# What words are censored on television in the United States? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 4, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-are-censored-on-television-in-the-united-states/495327 "2009-05-04T19:58:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![breakthesky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a698b9/32.png) [@breakthesky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breakthesky)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-are-censored-on-television-in-the-united-states/495327/1 "2009-05-04T19:58:29Z")
I’m aware of the George Carlin skit, but are those all of the words that you can’t say on television? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-are-censored-on-television-in-the-united-states/495327/2 "2009-05-04T20:10:07Z")
> [@breakthesky](#): > > I’m aware of the George Carlin skit, but are those all of the words that you can’t say on television? There is no list. Many of those have been spoken on broadcast TV without any significant issues. It’s all context and audience. Anyone can file a complaint about anything - [http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgb/fcc475B.cfm](http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgb/fcc475B.cfm) That’s what drives FCC actions. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-are-censored-on-television-in-the-united-states/495327/3 "2009-05-04T20:11:00Z")
Carlin later expanded his “seven words” because of the obvious reality that there are dozens or hundreds of such words. Which words depend on a lot of things, including the type of show, the time of day, and the context they are presented in. There is not a master list. Nor are the words technically censored. The FCC can fine stations that air the words but it cannot ban their use. And the fines only apply to network television outlets (not the networks themselves). Cable stations can air anything they please, but most voluntarily bleep the words. Again, which words depend on lots of factors. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-are-censored-on-television-in-the-united-states/495327/4 "2009-05-04T21:04:06Z")
[http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dorf/20090504.html](http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dorf/20090504.html) Any word that depicts sexual acts or excrement. ---
**Author:** ![De\_La\_Rue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@De\_La\_Rue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/De_La_Rue)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-are-censored-on-television-in-the-united-states/495327/5 "2009-05-04T21:08:24Z")
While nothing is explicitly banned, the chilling effect means that: On broadcast television, you can’t say fuck, shit, or asshole. On basic cable, you can’t say fuck or shit, but I think you can say asshole. At least it’s not censored on The Venture Bros. On fancy cable like Showtime, HBO, or Bravo, you can say fuck. I believe I’ve heard Bravo censor sometimes, so who knows what their logic is. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-are-censored-on-television-in-the-united-states/495327/6 "2009-05-04T21:09:58Z")
> [@De\_La\_Rue](#): > > On basic cable, you can’t say fuck or shit, but I think you can say asshole. At least it’s not censored on The Venture Bros. You missed that episode of South Park didn’t you. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-are-censored-on-television-in-the-united-states/495327/7 "2009-05-04T21:11:47Z")
> [@De\_La\_Rue](#): > > While nothing is explicitly banned, the chilling effect means that: > > On broadcast television, you can’t say fuck, shit, or asshole. Wrong. “Asshole” has been spoken plenty of times on broadcast TV. I hear “shit” all the time on _60 Minutes_, and that show is practically made for 90-year-old busybodies. What can and can’t be said is a matter for each network’s standard and practices office to decide on a case-by-case basis, based on how much they think people will complain and what their advertisers will think. > [@](#): > > On basic cable, you can’t say fuck or shit, but I think you can say asshole. At least it’s not censored on The Venture Bros. Nope. Have you ever watched _South Park_? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-are-censored-on-television-in-the-united-states/495327/8 "2009-05-04T21:29:43Z")
> [@De\_La\_Rue](#): > > While nothing is explicitly banned, the chilling effect means that: > > On broadcast television, you can’t say fuck, shit, or asshole. And dozens of other words depending on time and context. > [@](#): > > On basic cable, you can’t say fuck or shit, but I think you can say asshole. At least it’s not censored on The Venture Bros. > > On fancy cable like Showtime, HBO, or Bravo, you can say fuck. I believe I’ve heard Bravo censor sometimes, so who knows what their logic is. There are no outside restrictions for cable. None. All restrictions are self-imposed by each individual cable content provider. Comedy Central, for example, broadcasts movies and roasts that are bleeped at other times uncensored late on Saturday nights. It is entirely voluntary. There are no rules. Same for satellite broadcasting. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-are-censored-on-television-in-the-united-states/495327/9 "2009-05-04T23:18:38Z")
> [@De\_La\_Rue](#): > > While nothing is explicitly banned, the chilling effect means that: > > On broadcast television, you can’t say fuck, shit, or asshole. > > On basic cable, you can’t say fuck or shit, but I think you can say asshole. At least it’s not censored on The Venture Bros. > > On fancy cable like Showtime, HBO, or Bravo, you can say fuck. I believe I’ve heard Bravo censor sometimes, so who knows what their logic is. Bravo is basic cable, not fancy, assuming you mean premium by fancy. It’s certainly not in the same category as Showtime or HBO. As for what words you can say where, following Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction brouhaha, things started to get more strict again. Network shows had been allowing more and more use of words like bullshit (seemed like they said it at least once a week on NYPD Blue for a while) but now even bitch seems to be cut back on. It didn’t seem to affect cable, and shows like Breaking Bad or various BBC America imports will allow shit quite often, but still bleep fuck. ---
**Author:** ![acetylene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@acetylene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/acetylene)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-are-censored-on-television-in-the-united-states/495327/10 "2009-05-04T23:26:57Z")
I’ve always found this an interesting topic. [Here’s](http://www.fcc.gov/eb/oip/FAQ.html) the FCC’s page dealing with this. It discusses obscenity, indecency, and profanity. My take on it is that obscenity=hardcore porn, indecency=softcore porn, and profanity=swearing. So what words are considered profanity? The FCC says: > [@](#): > > **What makes material “profane**?” “Profane language” includes those words that are so highly offensive that their mere utterance in the context presented may, in legal terms, amount to a “nuisance.” In its Golden Globe Awards Order the FCC warned broadcasters that, depending on the context, it would consider the “F-Word” and those words (or variants thereof) that are as highly offensive as the “F-Word” to be “profane language” that cannot be broadcast between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. > > \*\*What is the “safe harbor”? \*\*The “safe harbor” refers to the time period between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., local time. During this time period, a station may air indecent and/or profane material. In contrast, there is no “safe harbor” for the broadcast of obscene material. Obscene material is entitled to no First Amendment protection, and may not be broadcast at any time. > > **Are there certain words that are always unlawful?** No. Offensive words may be profane and/or indecent depending on the context. In the Golden Globe Awards Order, the FCC stated that it would address the legality of broadcast language on a case-by-case basis. Depending on the context presented, use of the “F-Word” or other words as highly offensive as the “F-Word” may be both indecent and profane, if aired between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-are-censored-on-television-in-the-united-states/495327/11 "2009-05-04T23:28:00Z")
[f\*\*\*er](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=513588) ---
**Author:** ![De\_La\_Rue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@De\_La\_Rue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/De_La_Rue)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-are-censored-on-television-in-the-united-states/495327/12 "2009-05-05T00:58:01Z")
Thanks for the elucidation everyone! ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-are-censored-on-television-in-the-united-states/495327/13 "2009-05-05T19:02:57Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > The FCC can fine stations that air the words but it cannot ban their use. And the fines only apply to network television outlets (not the networks themselves). This I don’t understand. Wikipedia says that the FCC is an agency of the US government, and you say that they can fine TV stations for using “bad” words - not content that’s against the secrecy act, not content that is inflammatory or insulting, but words like shit and fuck. Given all the chest-beating about Freedom of speech that Americans do with regard to other countries’ laws, how can a federal agency fine and thus restrict the free speech on TV in the US? Why has this not been struck down by the Supreme Court? The self-censorship with bleeping on Cable is another thing, since it’s not done by the government, though I still think it’s very stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-are-censored-on-television-in-the-united-states/495327/14 "2009-05-05T21:07:47Z")
My favorite one was Joy Behar (sp?) saying on _The View_, “Thank you Jesus”, for having lost weight, getting “Jesus” bleeped on the West coast airing, when re-broadcast there, but not when she said it in New York. There are so many nuances here … “Jesus” is a swear word? Or was it the thanking? Or the frivolous topic? Or was it a west coast thing? Did a committee of producers meet, and ponder and debate the topic? It was never more clear – there are no dirty words, it’s all what the producer “feels” like they have to do to avoid letters, that cause loss of ad revenue. Or in the case of South Park and trhe Venture Brothers, what they feel like saying, to generate buzz – even negative. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-are-censored-on-television-in-the-united-states/495327/15 "2009-05-05T21:14:03Z")
> [@constanze](#): > > This I don’t understand. Wikipedia says that the FCC is an agency of the US government, and you say that they can fine TV stations for using “bad” words - not content that’s against the secrecy act, not content that is inflammatory or insulting, but words like shit and fuck. > > Given all the chest-beating about Freedom of speech that Americans do with regard to other countries’ laws, how can a federal agency fine and thus restrict the free speech on TV in the US? Why has this not been struck down by the Supreme Court? > > The self-censorship with bleeping on Cable is another thing, since it’s not done by the government, though I still think it’s very stupid. Because the Federal Communications Act of 1934 (and for that matter, earlier legislation) declared that the broadcast airwaves are a limited resource, and that licenses to use them were to be granted on the basis of the public’s “interest, convenience and necessity.” And the agency of the government that regulates those airwaves, the Federal Communications Commission, has determined that obscene speech falls into none of those categories. And because the courts have consistently upheld that determination, and Congress has declined to change that law, for the past 75 years. For that matter, there are a number of federally mandated requirements that one may or may not feel fall under the category of freedom of speech: A portion of the broadcast frequencies is reserved for use by only non-commerical stations Stations must identify themselves by their call sign and city of license Stations must disclose that an announcement or program has been paid for, and by whom Stations that provide time for a candidate for political office must provide “equal time” to all candidates for the same office, and must charge those candidates the same price Stations may not broadcast “hoaxes” – information that they know to be false, that causes “substantial public harm” and that a station could reasonably forsee would cause harm Stations must keep a file detailing their efforts to provide programming in “the public interest, convenience and necessity” and make that information available to the general public (There are some others, but these are the ones I know off the top of my head.) ---
**Author:** ![acetylene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@acetylene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/acetylene)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-are-censored-on-television-in-the-united-states/495327/16 "2009-05-05T21:36:48Z")
> [@constanze](#): > > Given all the chest-beating about Freedom of speech that Americans do with regard to other countries’ laws, how can a federal agency fine and thus restrict the free speech on TV in the US? Why has this not been struck down by the Supreme Court? One week ago today [the Supreme Court sided with the FCC](http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE53R41K20090428) > [@](#): > > In its first ruling on broadcast indecency standards in more than 30 years, the high court handed a victory on Tuesday to the Federal Communications Commission, which adopted the crackdown against the one-time use of profanity on live television when children are likely to be watching. The case was against Fox, who have appealed it: > [@](#): > > The network said it was optimistic that it would ultimately prevail on the free-speech issue. If Fox wins before the appeals court, it would be up to the FCC and the Obama administration to decide whether to take the matter back to the Supreme Court, legal sources said ---
**Author:** ![Donovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@Donovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donovan)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-are-censored-on-television-in-the-united-states/495327/17 "2009-05-06T00:07:18Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > There is no list. Many of those have been spoken on broadcast TV without any significant issues. It’s all context and audience. I can vouch for this - about 10 - 15 years ago, I was watching public television (local broadcast station) and there was liberal use of a lot of nasty words, including racial epithets and the word ‘fuck’ on an answering machine message replayed as part of a documentary on some hate group. None of the words were bleeped out. It kind of startled me, cause I wasn’t used to hearing language not bleeped out on broadcast TV. To the best of my knowledge, there wasn’t any kind of backlash. ---
**Author:** ![De\_La\_Rue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@De\_La\_Rue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/De_La_Rue)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-are-censored-on-television-in-the-united-states/495327/18 "2009-05-06T03:38:26Z")
> [@Arkcon](#): > > “Jesus” is a swear word? Let us not forget that Cartoon Network turned [Professor Farnsworth](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0149460/)’s “Sweet Zombie Jesus” into “Sweet Zombie”. I’d say that’s on the “take extreme caution to not possibly offend someone” side of things. ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-are-censored-on-television-in-the-united-states/495327/19 "2009-05-06T06:07:50Z")
Somewhat ironically, the FCC is often very reticent to strictly define the meaning of obscenity or any other category of speech that cannot be transmitted over the airways so as to avoid exercising (unconstitutional) prior restraint upon the stations. This can be quite frustrating for the stations. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-are-censored-on-television-in-the-united-states/495327/20 "2009-05-06T06:10:09Z")
TBS, voluntarily, censors the line “you’re my savior, man, my own personal **Jesus Christ** ” from _The Matrix_. I have no idea why. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-are-censored-on-television-in-the-united-states/495327.md?page=2)