# Did they just say that on TV? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 19, 2017, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-just-say-that-on-tv/794130 "2017-08-19T21:20:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-just-say-that-on-tv/794130/1 "2017-08-19T21:20:06Z")
We’re watching Killjoys on SyFy and they are talking about defeating an evil female ruler. Guy 1: We gotta get real nasty to win. Guy 2: Ass to mouth? Me and me husband looked at each other. Wha. . .?! Everyone on the show also looked at him like Huh. . . Wha. . .?! We couldn’t believe he said that-- even on cable. Reminds me many, many years ago watching The Golden Girls and Sophia says about Blanche and her date, “They were playing Hide the Salami” and I thought, they can say that on broadcast TV? Any ‘they can say that on TV?’ moments for you? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-just-say-that-on-tv/794130/2 "2017-08-19T23:10:46Z")
I lived in Russia full-time from 1992 to 2008. Watching reruns of American shows from the '90s now, I’m amazed at how quickly things like “ass” and “son of a bitch” became commonplace in prime-time programming. Niles saying “furry little rat’s ass” (I think that was the line) on _ **Frasier** _ was one of my first “Holy crap!” moments. (And that line was, so far as I can tell, first popularized on _ **Family Guy** _.) I remember Captain Kirk saying “Let’s get the hell out of here!” was considered a big thing back in 1967. In the _ **Hawaii Five-O** _ pilot, the strongest things got was when McGarrett told a traitor “You dirty, double-dealing FINK!” In the only episode of _ **Charlie’s Angels** _ I ever watched, Art Metrano (the villain of the week) told Kate Jackson she had a cute ass. They got away with it because it was easy to miss if you weren’t paying attention (and it also happened to be true :o). On _ **Hill Street Blues** _ in 1983, they had to get special permission for LaRue to say “Son of a BITCH!” when Esterhaus died. Hell, not even Beavis and Butt-Head were allowed to use the word “ass” when they first came on MTV. They had to say “butt” instead (as in “butt-munch”). ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-just-say-that-on-tv/794130/3 "2017-08-19T23:26:03Z")
Another example: When Hugh Hefner guest-hosted \*\*\*SNL \*\*\* back in 1977 or '78, the audience snickered when he got away with saying “penis” on the air. It now seems that “penis” (along with “masturbation,” “boobs,” and “ass”) is a staple of sitcom humor. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-just-say-that-on-tv/794130/4 "2017-08-19T23:27:00Z")
Stewie: Yeah…looks like somebody’s getting a little oedipussy. Brian: Can we say that? Stewie: Just did. Little Stewie always stands next to and points out the Discretion warning at the start of the show. I’d like to see him walk forward, rap on the glass, and say, “Hey, parents groups, you guys paying attention? If you can’t handle it, go away.” ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-just-say-that-on-tv/794130/5 "2017-08-19T23:59:40Z")
I recall Lennie Briscoe on _Law & Order_ referring to a banker playing “stuff the blini” with his mistress. When it turned out she was also the mistress of a Russian mobster he said the blini was getting stuffed from both ends. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-just-say-that-on-tv/794130/6 "2017-08-20T00:34:22Z")
Don’t watch **2 Broke Girls** , then. Well, you shouldn’t watch it anyway, since it’s a shitty show, but they not only push the envelope, they lick it. _ **Caroline:** I’ve never dated poor, what is acceptable on a first date? **Max:** Well, I’m pretty classy, so… anal? **Caroline:** [awkward pause] I’m not that poor._ ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-just-say-that-on-tv/794130/7 "2017-08-20T02:12:48Z")
_ **The Sopranos** _ really doesn’t count here, since it was an HBO production. I was amused, however, at how it was bowdlerized when it was shown on A&E back in 2008–09. “Fuck you!” became “Forget you!” “Cocksucker!” became “Blood sucker!” And so on, and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-just-say-that-on-tv/794130/8 "2017-08-20T02:18:58Z")
Hawkeye on MASH around 1973-74. Hawkeye: I’ve always said it. Behind every great man is a woman with a vibrator. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-just-say-that-on-tv/794130/9 "2017-08-20T02:55:30Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > _ **The Sopranos** _ really doesn’t count here, since it was an HBO production. I was amused, however, at how it was bowdlerized when it was shown on A&E back in 2008–09. “Fuck you!” became “Forget you!” “Cocksucker!” became “Blood sucker!” And so on, and so on. What did they call Big Pussy? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-just-say-that-on-tv/794130/10 "2017-08-20T03:11:23Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > What did they call Big Pussy? I don’t think they messed with “Pussy.” 😉 From an episode of _ **Frasier** _ (to the best of my recollection\*): In the middle of a crisis, Frasier is worried about a bust getting broken: **FRASIER:** My Balzac! **ROZ:** Don’t worry. In those pants, no one will ever notice. In another episode, Niles refers to a female patient who freaks out whenever “Balzac” comes up at her book club. \*Feel free to tweak my memory if you can. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-just-say-that-on-tv/794130/11 "2017-08-20T03:28:09Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > **FRASIER:** My Balzac! “[Now, chew through my ball sack!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI2sy3i5Rvc)” -Principal Skinner, on a 2000 (I think) episode of _The Simpsons_ ---
**Author:** ![The\_Dope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@The\_Dope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Dope)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-just-say-that-on-tv/794130/12 "2017-08-20T04:16:55Z")
I stopped watching TV when MTV turned into a teenage drama channel, so like early 2000’s. Too much trash on TV these days, not worth watching. I don’t see the “shock value” in cursing out in bad taste or saying stupidly vulgar things in shows/live broadcasts, it’s not appealing or appropriate in any way. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-just-say-that-on-tv/794130/13 "2017-08-20T04:21:23Z")
US TV is quite puritanical compared to other countries. Sent from my XT1635-02 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-just-say-that-on-tv/794130/14 "2017-08-20T04:26:24Z")
two cartoons that pushed the envelope was yin yang yo! on Disney toon/jetix/xd and ed edd and eddie on cartoon network They were the first cartoons where that blows or that sucks were ever uttered on a kids cartoon although anamianics and hysteria were rather bawdy too ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-just-say-that-on-tv/794130/15 "2017-08-20T04:38:40Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > US TV is quite puritanical compared to other countries. Well, they don’t show late-night soft-core porn on weekends, like they do in Europe, that’s for sure. I was surprised at some of the gruesome things that got cut out of _ **I, Claudius** _ when it was aired in the US. (I had seen it in its entirety when I lived in England.) I guess PBS thought Americans just weren’t ready for Roman-style decadence and violence. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-just-say-that-on-tv/794130/16 "2017-08-20T04:40:03Z")
Arrested Development specialized in dirty jokes that easily get past censors. Some Disney movies have eyebrow raisers. I remember finding “Chokey’s Chicken” from Rocko’s Modern Life funny when I was young. > [@Arkcon](#): > > Stewie: Yeah…looks like somebody’s getting a little oedipussy. > Brian: Can we say that? > Stewie: Just did. > > Little Stewie always stands next to and points out the Discretion warning at the start of the show. I’d like to see him walk forward, rap on the glass, and say, “Hey, parents groups, you guys paying attention? If you can’t handle it, go away.” There was one, not dirty but potentially religiously offensive, where they break the 4th wall and broadcast Fox’s mailing address if anyone wants to write a letter. > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > “[Now, chew through my ball sack!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI2sy3i5Rvc)” -Principal Skinner, on a 2000 (I think) episode of _The Simpsons_ December 17, 2000. See also: Sneed’s Feed and Seed. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-just-say-that-on-tv/794130/17 "2017-08-20T05:14:38Z")
I think South Park probably crossed the final frontier. They’ve always been hit or miss for funny, but consistently offensive. One that stands out is George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg raping Indiana Jones in a parody of The Accused. (Let’s assume the creators weren’t pleased with The Crystal Skull.) The episode went through the rape prosecution and everything. Despite my sensitivity to such issues, they played it so straight, it took on this bizarre meta-quality of actually honoring rape survivors. You rooted for Indy to have justice. I thought it was hilarious. But I have a dark sense of humor. Since then, shows have been just as offensive as South Park, but I don’t think more offensive. I remember when people felt threatened by the Simpsons. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-just-say-that-on-tv/794130/18 "2017-08-20T05:17:07Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > What did they call Big Pussy? Big Pussy was supposedly his nickname from his early career as a cat burglar. So it was plausibly OK. James Bond movies got away with Pussy Galore. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-just-say-that-on-tv/794130/19 "2017-08-20T05:19:30Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > December 17, 2000. See also: Sneed’s Feed and Seed. Formerly Chuck’s. Which works the first time if you think about it a little, then stops working the more you think about it. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-just-say-that-on-tv/794130/20 "2017-08-20T05:22:45Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > James Bond movies got away with Pussy Galore. Just barely. EON made sure the film was already in the can before UA executives could change the posters and other publicity material. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-just-say-that-on-tv/794130.md?page=2)