What do they think MTV would be fined for, and who would fine them?
They do know that MTV is on cable, right?
Even if the bit had been done on a network that was under FCC jurisdiction, what was done in that bit that violated any rules? It’s not like there were any balls or anything.
Can you show buttcheeks?
There was definite unbleeped cursing in there.
There was nutsack poking up near the bottom of his cheeks. In screen shots taken by people on gossip websites, you can clearly see it. MTV (poorly) 'shopped it out of the pics on their site.
Comedy Central has shown the South Park movie unedited. 'Nuff said.
Wow, I apologize heartily. I got laid off yesterday and we got drunk at work. I remember typing this, but I honestly don’t remember typing the the F-you part. I apologize.
For what it’s worth, it was meant joshingly, like an elbow in the ribs. Still, I apologize.
Neither of those things is illegal on cable. FCC regulations only apply to public airwaves (i.e. the stuff you can get for free – the major networks). You can say “fuck” and pull out your balls all you want on MTV (or on Fox News, for that matter). Most cable networks self-censor for sponsorship reasons, but they don’t have to. It’s not illegal. They’re not under FCC jurisdiction.
Yes, but for how long?
That’s from 2007. Certain people (Sam Brownback IIRC) have been trying to push this since at least around the time of the Broadcast Indency Act of 2004 (spawned by nipplegate at the Superbowl that year), and probably before that. It’s not going to happen.
Yes, I know it’s been around a while, but I’ve still heard some talk about it even this year, and it seems that if the 70/70 loophole isn’t closed, it still is possible.
If it was going to happen, it would’ve happened before cable had the legit competition from satellite, internet, dvds, and digital tv that it does today. It would be hard to justify it at this point as anything but a favor to other industries, and would look like political bullying.
It’s not just that he’s humorless, but that he’s a “humorless PRICK.” The guy’s a total asshole. THAT’S why. He’s also been guilty of assault himself in the past.
(Oh, and while I loathe the Freepers, someone did mention that Cohen was “lucky Eminem didn’t ‘take a bite out of crime’”. Yes, I’m immature, I laughed at that)
Oh, and damn, lissener, if that’s the case, I’m sorry. Welcome to the club. 
But was the eye brown?
I knew it was meant in jest and I took no offense.
I’m aware of that. I was responding to your rhetorical question about “what if it was on broadcast TV?”
Sexual assault was my first thought as well. But the word that (unbelievably) didn’t come to mind until just now was “Dick.” This doesn’t remind me so much of Andy Kaufman as Andy Dick.
So sexual assault is okay as long as the victim isn’t a nice person?
Yeah, you said it. Andy Kaufman’s jokes were irritating and aggravating on occasion, and yes, people got pissed off, but I don’t remember them being as mean spirited. Like, I can’t imagine him doing anything like this.
I don’t think putting your ass/balls near someone’s face/chest for a couple seconds in the spirit of humor is sexual assualt. What was sexual about that? Who was getting off? Who was hurt and how? Would be a much different scenario in a board meeting but we’re talking about MT-fucking-V here. Context.
It’s already been stated, pretty definitively, that Eminem was in on it.
On the contrary, this was funny as hell. Wasting people’s time and money by reading the phone book on stage is mean spirited.
No? What about Tony Clifton, or his stint as a “woman wrestler?” A huge part of Kaufman’s schtick was getting the audience to actively hate him by adopting exceptionally cruel and offensive personas. The only real difference I see here is that Cohen’s material is somewhat cruder, and I don’t think that’s a reflection on Cohen so much as it is on society, and what someone like Cohen or Kaufman can get away with.