# If "R" rated language had ALWAYS been acceptable on TV... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 20, 2018, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615 "2018-09-20T04:29:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/1 "2018-09-20T04:29:06Z")
…what characters do you think would swear a lot? I’ll go ahead and throw out: Archie Bunker Al Bundy Fred Sanford Red Forman (from _That 70s Show_) The entire main cast of _It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia_ Who else? ---
**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:** [September 20, 2018, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/2 "2018-09-20T04:36:50Z")
In the pilot of the original _ **Hawaii Five-0** _, McGarrett wouldn’t have called the traitor who went over to the Red Chinese a “dirty, double-dealing **FINK!!!** ” :eek: :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/3 "2018-09-20T04:42:39Z")
I think Red might top out where he does, at least in most of the scenes we see him in, actually. He seems like the type to have slightly salty language, but to keep it minor, when he’s around women or kids. Might occasionally go up to ‘shit’ when it’s only him and Eric, but when Kitty or Donna was around, I think he’d keep ‘ass’ as his worst. Homer Simpson would probably have a lot of non-censored swearing, even around Bart and Lisa. Hell, there was even an episode about his potty mouth. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2018, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/4 "2018-09-20T04:46:05Z")
Lou Grant. Of course, never to Mary, though. Mostly to Ted. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/5 "2018-09-20T04:57:52Z")
Why do I get the image of Wilma asking Fred if he wants to XXXX her dino style? I’ll bet Col. Potter would let fly from time to time. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2018, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/6 "2018-09-20T05:03:17Z")
The mind boggles when I consider the possibilities of Ralph arguing with Alice (or Fred arguing with Wilma). :eek: ---
**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:** [September 20, 2018, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/7 "2018-09-20T05:11:36Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > The mind boggles when I consider the possibilities of Ralph arguing with Alice (or Fred arguing with Wilma). :eek: Or Grandpa Amos on _The Real McCoys._ ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/8 "2018-09-20T06:50:36Z")
Eddie Haskell’s verbal abuse of the Beav would have been more explicit. ---
**Author:** ![Scoobysnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Scoobysnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoobysnax)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/9 "2018-09-20T06:57:20Z")
Yosemite Sam ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/10 "2018-09-20T07:00:43Z")
Donald Duck. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/11 "2018-09-20T07:20:07Z")
Sports commentators Jesus fucking CHRIST that was a hit! Much more like some of those watching their broadcast ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/12 "2018-09-20T10:49:29Z")
> [@Scoobysnax](#): > > Yosemite Sam Yeah, but that scene where Sam bounces down the stairs wearing a full suit of armor while Bugs notes down every last razzum fratz and brackum hootz wouldn’t have been nearly as hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/13 "2018-09-20T11:09:45Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > I think Red might top out where he does, at least in most of the scenes we see him in, actually. He seems like the type to have slightly salty language, but to keep it minor, when he’s around women or kids. Might occasionally go up to ‘shit’ when it’s only him and Eric, but when Kitty or Donna was around, I think he’d keep ‘ass’ as his worst. Upon reading the OP I wanted to post this, but I see Kamino Neko has already summed it up perfectly. ---
**Author:** ![blob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blob/32/489_2.png) [@blob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blob)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/14 "2018-09-20T11:34:49Z")
Murphy Brown ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/15 "2018-09-20T11:37:34Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Eddie Haskell’s verbal abuse of the Beav would have been more explicit. Eddie was bad enough as it was. “Hello Mrs. Cleaver! How’s the beaver?” ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/16 "2018-09-20T13:41:01Z")
Ricky Ricardo would have had to chastize Fred Mertz for salty language in front of the ladies, but Ethyl would rejoin, “Oh, screw that, Ricky!” ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/17 "2018-09-20T13:42:10Z")
I’d pay good money to hear such a verbal argument between Blanche and Sophia on The Golden Girls. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2018, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/18 "2018-09-20T13:52:20Z")
“Kiss my grits!” would get an upgrade. For that matter, commercials would be transformed. No more dropping hints. “Altoids - For when your breath smells like ass.” ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/19 "2018-09-20T14:04:23Z")
Sheriff Rosco P Coltrane. ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/20 "2018-09-20T14:15:47Z")
Oh how I would like to rewatch the entire series of NYPD Blue… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615.md?page=2)