# TV Stations Cancel 'Saving Private Ryan' **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 11, 2004, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stations-cancel-saving-private-ryan/274136 "2004-11-11T03:06:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2004, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stations-cancel-saving-private-ryan/274136/81 "2004-11-12T21:49:20Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > My NPR station was talking about the hubbub this evening, and mentioned a twist I wasn’t previously aware of. Even though the FCC is fully cognizant of the language and violence depicted in SPR, they won’t take a stand and make things clear for ABC, because _no one has bitched, yet_. > > Because the FCC won’t take a stand ahead of time, ABC is left to roll the dice. Apparently they (the FCC) decide to effect a smackdown if there is sufficient outcry, as was the case after SuperTit I. They _can’t_ tell them whether or not it’s ok in advance, as my (limited) understanding goes. That would constitute Prior Restraint, which is generally unconstitutional according to SCOTUS precedent. They’re only constitutionally allowed to punish afterwards. I’ve never understood why that is, but someone here no doubt can explain it properly. > [@The Gaspode](#): > > Why the different standards for cable and broadcast? I guess the logic is that one must buy the cable service, while broadcast is free, but to me, there seems to be some pieces missing in that logic. Because the airwaves are public property. Even though cable is ubiquitous enough that it’s generally equally accessible to children, it’s still over a cable. Whereas the broadcast media operate over radio frequencies that are the property of the public. So the public is allowed to restrain uses of them (for instance, tracking down pirate broadcasters, or mandating standards for what’s allowed and what’s not) while we don’t have nearly the same power over cable. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stations-cancel-saving-private-ryan/274136/82 "2004-11-15T06:44:25Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > It really is incredible how that one fricking incident is having such a cascading effect through culture. I’d like to kick her in the teeth. If you want to kick someone in the teeth, why not Timberlake? He’s the one who yanked on her top; she didn’t pull it off herself. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stations-cancel-saving-private-ryan/274136/83 "2004-11-15T07:14:33Z")
Dialing through the radio stations at work the other day, I happened upon the local conservative talk station. They were discussing the _Saving Private Ryan_ issue, and revealed the _true_ souce of this unspeakably un-American censorship: Liberals! Yes! Liberals did it! Partly as a way of “punishing” America for voting Bush back in, but also as a protest move because their “filth” is being banned by the FCC. The Liberal Media hates America, remember, and so chose this patriotic movie as the one on which to make their stand. As I listened to this, my co-workers were looking at me funny. I was making odd sounds-- snorts of disgust mixed with derisive laughter. It just goes to show that if you’re determined enough, you can “spin” anything to make the other side at fault. The way I see it, conservatives were simply hoisted by their own petard. They deserve a Nelson Muntz “Ha-ha!” for that one. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stations-cancel-saving-private-ryan/274136/84 "2004-11-15T07:22:09Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > If you want to kick someone in the teeth, why not Timberlake? He’s the one who yanked on her top; she didn’t pull it off herself. Hey, come on! Justin has suffered enough! Didn’t you see the absolute shock and terror on his face when that happened? Remember, Justin has been hanging out with girls like Britney Spears ever since he became famous. He’s never seen 40-year old titties before, and it was a real shocking sight to him, and probably gave him extensive nightmares. The poor boy will be a long time recovering from that. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stations-cancel-saving-private-ryan/274136/85 "2004-11-15T07:54:29Z")
> [@Lissa](#): > > Dialing through the radio stations at work the other day, I happened upon the local conservative talk station. They were discussing the _Saving Private Ryan_ issue, and revealed the _true_ souce of this unspeakably un-American censorship: Liberals! > > Yes! Liberals did it! Partly as a way of “punishing” America for voting Bush back in, but also as a protest move because their “filth” is being banned by the FCC. The Liberal Media hates America, remember, and so chose this patriotic movie as the one on which to make their stand. > > As I listened to this, my co-workers were looking at me funny. I was making odd sounds-- snorts of disgust mixed with derisive laughter. It just goes to show that if you’re determined enough, you can “spin” anything to make the other side at fault. > > The way I see it, conservatives were simply hoisted by their own petard. They deserve a Nelson Muntz “Ha-ha!” for that one. Actually, that makes a lot of sense. As any real American can tell you, liberalism is the cause of all everything that’s wrong in the world today. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stations-cancel-saving-private-ryan/274136.md?page=4)