Profanity on broadcast TV: Grey's Anatomy 5/1

Cafe Society
1

I rarely watch Grey’s Anatomy, but about halfway through last night’s show Meredith says something like:

“No, because we screw boys like whores on tequila”.

Now, I’m probably pretty much out of it, and I don’t watch much harder edged drama on broadcast TV, but this is the first time I’ve heard the term “screw” used as a verb meaning to copulate. Is this common and when did it get started?

I’ve heard that “fuck” and “motherfucker” have been used on broadcast TV, but merely as cuss words and not used in their literal sense. I’ve just never actually heard them, although I’m a bit discombobulated because I’ve had cable exclusively for the past 28 years and have a hard time determining what programs are actually broadcast over the air. Naturally, watching shows like Deadwood tends to inure one against cussing.

Nevertheless, it caught my ear, and I’ve replayed it about 5 times just to make sure that the quote is accurate. They don’t broadcast different versions than are showed on cable, do they? I heard they cuss a bunch on Rescue Me. Is it like one “fuck” per episode? Is it a time of night thing?

2

I can’t point to anything specific, but I’m sure I’ve heard screw as a synonym for fuck many times on TV. Actually, I can point to South Park. They probably use it that way nearly every week. It airs as early as 8 PM some nights.

But if you’re looking for info about over the airwaves as opposed to cable, I can’t really help you. I watch almost nothing on the broadcast networks.

3

I would find that rather mild. I wouldn’t consider that as an example of profanity and wouldn’t think twice about it.

This isn’t a cite for the earliest that “screw” has been used as a euphemism for “fuck” on network TV, but it’s been at least for the last 10 years. Here’s some dialogue from the WB show Felicity:

Felicity – 11/10/98 9:00 p.m. WB

Research on profanity on TV

4

Yeah, I guess I’m out of it. Is Comedy Central broadcast over the air? South Park certainly has its share of profanity. I always hear Cartman saying “Screw you guys”, as opposed to “I’m going to screw this puppy”. I’m sure Matt Stone and Trey Parker have managed to work in screwing in the literal sense at some point in time.

And Keri Russell saying “screwing” as in fucking in 1998? I am shocked, completely shocked! I guess I like Meredith’s turn of a phrase though.

5

As far back as I can remember, I’ve heard screw used as a euphemism for the act. It was the first euphemism I learned for it, probably around age 12.

6

I think the OP meant heard it on TV. At least, after reading it again and still not believing that an adult could be new the the usage, I do.

“Veronica Mars” (October 24 2006) “Charlie Don’t Surf” (#3.4)
Logan Echolls: Go ahead, screw your brains out.

Charmed" (February 14 2004) “Dream of Phoebe” (#6.15)
Chris: If Piper and Leo don’t screw, I’m screwed!

“The Pretender” (March 17 1998) “Toy Surprise” (#2.12)
Miss Parker: I want to kill her not screw her.

7

Thanks, of course I meant on TV. I’m an old fart and I didn’t hear the terms “fuck” and “screw” until I was in elementary school. I didn’t realize the meaning of it until I was in junior high. Let me reiterate that I was talking about the usage of the term as meant in the action of copulation as opposed to the generic “screw you guys” or “fuck you”.