# You can't do that on television... Even though they once did **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 15, 2015, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755 "2015-02-15T22:36:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/41 "2015-02-17T00:41:21Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > And a character on Friday Night Lights (albeit not a main character) had an abortion in 2010. Another thing that show has in common with the show Parenthood. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/42 "2015-02-17T01:47:31Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Canteen Boy. It must be a bed bug. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/43 "2015-02-17T01:53:42Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Have you actually WATCHED a TV show in the past 10 years, or do you just spend your time clucking your tongue about the state of America? > > Because if there’s one thing I’d say about shows like The Wire, Breaking Bad, Hannibal and Game of Thrones it’s that they constantly do their best to put their viewers at ease. They pretty much just aim for the comfort zone. > And a character on Friday Night Lights (albeit not a main character) had an abortion in 2010. All your examples but the last come from cable. I was talking about Network TV (my mistake for not making that clear). ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/44 "2015-02-17T02:01:50Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > All your examples but the last come from cable. I was talking about Network TV (my mistake for not making that clear). Hannibal is a network show, and while it doesn’t address abortion (that I can recall) it sure as heck doesn’t fit the description of not challenging viewers. I agree that lots of TV (both network and cable) is silly and vapid and would lead you to believe that we aren’t far from the future in Idiocracy where the most popular show is “Ow My Balls!”. But there’s also a renaissance of well-written, intelligent and thought provoking shows which, while centered on HBO, AMC and FX, spills over into lesser cable and even broadcast networks. Sure we have Real Housewives and Honey Boo Boo on right now, but we also have shows as varied as Mythbusters, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, The Americans, Fargo, and Orphan Black (in addition to those I mentioned in my last post). ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/45 "2015-02-17T02:02:08Z")
There are actually three tiers, and they have different levels of what is acceptable-- also different styles. There’s the networks, then there’s cable, like TNT, USA, ABCFAM & AMC, and then there are the pay channels, like Cinemax, Showtime, and HBO. The last doesn’t need to worry about advertiser support; the second does, but is subject to a different level of censorship and scrutiny, and everyone knows it. Rizzoli and Isles can say “shit” now, but I don’t expect to hear it on the networks just yet. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/46 "2015-02-17T02:13:50Z")
> [@Sahirrnee](#): > > Men spanking or slapping their wives/girlfriends to keep them in line. Well Sheldon Cooper got away with it on **Big Bang Theory** , but they made it pretty clear Amy was thrilled because she took at as kinky foreplay. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/47 "2015-02-17T02:34:31Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Rizzoli and Isles can say “shit” now, but I don’t expect to hear it on the networks just yet. I thought I heard that on NBC last night, or maybe it was “dick,” and I’m confused. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/48 "2015-02-17T15:59:14Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > I thought I heard that on NBC last night, or maybe it was “dick,” and I’m confused. Definitely on Sunday night’s SNL 40th Anniversary show. Justin Timberlake busted out with “my dick in a box” clear as a bell at the very beginning- during his and Jimmy Fallon’s intro song. Which surprised me; even the original song was bleeped out when it first ran on SNL. ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/49 "2015-02-18T17:03:06Z")
[A cigarette commercial featuring the Flintstones.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntrsMAlIQWA) ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/50 "2015-02-18T17:27:59Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > In the [1976 edition of the Bad News Bears](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074174/?ref_=nv_sr_2) movie, there’s a scene near the end (before the big game) when Walter Matthau shoves a kid to the ground while berating him. > > Contrast that with the [2005 version with Billy Bob Thornton](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0408524/?ref_=nv_sr_1): in the exact same scene, Billy Bob starts to berate the kid, but then the parents step in and shame him for acting like a dick. He is forced/expected to apologize later. > > In the '76 version, nobody said a word to Matthau’s character about being too harsh or abusive toward the kid. I laughed when I saw that scene, not because it was funny, but because that would never happen nowadays. Parents would lose their damn minds and Matthau’s coach character would be driven out of the Little League and probably never allowed around children again. > > If you feel so inclined, watch both these movies back to back for comparison’s sake. All I can say is, I am SO glad I grew up in the 70s and not in the 90s. That movie is a veritable time capsule of shit you can’t get away with anymore. Buttermaker has the kids step into pitches to get on base, then gives everyone beers after the championship game. A kid describes his teammates using every racial/ethnic epithet in the book. Another kid smokes and no one says anything or tries to stop him. And while it seems weird to pine for such things, I am glad I grew up in a time when we weren’t so afraid to be a little bad. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/51 "2015-02-18T17:38:21Z")
I am absolutely sure that the early 80’s NBC prime-time broadcast of NETWORK included “bullshit.” And of course, we all know that 1970’s PBS was a reliable source of usually-British boobies. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/52 "2015-02-18T17:45:41Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > That movie is a veritable time capsule of shit you can’t get away with anymore. Buttermaker has the kids step into pitches to get on base, then gives everyone beers after the championship game. A kid describes his teammates using every racial/ethnic epithet in the book. Another kid smokes and no one says anything or tries to stop him. And while it seems weird to pine for such things, I am glad I grew up in a time when we weren’t so afraid to be a little bad. That might have influenced the title of the movie… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/53 "2015-02-18T17:58:41Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > I would think the Richard Pryor - Chevy Chase SNL skit “Word Association” would have zero chance of airing today. > > In fact, it’s not workplace-safe, so use the below double links: > > [https://screen.yahoo.com/word-association-000000441.html](https://screen.yahoo.com/word-association-000000441.html) I thought of this skit while watching the SNL 40th Anniversary Show. In a series of quick clips, they showed Richard Pryor saying “Dead honky” to Chevy Chase, but (needless to say) not Chevy’s line leading up to it. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/54 "2015-02-18T18:38:02Z")
Re abortion, in the early 80’s, I think NBC had a drama series about a blue-collar worker & family man, one episode of which had his pregnant teen daughter seeking an abortion, then freaking out over the possibility, but then being taken back to the clinic when her dad turns out to be more supportive than she expected. One controversial aspect was that the family was originally going to be Catholic & the Mom saying to her husband “Don’t you care what the Pope says?” and he replies “When the Pope has a daughter, he can tell me what to do.” That was changed to Serbian Orthodox & “the Bishop”. Now, can someone tell me the name of the show & who starred? I thought it was either Jack Klugman or Darrin McGavin. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/55 "2015-02-18T18:45:33Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Re abortion, in the early 80’s, I think NBC had a drama series about a blue-collar worker & family man, one episode of which had his pregnant teen daughter seeking an abortion, then freaking out over the possibility, but then being taken back to the clinic when her dad turns out to be more supportive than she expected. One controversial aspect was that the family was originally going to be Catholic & the Mom saying to her husband “Don’t you care what the Pope says?” and he replies “When the Pope has a daughter, he can tell me what to do.” That was changed to Serbian Orthodox & “the Bishop”. > > Now, can someone tell me the name of the show & who starred? I thought it was either Jack Klugman or Darrin McGavin. Sounds like Skag with Karl Malden. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/56 "2015-02-18T18:46:35Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Well Sheldon Cooper got away with it on **Big Bang Theory** , but they made it pretty clear Amy was thrilled because she took at as kinky foreplay. Not to mention, Sheldon lacks the arm strength to kill a mosquito. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/57 "2015-02-18T19:10:15Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > Sounds like Skag with Karl Malden. That’s It! Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Tinker\_Grey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tinker_grey/32/8136_2.png) [@Tinker\_Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinker_Grey)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/58 "2015-02-19T00:46:32Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > I would think the Richard Pryor - Chevy Chase SNL skit “Word Association” would have zero chance of airing today. > > In fact, it’s not workplace-safe, so use the below double links: > > [https://screen.yahoo.com/word-association-000000441.html](https://screen.yahoo.com/word-association-000000441.html) That’s the one that came to mind when I read the thread title. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/59 "2015-02-19T01:09:30Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > I would think the Richard Pryor - Chevy Chase SNL skit “Word Association” would have zero chance of airing today. > > In fact, it’s not workplace-safe, so use the below double links: > > [https://screen.yahoo.com/word-association-000000441.html](https://screen.yahoo.com/word-association-000000441.html) Suprisingly this air recently on a Saturday on NBC at 10pm. It was run with a warning before the show started and a more specific one before the skit started I believe. But NBC has been rerunning “classic” SNL episodes in a cut down 60 minute format. > [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Making fun of Nazis like Hogan’s Heros. I think these days you have to show them as evil , not in a comedy. Actually they made fun of Luftwaffe but show the Nazis as evil. Klink and Shultz were not Nazis but veterans of the WW1. The would have Nazi and SS on often and these were consistently shown as evil. Klink was an incompetent ass but not a Nazi at least. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/60 "2015-02-19T01:17:10Z")
Network TV circa 2010-2011, Dr. Yang had an abortion on Grey’s Anatomy. What surprised me recently is the amount of smoking. I got used to nobody ever smoking anywhere but with all the reality series I see it a lot more. I was flipping past a Sex and the City rerun last night and Carrie was smoking. The thing that intrigues me in the embedded product placement. We have come full circle. Originally, sponsors had the characters use their products during the shows. This then evolved into separate commercials by the cast, followed by separate commercials with different actors. Now we are back to embedded commercials. I was watching a cooking competition where the quiz answer was “corn oil” which allowed a great shot of Wesson-brand corn oil, followed by the contestants using Wesson-brand corn oil in their dishes while casually mentioning the benefits of using corn oil over other oils in their cooking while the camera helpfully showed close-ups of the producer-provided Wesson-brand corn oil. I’ll let you guess the major sponsor of the show. (Hint: NOT Mazola-brand corn oil). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755.md?page=4)