bit surprised to hear Stewie get bleeped, South Park style, on Family Guy last night (oh the shame, I watch Family Guy sometimes.) Not that that's the type of thing that would typically get a network fined, but it was the first time I can recall a network doing a pre-planned bleep like that.

Almost every episode of Family Guy these days has at least one bleeped profanity. It seemed kinda pointless until I saw the ads for the new DVD set shrieking "UNCENSORED AND UNRATED" and everything fell into place.

[Skipper]

Did I miss something?

I was pretty shocked when I realized it was okay to say "ass" on TV a few years ago.

While I was watching my Tivo'd "The Closer" .. one of the detectives counter argued a murder MO by clearly saying "That's bullshit" on prime TV!

I rewound it to confirm what I thought I misheard.

What's next? Okaying "mother____er" on primeTV?

edit for spelling


This is bad? To be honest I'd rather them open it up and spend money on kid-block tv's or recievers than worry about censoring the adult oriented shows.

Having lived overseas for a few years, trust me, use of the word bullshit on TV is a minor thing, especially considering by law it's after 10pm. Move to Europe and watch a few commercials after 10pm. It's an eye-opening experience.

[Glenn]

I also seem to recall rumors that Comedy Central has aired the South Park movie uncensored during late nights.Yup. I've seen it uncensored after my TiVo picked up a 2AM airing. Comedy Central also only replays certain South Park episodes, such as "It Happens" (the one where they say "shit" 250+ times) late at night.

[drewl]

What I do know is the first network to do it was CBS and the first show was Chicago Hope. Mark Harmon said "Shit happens."

No that was NYPD Blue hence South Parks' parody being called "cop drama"

once upon a time cable was good, non stop nudity and profanity like it was supposed to be.
It's popularity soon took hold and then they cowtowed to the establishment, censoring themselves with the exception of a few programs.

[Ergo]

Almost every episode of Family Guy these days has at least one bleeped profanity. It seemed kinda pointless until I saw the ads for the new DVD set shrieking "UNCENSORED AND UNRATED" and everything fell into place.
I hate it when DVD sets unbleep profanity in comedy shows. The bleeping is half the fun. Fortunately, South Park doesn't do this.

[steve]

I hate it when DVD sets unbleep profanity in comedy shows. The bleeping is half the fun. Fortunately, South Park doesn't do this.
Yeah, I thought Chappelle's show was actually funnier with the bleeping.

[Bob Violence]

No that was NYPD Blue hence South Parks' parody being called "cop drama"

Chicago Hope did it way back in '99, well before NYPD Blue and the South Park episode that parodied it. Before that there was an unedited 1991 airing of "E.T.", with "shit" intact. But NYPD Blue apparently holds the honor of being the first over-the-air show to use "asshole."

[SqueakyFoo]

or at least that is what we call it in Toronto... can any other Canucks confirm this?

network tv (US) = CBC (canada)
Cable tv (Canada) = standard network tv (ctv, global, nbc, cbs, etc) with some specialty channels thrown in (Comedy, Space, Teletoon, etc)
digital cable/satellite (Canada) = cable tv (US)

Also, the CRTC is much more lax about content than the US. In the USA, after 10pm it's okay to have the occasional profanity. In Canada, profanity can be heard pretty much any time of the day. After 9pm it's okay to show full frontal nudity. After 11 you can get into the more hardcore stuff (haven't seen any penetration yet, though).

[Bill Dungsroman]

No that was NYPD Blue hence South Parks' parody being called "cop drama"

once upon a time cable was good, non stop nudity and profanity like it was supposed to be.
It's popularity soon took hold and then they cowtowed to the establishment, censoring themselves with the exception of a few programs.
This post is so full of dumb and wrong the internet should censor it.

[drewl]

dumbwong...I think I had that for lunch...goes good with dumblonde....dumbsrong....

[Lunch of Kong]

You wang?

How dare you tarnish my ancestors' honored tradition of towing cows?