# S\*&T on TV **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 1, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/s-t-on-tv/729632 "2015-09-01T18:57:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jormungandr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@Jormungandr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jormungandr)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/s-t-on-tv/729632/1 "2015-09-01T18:57:35Z")
Yes, it’s probably been going on for a while, but I’ve only recently just noticed many basic cable shows, such as “Rizzoli and Isles” saying “shit,” :eek: and maybe other curse words I haven’t seen yet, during prime time. Any reasons for this, beyond trying to be more like HBO, such as looser industry regulations? ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/s-t-on-tv/729632/2 "2015-09-01T19:07:08Z")
Here’s a thread from 2001 discussing them saying shit on cable and broadcast TV: > **[they can say shit on tv now!!](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=75127)** > > I just watched southpark, and they said the word “shit” like 160 times (they had a counter at the bottom of the screen). They also said the word “fag” a number of times, but only Mr. Garrison could say it, because he is gay. Just like only black... It has been a long time but I’d say it is becoming more and more common as shows flex the limits, internal standards & practices teams adjust their requirements. On Rizzoli & Isles it is usually used in such a clunky manner I can almost picture they said it and some PA shouts out “That’s our one time!” ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/s-t-on-tv/729632/3 "2015-09-01T20:13:46Z")
The FCC oversees (and enforces) obscenity / profanity rules on broadcast television. It does not do any such enforcement on cable networks, such as TNT (which airs “Rizzoli & Isles”). From the [FCC itself:](https://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/regulation-obscenity-indecency-and-profanity) > [@](#): > > With respect to cable and satellite services, Congress has charged the Commission with enforcing the statutory prohibition against airing indecent programming “by means of radio communications.” The Commission has historically interpreted this restriction to apply to radio and television broadcasters, and has never extended it to cover cable operators. In addition, because cable and satellite services are subscription-based, viewers of these services have greater control over the programming content that comes into their homes, whereas broadcast content traditionally has been available to any member of the public with a radio or television. In other words, there’s no official regulation of the cable networks in this regard, and so, there are no recent changes which have loosened things. Whether or not shows on those networks choose to drop S-bombs, F-bombs, or any other sort of bombs is (and always has been) entirely a decision made by those networks’ Standards and Practices people. (Note that, when Ted Turner owned the Turner networks, they would bleep out “goddamn” in movies and shows, Mr. Turner not being a fan of blasphemous language.) And, yes, it’s become increasingly likely to hear profanity on non-premium cable channels over the past few years, but it’s not a new trend, as that old thread demonstrates. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2015, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/s-t-on-tv/729632/4 "2015-09-01T21:27:16Z")
It’s in more and more shows. South Park managed to say it 162 times in one episode. 14 years ago. On basic cable. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/s-t-on-tv/729632/5 "2015-09-03T16:37:56Z")
I’ve heard f-bombs dropped on Comedy Central for movies running way past midnight. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/s-t-on-tv/729632/6 "2015-09-03T18:59:44Z")
Heck, I’ve seen performances by George Carlin doing his 7 words monologue or later versions of it on HBO. And that was back in the 80s. You can say the heavy 7 on cable and not on broadcast. This is news now? I have noticed “fart” sneaking in on broadcast lately.