# TV now censors the "N" word? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 28, 2010, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-now-censors-the-n-word/526759 "2010-01-28T14:23:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-now-censors-the-n-word/526759/1 "2010-01-28T14:23:44Z")
Recently I saw Goodfellas on regular TV and along with censoring 4 letter words they also cut out the “N” word. Is this true for all movies? Do they censor other racial slurs? ---
**Author:** ![In\_Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@In\_Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-now-censors-the-n-word/526759/2 "2010-01-28T14:57:11Z")
Gawd, I hope not. I’d hate to see what they’d do to All in the Family re-runs. I do know that the worst station on the air for ridiculous censorship has to be WTBS, er Peachtree, or whatever it’s called these days. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-now-censors-the-n-word/526759/3 "2010-01-28T15:01:36Z")
I saw this on the ION network but I think I’ve seen the same change in Goodfellas on basic cable networks. ION used to be Pax TV, it’s not a cable channel. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-now-censors-the-n-word/526759/4 "2010-01-28T15:17:14Z")
I was listening to a country radio station the other day. A song called “Toes” by Zac Brown came on, and they blanked the word “fat” from these lyrics: > [@lyrics](#): > > I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand > Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand > Life is good today. life is good today. > Adios and vaya con dios > Yeah i’m leaving GA > And if it weren’t for tequila and pretty senoritas > I’d have no reason to stay. > > Adios and vaya con dios > Yeah I’m leaving GA > Gonna lay in the hot sun and roll a big **FAT** one > And grab my guitar and play. I don’t get that at all! Like “roll a big one” doesn’t mean the same thing? Made me laugh out loud, it did. Censorship is so stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-now-censors-the-n-word/526759/5 "2010-01-28T15:36:49Z")
You should see what they can do to “Blazing Saddles” ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-now-censors-the-n-word/526759/6 "2010-01-28T15:40:45Z")
> [@Annie](#): > > You should see what they can do to “Blazing Saddles” Heck, Mel Brooks censored Blazing Saddles. The sheriff is a {{{{{ding}}}}}}. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-now-censors-the-n-word/526759/7 "2010-01-28T15:40:57Z")
> [@Rebo](#): > > I was listening to a country radio station the other day. A song called “Toes” by Zac Brown came on, and they blanked the word “fat” from these lyrics: > > I don’t get that at all! Like “roll a big one” doesn’t mean the same thing? Made me laugh out loud, it did. > > Censorship is so stupid. I’ve heard a version where he’s “got my toes in the water, my toes in the sand” He’s doing the splits? ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-now-censors-the-n-word/526759/8 "2010-01-28T15:41:25Z")
> [@Annie](#): > > You should see what they can do to “Blazing Saddles” They managed it with [Scarface](http://www.scarface1983.com/sftv.html). ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-now-censors-the-n-word/526759/9 "2010-01-28T15:44:10Z")
It’s OK as long as they leave in “Say hello to my little friend!!” ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-now-censors-the-n-word/526759/10 "2010-01-28T15:44:21Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > I’ve heard a version where he’s “got my toes in the water, my toes in the sand” > > He’s doing the splits? \ ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-now-censors-the-n-word/526759/11 "2010-01-28T15:52:23Z")
> [@Annie](#): > > You should see what they can do to “Blazing Saddles” It’s Mel Brooks. If you take out everything that might offend someone you are left with the opening and closing credits. The best thing about his comedy is that he skewers everyone and anyone. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-now-censors-the-n-word/526759/12 "2010-01-28T15:57:40Z")
In the Band Hero game for PS 2, in the song “American Pie,” they bleep out the word “whiskey.” (but not the word “rye.”) ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-now-censors-the-n-word/526759/13 "2010-01-28T16:00:17Z")
They probably thought rye was bread. 🙂 ---
**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:** [January 28, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-now-censors-the-n-word/526759/14 "2010-01-28T18:04:00Z")
> [@In\_Winnipeg](#): > > Gawd, I hope not. I’d hate to see what they’d do to All in the Family re-runs. > > I do know that the worst station on the air for ridiculous censorship has to be WTBS, er Peachtree, or whatever it’s called these days. I have heard the N word uncensored on “The Jeffersons” reruns on TV Land. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-now-censors-the-n-word/526759/15 "2010-01-28T19:02:42Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > It’s OK as long as they leave in “Say hello to my little friend!!” “Say hello to my little [_BLEEEP_]!” ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-now-censors-the-n-word/526759/16 "2010-01-28T20:05:39Z")
They don’t have to censor it, but they do it anyway. It was used on the show “Boston Public” on FOX, when a white teacher decided to have a discussion with his history class about the N-word. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-now-censors-the-n-word/526759/17 "2010-01-28T20:25:37Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > They managed it with [Scarface](http://www.scarface1983.com/sftv.html). Right. So now we get the memorable exchange: Cop: _“Hey Tony, how’d you get that scar, eating pineapple?”_ Tony: _“Now how am I going to get a scar like this from eating pineapple?”_ ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-now-censors-the-n-word/526759/18 "2010-01-28T20:41:49Z")
TVLand let the n-word air on All in the Family, but not on Sanford and Son. what’s up with that? ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-now-censors-the-n-word/526759/19 "2010-01-28T21:03:14Z")
I don’t recall Archie saying N but I do recall him saying Wop, Spic and Hebe. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-now-censors-the-n-word/526759/20 "2010-01-28T21:06:08Z")
Archie never said it, but George Jefferson said it in the episode where is son was going to marry a woman whose father was white. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-now-censors-the-n-word/526759.md?page=2)