Big Bird drops the "F" Bomb on Sesame street

[anon38216271]

Supreme Court debates TV expletives

FCC VS FOX TV INC. (Court Transcripts)

WASHINGTON — It’s not every day that a top lawyer for the Bush administration, standing before the black-robed justices of the Supreme Court, invokes the specter of “Big Bird dropping the F-bomb on Sesame Street.”

Justices on Tuesday heard arguments on a new government policy that can punish television networks for a one-time, or “fleeting” expletive, as opposed to a stream of profanities. The case came about after singer Cher dismissed her critics with an expletive during a live 2002 awards show, and celebrity Nicole Richie used some in 2003.

The transcripts are funnier.

[Edgar_Allen]

The tension in the crowded courtroom gave way to laughter when 88-year-old Justice John Paul Stevens asked whether the FCC would sanction a broadcaster if the indecent remark “was really funny.”

[Fortigurn]

I’m finding it fascinating that Jack Bauer isn’t allowed to say anything stronger than ‘damnit’, ‘hell’, or ‘son of a bitch’, but he’s allowed to torture people with electric shocks, neurotoxins, semi-drowning, stabbings, lacerations and perforations using a variety of sharp implements, beatings using a variety of blunt instruments, and the extreme distension or dislocation of limbs.

[BigJohn]

@Fortigurn

I’m finding it fascinating that Jack Bauer isn’t allowed to say anything stronger than ‘damnit’, ‘hell’, or ‘son of a bitch’, but he’s allowed to torture people with electric shocks, neurotoxins, semi-drowning, stabbings, lacerations and perforations using a variety of sharp implements, beatings using a variety of blunt instruments, and the extreme distension or dislocation of limbs.

What are you, anti-American?

[Fortigurn]

@BigJohn

[quote=“Fortigurn”]I’m finding it fascinating that Jack Bauer isn’t allowed to say anything stronger than ‘damnit’, ‘hell’, or ‘son of a bitch’, but he’s allowed to torture people with electric shocks, neurotoxins, semi-drowning, stabbings, lacerations and perforations using a variety of sharp implements, beatings using a variety of blunt instruments, and the extreme distension or dislocation of limbs.

What are you, anti-American?[/quote]

Not at all. In this particular case I’m simply interested in the fact that profanity is considered more worthy of censorship than extreme violence, which is often completely gratuitous. As a matter of fact, I have discovered that watching endless episodes of 24 back to back has a serious psychological effect. The moment Jack gets hold of someone even remotely suspicious these days, I find myself urging him to get out the knife, electric cables, and ball peen hammer, and cut straight to the chase.

I have wondered, given the extremely positive portrayal of torture in this series, if there’s a political agenda behind it.

[BigJohn]

@Fortigurn

[quote=“BigJohn”][quote=“Fortigurn”]I’m finding it fascinating that Jack Bauer isn’t allowed to say anything stronger than ‘damnit’, ‘hell’, or ‘son of a bitch’, but he’s allowed to torture people with electric shocks, neurotoxins, semi-drowning, stabbings, lacerations and perforations using a variety of sharp implements, beatings using a variety of blunt instruments, and the extreme distension or dislocation of limbs.

What are you, anti-American?[/quote]

Not at all. In this particular case I’m simply interested in the fact that profanity is considered more worthy of censorship than extreme violence, which is often completely gratuitous. As a matter of fact, I have discovered that watching endless episodes of 24 back to back has a serious psychological effect. The moment Jack gets hold of someone even remotely suspicious these days, I find myself urging him to get out the knife, electric cables, and ball peen hammer, and cut straight to the chase.

I have wondered, given the extremely positive portrayal of torture in this series, if there’s a political agenda behind it.[/quote]

You sound dangerously liberal to me!

[Fortigurn]

I’m more concerned by the way the show seems to be desensitizing me to torture.

[sjhuz01]

[quote=“Southpark: Bigger, Longer and Uncut”]
"Horrific, deplorable violence is ok as long as you don’t say any naughty words![/quote]

You could make similar arguments about U.S. portrayal/publication of nudity & sexual content.

We have shows like CSI depicting graphic murder scenes, rotting bodies and autopsies complete with CG viscera and extreme closeups, to the point where I don’t care to watch anymore. But those same shows would get fined for showing a boob at the beach or having a character speak like a normal person.

Meanwhile, shows in Europe & Japan (maybe Taiwan - I dunno since our TV service sucks) don’t show nearly that level of violent content, even in the “cop drama” shows, but are far more open about sexuality/nudity. They put the 18+ disclaimer up in Germany & then proceed to show naked girls dancing all night long after the late edition news is over.

Part of the problem with a country founded by violent prudes I guess… Oh well.