# 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:** 2
**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, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/21 "2018-09-20T14:16:56Z")
EDIT: oopps wrong show, well the guy in Hill Street Blues would be a swearer, I think 😃 > [@SykoSkotty](#): > > Oh how I would like to rewatch the entire series of NYPD Blue… That belker or whatever his name is would certainly be a swearer. ---
**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, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/22 "2018-09-20T14:18:20Z")
> [@blob](#): > > EDIT: oopps wrong show, well the guy in Hill Street Blues would be a swearer, I thing 😃 > That belker or whatever his name is would certainly be a swearer. You might be thinking of “Hill Street Blues” but still…they both fit the thread nicely. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/23 "2018-09-20T14:18:38Z")
What’s a Belker? ---
**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, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/24 "2018-09-20T14:23:04Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > You might be thinking of “Hill Street Blues” but still…they both fit the thread nicely. Yes, I realised my mistake almost straight after posting, I edited to “confess”. Belker was a grotty little bloke/cop who growled at the criminals in Hill Street Blues. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/25 "2018-09-20T14:27:27Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > “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.” There was a movie that came out in 90 called crazy people where ad executive Dudley Moore has a breakdown and writes honest advertisement slogans: “Paramount Pictures presents ‘The Freak.’ This movie won’t just scare you, it will fuck you up for life.” “You may think phone service stinks since deregulation, but don’t mess with us, because we’re all you’ve got. In fact, if we fold, you’ll have no damn phones. AT&T - we’re tired of taking your crap!” (again, it was 1990) Moore’s character gets shipped off to a mental facility where he gets to meet Daryl Hannah but then the ad agency realizes that people like the honest ads which leads to an uncomfortable moment in a boardroom: Charles Drucker: Harris. Say something honest, no holds barred. GO! Harris: I like… small boys. ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/26 "2018-09-20T14:29:25Z")
Gilligan and the Skipper, because of what we know about sailors ---
**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, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/27 "2018-09-20T14:30:26Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > What’s a Belker? [Belker](https://www.writeups.org/michael-belker-biter-hill-street-blues/) ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/28 "2018-09-20T14:38:31Z")
All of Star Trek. TOS: “You pointy eared mother fu (SHUT YOUR MOUTH) I’m just talkin about Spock!” For TNG: especially in reference to Wesley, many opportunities DS9: Sisko “I’m too old for this shit” VOY: to Neelix, “what IS this shit?!” ENT: “More DeCon gel, please…” (panda) TAA: I’m thinking of well drawn body parts… ---
**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, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/29 "2018-09-20T14:39:25Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > There was a movie that came out in 90 called crazy people where ad executive Dudley Moore has a breakdown and writes honest advertisement slogans: Funny that’s also exactly what I thought of when I saw that post. “Jaguar — For men who’d like hand jobs from beautiful women they hardly know.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/30 "2018-09-20T14:39:39Z")
As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fucking fly. ---
**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, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/31 "2018-09-20T14:41:40Z")
But I don’t wanna be a fucking pirate! ---
**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, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/32 "2018-09-20T14:46:14Z")
I kind of want to be a fly on the wall when Frank and Estelle Costanza start arguing. ---
**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, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/33 "2018-09-20T14:54:54Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > You might be thinking of “Hill Street Blues” but still…they both fit the thread nicely. Remember what a big deal it was when La Rue was allowed to say “Son of a **BITCH!** ” after the death of Esterhaus was announced? :eek: Ten years later, _sitcoms_ were freely using words like “ass,” “bastards,” and “sonsabitches.” :smack: ---
**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, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/34 "2018-09-20T14:57:50Z")
I think there was also something of a startled gasp when Kirk said “Let’s get the hell out of here!” at the end of “The City on the Edge of Forever.” ---
**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, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/35 "2018-09-20T15:00:37Z")
I don’t think [THIS](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qqE_WmagjY) scene would change at all. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/36 "2018-09-20T15:03:46Z")
Richard Pryor’s show would have lasted a lot longer, that’s for sure. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/37 "2018-09-20T15:05:35Z")
It starts off polite and even amiable — and forty or fifty minutes in, they’re maybe getting a little irritated while still patiently explaining stuff to him — but eventually we’re going to see the guest star get _reeeeally_ exasperated with Columbo. ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/38 "2018-09-20T15:15:11Z")
Interesting thought. If “R rated” language were always acceptable, I think shows would have been more realistic in terms of the dialogue. To wit: - Most of the cast in westerns (think Calamity Jane and Sweringen in “Deadwood”) - Most of the cast in police shows. They may have kept “Adam-12” and “CHIPs” more “G rated”, but from “Dragnet” through “Hill Street Blues” to “Barney Miller” could have had more realistic dialogue (not just the cops, but the bad guys as well) - Similarly, most of the cast of detective shows. You can’t get hit by THAT many cars and expect Joe Mannix not to let out an “Oh shit !!!” - Finally, shows featuring teenagers. From “Happy Days” to “That 70’s Show” - you KNOW kids swear when they’re not around their parents (and sometimes when they are). Seriously, the Fonz never dropped a f-bomb ? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/39 "2018-09-20T15:16:52Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Remember what a big deal it was when La Rue was allowed to say “Son of a **BITCH!** ” after the death of Esterhaus was announced? :eek: > > Ten years later, _sitcoms_ were freely using words like “ass,” “bastards,” and “sonsabitches.” :smack: The first time I heard “bitch” on TV was on _Maude_, where Maude called her husband Walter a “son of a bitch” in an endearing, affectionate way. It was a bit shocking at the time, and I believe the first use of the word on broadcast TV. This series finished its run before Hill Street Blues started. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615/40 "2018-09-20T15:30:22Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > …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? _It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia_ is on cable. There’s no FCC oversight of language, so they can get away things they can’t on broadcast TV. > [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > All of Star Trek. > > TOS: “You pointy eared mother fu (SHUT YOUR MOUTH) I’m just talkin about Spock!” > > For TNG: especially in reference to Wesley, many opportunities > > DS9: Sisko “I’m too old for this shit” > > VOY: to Neelix, “what IS this shit?!” > > ENT: “More DeCon gel, please…” (panda) > > TAA: I’m thinking of well drawn body parts… When Bones would say to Spock, “Are you out of your Vulcan mind?” I always thought it sounded like a substitute for, “Are you out of your fucking mind?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-r-rated-language-had-always-been-acceptable-on-tv/821615.md?page=3)