# Words and situations they once could say on TV but can't (or won't) anymore **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 17, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086 "2011-03-17T23:54:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086/21 "2011-03-18T03:30:31Z")
‘Nigger’ was the first thing that came to mind when I saw the topic, and, lo, it was covered in the OP. Although that does bring up an odd ‘censorship’ thing. Comedy Gold, a classic comedy cable network up here, shows Bizarre (John Byner/Bob Einstein sketch comedy from the 80s) and Kids in the Hall (Sketch comedy from the 90s, and shame on you if you didn’t know that)…often back to back. Now, Bizarre is…well, it’s very vulgar. They had a recurring bit called The Bigots, which was a multi-ethnic family that told racist jokes about and to each other. But that’s not the bit in question. In one episode, they had a guest appearance by Red Foxx. He used the word ‘nigger’ freely. To the point it was highly uncomfortable to watch. Then Kids in the Hall came on. No use of ‘nigger’ obviously. But…they censored every use of the word ‘fag’. They had the sketch about Kevin’s drunken father, and, of course, a Buddy Cole monologue. Both were rendered near incomprehensible by the constant audio drops. I’m not sure when the censoring was done (it clearly wasn’t by CG - to use Bizarre as the example again, the only censoring on that was what was there before - usually scatalogical references, and the word ‘fag’, which were censored with a loud noise from the start), but…it got to the point they may as well have just removed most of the Buddy monologues entirely… ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086/22 "2011-03-18T03:56:52Z")
[QUOTE=Tengu] Now, Bizarre is…well, it’s very vulgar. They had a recurring bit called The Bigots, which was a multi-ethnic family that told racist jokes about and to each other. But that’s not the bit in question. In one episode, they had a guest appearance by Red Foxx. He used the word ‘nigger’ freely. To the point it was highly uncomfortable to watch. [/QUOTE] There’s some comedian whose name I can’t think of (it _might_ be Katt Williams but the YouTube clips I pull up don’t seem quite right) but he uses the word so much that it absolutely seems like he has Tourettes. He uses it as filler practically- he’s who I think the dumbass bitch Laura Schleßinger was probably referring to because it’s literally just about every other word- it’s not like Chris Rock or Dave Chappelle who’ll use it here and there for shock value but more like he can’t not say it- repeatedly. Anyway, the whole reason for bringing him up is that Comedy Central shows his standup anyway but bleeps the word and it’s ridiculous. It comes across like: “BLEEPer I told the BLEEP get those BLEEP BLEEP off my car nBLEEP I’m serious nBLEEPr those nBLEEPrs gonna see a BLEEPger getting his nigBLEEP ass shot off nBLEEPr.” It’s one of those “Why even put it on in the first place?” decisions. There are some comedians who are this bad with fuck and other vulgarities, but this particular one stands out because he must use the word a thousand times in a thirty minute stand up special. ---
**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:** [March 18, 2011, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086/23 "2011-03-18T05:04:10Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > I think they’re lying (or exaggerating for effect), as Family Guy has a ton of cartoon nudity and I think The Simpsons still does in recent years too. There were some drug jokes (inevitably) in the most recent Simpsons episode, “A Midsummer’s Nice Dream,” which guest-starred Cheech and Chong. I believe, although I’d have to check Hulu to refresh my memory, that Homer had a daydream in which he and Cheech shared a joint. ---
**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:** [March 18, 2011, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086/24 "2011-03-18T05:22:38Z")
Eh, I just remembered, it also showed Cheech and Chong working as weathermen at Springfield’s Channel 6 and getting high off the smoke when Chief Quimby set fire to a huge pile of pot in the vacant lot next door. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086/25 "2011-03-18T06:31:27Z")
The basement ‘circle’ bit on That 70’s Show always had smoke floating around. And they way the camera was in the middle and kept turning to the next actor represented the joint being passed around. As a producer said, “The camera is just always one person behind the joint!” As for the OP, I know this isn’t GD but what you’re talking about is the result of caving to political correctness. And it has to be stopped! I caught Blazing Saddles on cable a while ago and ever occurrence of nigger was muted. Showing it that way is worse than nothing. Most of that film was written by Richard Pryor for Christ’s sake! I defy anyone anywhere to disagree that the old woman saying, “Up yours nigger!” is not only not offensive in any way, but its one of the funniest movie lines ever! I still hope PC-ness will eventually die off. Its genuinely insidious and in direct conflict with free speech. I like to call it The New Fascism! ---
**Author:** ![Fugazi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@Fugazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fugazi)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086/26 "2011-03-18T07:33:26Z")
Walter on Fringe does all kinds of drugs including hitting a bong on the show. I don’t think they’ve actually shown him smoking, but I can’t remember for sure. I do know we’ve seen smoke and heard him hitting it. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086/27 "2011-03-18T12:26:16Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Actually I think you might get the contract to write a new Nancy Drew series for HBO. (“Fucking damn it why didn’t the Hardy Boys mom just make ‘em a handjob instead! The mystery at the Old Mill is bustin’ my balls here, I’ve had to fight off two old pervs and a poison attempt and I’ll bet those two faggots are up there taking rape showers from running out of hair product!”) That was actually a direct quote from _The Mystery of the Ivory Charm_. That Mildred Wirt Benson had a potty mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086/28 "2011-03-18T14:02:41Z")
On the CBS sitcom _Mike & Molly_ (which, if you haven’t seen it, is actually not bad as sitcoms go), Molly’s sister is a stoner. In the pilot episode, she talked openly about smoking pot, and at one point, IIRC, she went upstairs and a cloud of smoke came drifting from behind the wall. I predicted that if the show became successful, they’d have to tone down the drug jokes. I was wrong. Not only is it still major character point, she has been shown actually smoking a joint on camera more than once. I find it kind of jarring, not because I’m offended, but because I’m surprised they get away with it, and it takes me out of the show a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086/29 "2011-03-18T14:18:34Z")
> [@pinkfreud](#): > > If memory serves, I think there are scenes like that in both _Notorious_ and _To Catch a Thief_. And _North by Northwest_ has as scene in the beginning where the bad guys force Cary Grant at gunpoint to get absolutely shitfaced, then pour him into a car and set him off down a winding mountain road. After running several other cars off the road and nearly killing himself, he’s arrested… and let go the next morning after paying off a $30 ticket, with no other repercussions. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086/30 "2011-03-18T14:22:48Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > and on sitcoms black characters and gay characters and other minorities are more likely to be the voice of reason than the butt of a joke. That’s true, but ONLY on sitcoms aimed at white audiences. That is, on a sitcom with a largely white cast and a largely white audience, black characters are almost always much smarter and more dignified than white characters, and aren’t allowed to embarrass themselves. On sitcoms with a largely black cast and a largely black audience, it’s different. Martin Lawrence, to use one example, was allowed to make a fool of himself constantly on his own his own show. Black people don’t mind watching and laughing at other black people, even black people engaged in foolish and stereotypical behavior. But they’re VERY sensitive about the possibility that white people might be laughing at them. And I’d wager many gay men laugh hysterically at limp-wristed, campy performers and characters in gay-oriented shows that they’d find insulting on a “straight” sitcom. That’s understandable, of course. Catholics tell Pope jokes when they think nobody else is listening and Jews tell jokes about other Jews when they think no one else is around… but they’d be highly offended if they heard an outsider telling the same jokes. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086/31 "2011-03-18T14:30:24Z")
> [@Bytegeist](#): > > As long as we’re here, I think the word “rape” was used much more casually in broadcast entertainment, up through about the 1950s. It seems to have been an acceptable element of jokes, though I’m sure the actual crime itself was no laughing matter when it happened. Not only was it acceptable, a scene titled “The Rape Ballet” was a major song & dance number in the longest running Broadway musical, [The Fantasticks.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fantasticks) “Rape” was used as a light-hearted “abduction” concept, but when the movie was made just a few years ago, the entire song and scene was rewritten – and it was the only major alteration of the play. Thankfully, the producer included an additional recording of the original lyric as an extra on the DVD, but the original recreation was only 4 cast members singing, not an elaborate production number. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086/32 "2011-03-18T14:43:38Z")
The New Adventures of Old Christine had a fabulous episode where Christine sponsors a black family to get into her son’s ritzy all-white private school, then goes to their house for dinner and they use the “f-word.” Christine: They used the f-word Matthew: You use that word all the time. You used it four times on the way over here. Christine: No, the other f-word. Later. at her house Christine: They used the f-word Matthew: The ride home was sponsored by the letter F. Christine: No, the other f-word. Richard: What? Flamboyent? Flaming? France? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086/33 "2011-03-18T14:46:34Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > At one point it seemed as if nudity might be possible. PBS had some plays that included nudity. When PBS showed British shows, there was occasionally nudity. I remember bare breasts in a couple of episodes of _Rumpole of the Bailey_, which was not an “adult” program. I know that nudity still occasionally pops up in British shows – I’ve seen male buttocks in _Peep Show_, but I don’t know what PBS does with that kind of thing now. > [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Heh, I remember watching an episode of what was it, Manor House? on PBS where a bunch of people are randomly assigned jobs in a 18th century manor house with just the Butler to keep em all in line and there was a shot of one of the hallboys scrambling into pants and a shirt to answer a door where you saw everything. My little 9th grade mind was blown to see full frontal male nudity on PBS at 8 pm. Well, I guess it still happens on PBS! > [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > As for the OP, I know this isn’t GD but what you’re talking about is the result of caving to political correctness. And it has to be stopped! … > I still hope PC-ness will eventually die off. Its genuinely insidious and in direct conflict with free speech. I like to call it The New Fascism! It has nothing at all to do with “political correctness,” whatever you mean by that. In any group of people, some significant segment of that population will find _something_ offensive. So long as there are channels that want to not offend that segment of the population, those channels will have to restrict depictions of something or other, whether it’s nudity or strong language or racial/ethnic epithets. This is particularly the case with the traditional networks, which depend on mass appeal. They have to worry about _everyone’s_ sensitivities. PBS gets away with a tiny bit of nudity and language (particularly in imports), because they know that that’s what their audience is comfortable with. Only outlets like HBO and Showtime, which narrow their target audiences, will feel free to let it all hang out. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086/34 "2011-03-18T15:26:35Z")
How about the censoring of Tom and Jerry to replace [Mammy Two Shoes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammy_Two_Shoes). We certainly got the original “offensive” version in the UK back in the 70s. I don’t know that they show Tom and Jerry on telly here at all anymore. Not really a PC issue but I’ve seen places where Universal Channel (formerly Hallmark) have censored _Monk_ of all things and that’s about as offensive as _[In the Night Garden](http://www.inthenightgarden.co.uk/en/visit-characters.asp)_\*\*\*\*\* - Warning may trigger acid flashbacks\*\* \*\* Even if you’ve never taken acid. ---
**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:** [March 18, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086/35 "2011-03-18T15:34:50Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > It has nothing at all to do with “political correctness,” whatever you mean by that. In any group of people, some significant segment of that population will find _something_ offensive. So long as there are channels that want to not offend that segment of the population, those channels will have to restrict depictions of something or other, whether it’s nudity or strong language or racial/ethnic epithets. This is particularly the case with the traditional networks, which depend on mass appeal. They have to worry about _everyone’s_ sensitivities. PBS gets away with a tiny bit of nudity and language (particularly in imports), because they know that that’s what their audience is comfortable with. Only outlets like HBO and Showtime, which narrow their target audiences, will feel free to let it all hang out. Sing it, brother! I want to attack the screen whenever I see someone use “political correctness” as a term for people doing anything they don’t agree with. The population who wants “family-friendly” shows without nudity or cussing or those dreadful “other” people is the antithesis of whatever vestige of meaning political correctness might have. They hate those things not because their use might demean a person or group but because it offends their delicate sensibilities or their individual bizarre interpretation of half-understood religious beliefs or “please think of the children!” or whatever non-rational glurge is fouling the sludgepots of their brains. Political correctness is not hatred. The attitude you’re talking about is hate, from the base up. I realize this fight is lost. I still have the need to fight it, at least every once in a while. ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086/36 "2011-03-18T15:53:38Z")
To return to the OP a moment: That censorship was done by your local NBC affiliate, **Sampiro**. Where I live, we got it all, with no bleeping and no blurring. Just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086/37 "2011-03-18T16:18:33Z")
I watched a rerun of **Emergency** in which someone flags down the paramedics as they are on their way back to the station from a call. They are shown a baby lying in the back seat of a locked car in a shopping center parking lot on a warm day. They get a coat hanger and eventually get the car unlocked. Luckily, they find the car’s interior cooler than they feared, and the baby is fine. Then the child’s mother shows up, hair in curlers from the hair salon she was at, leaving her kid in the car. She begins yelling at the paramedics for breaking into her car and messing about with her baby. And the paramedics hand the child to her, apologize profusely, and drive away. Don’t think it would be done that way on today’s TV. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086/38 "2011-03-18T16:22:59Z")
> [@Fugazi](#): > > Walter on Fringe does all kinds of drugs including hitting a bong on the show. I don’t think they’ve actually shown him smoking, but I can’t remember for sure. I do know we’ve seen smoke and heard him hitting it. We saw him sharing a joint on a park bench with Nina this season. And of course, he gave drugs to children! There’s open pot smoking and other drug use on Gossip Girl and Skins. The 70s Show circle was kind of ruined in one episode where is panned back and showed the smoke coming from incense on the table. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086/39 "2011-03-18T16:31:26Z")
…no one has brought up Maude’s abortion yet? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086/40 "2011-03-18T16:32:23Z")
One of Family Guy’s finer moments: [A Bag of Weed](http://www.noob.us/humor/family-guy-everything-is-better-with-a-bag-of-weed/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-and-situations-they-once-could-say-on-tv-but-cant-or-wont-anymore/575086.md?page=3)