A couple of nights ago, a guest on Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher uttered the phrase “tits to kill for” and didn’t get bleeped, even though this it’s on a broadcast network. But last night on The Daily Show the host and his guest both said “tit” and got bleeped, even thought that show’s on (basic) cable. So WT f-ing F?
WAG Each network has their own censor and it can vary just because people vary. Don’t make it right. But, hey, WTF.
Maybe the network head didn’t like it. And, upon opening the reply window, I see samclem’s beat me to it. 
What I’ve heard on shows like Conan and Craig Kilborn, when discussing the problem with guests, is there are a whole complex of rules.
These apply to all the “blue” words:
It matters what hour the show airs.
How many references in one show.
If the word is used casually or attention is drawn to it, as a punchline.
Dramatic purpose, such as to show frustration, or that the speaker is a mobster or hooker, etc.
If the word is bleeped and you can still understand the scene.
It is often used on British comedies, here I can only recall in prime time it being said on “Designing Women.”
Charlene called Mary Jo “The Tit Monster.”
When Sherwerd Schwartz was on Fox he was quoted as saying “Between Mary Ann’s belly button and Ginger’s Tits I never got any peace” But tits was beeped but was in the closed captioning.
The main reason it really isn’t said in TV as there are a lot of other words for female breast that are not only not offensive but funny.
They don’t have to be real. If I said “Look at the schlmokers on her,” you all would know what I meant. You can make up words get a laugh and remain unoffensive.
Can you prove gazongas is offensive when it isn’t even real?
Yes. “tits” may be said on television, on any channel, at any time. So to may the words “fuck”, “shit”, “piss”, and “pollywogs” be broadcasted.
It is my understanding from studying the rudiments of broadcast law that there aren’t any regulations established by the FCC about what words may or may not be said on television (or radio).
Also, there are not any civil or criminal laws explicitly prohibiting any language in broadcasts (as far as I know.)
The whole deal, IIRC, is self-policed. What one broadcaster may condsider obscene, another might not have a problem with. And yes, as mentioned by Barnstormer above, certain variables (time of day, context, etc.) matter. But broadcasters refrain from using so-called obscene language not because of any legal mandate, but simply to avoid pissing off audiences and advertisers. In other words, they do it because it’s good business.
As recently as a week ago, I saw ‘bullshit’ written in the captions during primetime.
Sorry, but there most definitely are. See this site for news posted just yesterday.
Though standards have adjusted more leniently over the years, they nonetheless are still there, and TV and radio stations are still subject to sanctions including fines and up to losing their license. With a Republican administration, there will probably be a tightening of the rules again.
Back when I was DJ’ing, the common reference was that if you slipped and said a really bad word, you might just as well go grab your license off the wall and head home, because you would be summarily canned.
A few elections back ('76? 80?) Barry Commoner was a minority party candidate for President and bought time on the CBS radio network. His spot started something like “If you’re tired of all the bullshit from the other candidates…”
I almost drove off the road when I heard that coming from the station I worked for. At that time the word would NEVER have been allowed on the air, but it got through due to a special set of FCC rules having to do with elections. The FCC required that if you carried any political advertising, you would have to carry ALL political advertising of any legal candidate. And you were NOT allowed to censor what they said. So there was a specific rule that exempted stations from liability for things said by candidates whose messages the stations were required to carry. (Note: the candidates weren’t released from liablity for their statements if they were judged to be libelous or obscene or inflammatory, but the stations were off the hook.)
Modern “Shock Jocks” like Howard Stern have, on occasion, actually caused stations to be fined…
Hometownboy
Note that those FCC regulations don’t actually specify which words are/aren’t allowed - I think that was the point Doctor Goo Fee was making. No words are specifically prohibited - it depends on the time of day, audience, whether it’s for shock value or not, etc., as described in Hometownboy’s link.
Arjuna34
Now that you mention it, although Howard often uses the term “boobies”, he often warns his guests not to use the “T-word”.
Perhaps my wording was not quite clear enough. But I think my meaning came through-- at least enough for Arjuna34 to understand.
Hometownboy-- after reading the link that you presented in your post, I stand by my previous statement, but will clarify: The FCC has established no list of words that it considers offensive or obscene and thus prohibited for broadcast.
Further, the FCC does not automatically concern itself with any “obscenities” broadcast over the airwaves. UNLESS there is a complaint or complaints made by the public (who in fact own the airwaves and the frequencies that are used to broadcast on-- contrary to the belief of some free-marketers/capitalists that firmly, and wrongly, believe that Viacom, Disney, etc. OWN the airwaves that their stations broadcast on.) And, if an obscenity complaint is made, various factors must be considered. Therefore it is at least conceivable that “tits” or even “fuck” could be aired in certain situations without any licensing sactions.
It’s all in the eye (or ear) of the beholder. What is considered “offensive excretory or sexual language” in one time and place is not considered such in another.
I know that “tits” means the same thing in the UK as it does here, but don’t the Brits use the term “tit” (singular) as kind of a catch-all insult, like “git” or “twit”?
Just thought I’d check in with this:
Just 4 minutes ago on NBC-- at about 5:30PM PDT and 8:30PM EDT, during an XFL game between San Francisco and L.A., the word ‘shit’ was broadcast twice, and ‘bullshit’ once… all in a 10 second span. Mind you this was in a REPLAY of a coach talking on the sideline— NOT during live action where the words sneaked by the guy on the 4 second tape delay.
As I posted before— use of language on the airwaves all depends on circumstances… the FCC only reponds if the public really pitches a bitch.
Point well taken and yielded Dr. Goo Fee. We often are so well indoctrinated in our youth that we tend to hang on to those viewpoints even when the situations change.
As always, the FCC reserves the right to take actions on public complains, and they have mighty big sticks if they care to use them.
It will be interesting to see what changes, if any, come about with the new administration and changes in FCC commissioners. The conflict between Republican devotion to laisez-faire capitalism on one hand and family values on the other can result in some entertaining tap dancing sometimes.
Here in Australia, not only is the word “tits” used repeatedly on television, but actual shots of naked female breasts are common, at least nightly.
The main version of “Survivor” shown here features the women without tops for the most part (except the uncooperative and unmourned Kimmi dammit). A “Made for the USA” version is shown the next day in afternoon hours.
Elizabeth in the logrolling contest looked MUCH better topless let me tell you.
There is a fair bit of male frontal nudity as well, but at least the newsreaders all wear clothes now, after an incident with the Prime Minister’s wife last year.
Redboss
[sub] portions of this post not affecting the intended outcome used exaggeration or dishonesty[/sub]
You want to say ‘shit’ or ‘tits’ on TV? Go on a prestigious newsmagazine program such as 60 Minutes or Nightline, where Ted Koppel gets away with saying what he wants.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Redboss *
**There is a fair bit of male frontal nudity as well, but at least the newsreaders all wear clothes now, after an incident with the Prime Minister’s wife last year.
Please, oh Please… do tell what the incident was!!!