OK, so MTV aired a Scared Straight special on Friday night, from 10 to 11. It had a typical disclaimer, “May contain strong language, etc.” However, the language in it was worse than the South Park movie! Literally, “mofo” two/three times per sentence. (Read mofo as the longer version). Prisoners telling the twelve year old visitor, “I’m going to rape your bitch ass, mofo.” Not a thing was bleeped or censored.
Now, I’m not particularly sensitive about this, but I didn’t think it was even legal. I would have thought the FCC would be up in arms. Now, I can see that the value and impact of the show would be much diminished by being unable to hear 70% of the words, but still, how does this stack up, legally?
Justin, momentarily delurking
Hell, I remember when Scared Straight aired on network television. As I recall, the language wasn’t censored then, either. I suppose so that young punks such as myself would be intimidated and, well, scared straight.
I also remember spending the night in jail more than once, so it didn’t take so well. At least not in my case. Not that my dear, departed mother didn’t go out of her way to make damned sure that I was planted in front of the tube that night.
Waste
Flick Lives!
Generally, the FCC only acts against a broadcaster if there have been complaints about the language. Until someone complains, they do nothing.
Once there’s a complaint, there’s probably an investigation process. A lot depends on the context – what words, what time they were broadcast, if there was a disclaimer, and how the station reacted, etc. I also think that things are much looser now than they were years ago. Cable, also, is less strictly regulated (if regulated at all for language) because it’s not broadcast.