# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![The\_Winkler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/82dd89/32.png) [@The\_Winkler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Winkler)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/61 "2015-02-19T06:30:21Z")
Early SNL’s drug humor. Original Bad News Bears kids swearing and portrayal of alcoholism as no big deal. Otis the drunk being funny and harmless on The Andy Griffith Show. Pretty much everything Archie Bunker ever said. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/62 "2015-02-19T06:46:19Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > 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!”. OTOH, one of the most popular shows had a very popular sketch about an imaginary product, “schweddy balls”, that wound up as a real product. ---
**Author:** ![Grotonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c2a13f/32.png) [@Grotonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grotonian)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/63 "2015-02-20T14:53:58Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > **This post has been slimed by the slimer!** This is exactly what I thought of when I read the title. Best Canadian show to ever air on American television, after _DeGrassi Junior High_, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/64 "2015-02-21T00:32:50Z")
When “McHale’s Navy” was broadcast in the 1960s, the enemy in the Pacific was usually called “J\*\*s”. A decade later on “Black Sheep Squadron”, the publicists were quick to point out “Japanese” was the word used. ---
**Author:** ![Celan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Celan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celan)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/65 "2015-02-21T04:22:14Z")
“I Dream of Jeanie” couldn’t be made today. The idea of a man having at his beck and call a magic woman who could do anything he wished and lived captured in a bottle could not fly today. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/66 "2015-02-21T04:28:01Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > This is exactly what I thought of when I read the title. Best Canadian show to ever air on American television, after _DeGrassi Junior High_, of course. SCTV anyone? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/67 "2015-02-21T05:43:29Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > When “McHale’s Navy” was broadcast in the 1960s, the enemy in the Pacific was usually called “J\*\*s”. A decade later on “Black Sheep Squadron”, the publicists were quick to point out “Japanese” was the word used. Actually, “Nips” was the word McHale and crew always used. On _ **Combat!** _, which was set in France, the enemy was “Krauts.” In _ **The Gallant Men** _, which was set in Italy, the GIs always called the Germans “Gerries” (which while not all that offensive was mostly a British term). ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/68 "2015-02-21T05:50:35Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > SCTV anyone? _ **Bizarre** _? :dubious: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/UXL16tdr36k/hqdefault.jpg "BIZARRE: The Bigot Family, Vol. 1 - John Byner, Michael Wincott, Luba Goy, Philip Akin, Lally Cadeau") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXL16tdr36k) ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/69 "2015-02-21T06:05:46Z")
[quote=“terentii, post:68, topic:712755”] _ **Bizarre** _? :dubious: [/QUOTE] Wow. I completely and utterly had forgotten about this show. Erased from memory. But it was really funny in the day! ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/70 "2015-02-21T06:11:07Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > At the time my wife, then a small child, thought folks were laughing at them because they were retarded, not because they were black. > > There was more nudity on American TV in the 80s - 00s, including daytime soaps. Ah, yes. The late 70’s early 80’s. The Golden Age of bralessness - nipples everywhere, even on awards shows and sitcoms. We shall never see the like again. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/71 "2015-02-21T15:36:03Z")
On _Third Watch_ (1999 to 2005), Faith Yokas had an abortion. A significant part of the plot was that her husband was unaware of both her pregnancy and of her decision to abort. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/72 "2015-02-21T16:32:22Z")
> [@AtomicDog](#): > > Ah, yes. The late 70’s early 80’s. The Golden Age of bralessness - nipples everywhere, even on awards shows and sitcoms. > > We shall never see the like again. Yes, yes… tufted titmice are nearly extinct, and the world’s poorer for it. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/73 "2015-02-21T16:34:10Z")
> [@Celan](#): > > “I Dream of Jeanie” couldn’t be made today. The idea of a man having at his beck and call a magic woman who could do anything he wished and lived captured in a bottle could not fly today. It would if she had more of an independent streak. As it was, Jeannie only refused to do things if the major had once again hurt her feelings. Think of Jeannie with a dose of, well, Genie. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/74 "2015-02-21T16:54:02Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Wow. I completely and utterly had forgotten about this show. Erased from memory. > > But it was really funny in the day! One sketch I particularly remember from SCTV was the Feminist Coffeehouse production of _ **I’m Takin’ My Head Off, Screwin’ It On Right, and No MAN Is Gonna Tell Me It Ain’t!** _, reviewed by Bill Needle. It was hilarious! Probably on YouTube, but I don’t have the time right now to look for it. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/75 "2015-02-21T18:05:21Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > One sketch I particularly remember from SCTV was the Feminist Coffeehouse production of _ **I’m Takin’ My Head Off, Screwin’ It On Right, and No MAN Is Gonna Tell Me It Ain’t!** _, reviewed by Bill Needle. It was hilarious! > > Probably on YouTube, but I don’t have the time right now to look for it. [Here’s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmiiDD5O7QI) the entire episode. According to a Youtube comment (yeah, I know) it is “a satire of the Off-Broadway hit, “I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking it on the Road”, a tediously earnest and self-indulgent musical which presented pertinent feminist issues in a rather narcissistic light.” ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/76 "2015-02-21T18:28:36Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > [Here’s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmiiDD5O7QI) the entire episode. > > According to a Youtube comment (yeah, I know) it is “a satire of the Off-Broadway hit, “I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking it on the Road”, a tediously earnest and self-indulgent musical which presented pertinent feminist issues in a rather narcissistic light.” Yeah, it’s one of those _women’s_ plays. You know the kind I mean! :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2015, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/77 "2015-02-22T03:21:30Z")
> [@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) NBC just replayed this skit. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2015, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/78 "2015-02-22T03:36:41Z")
> [@RetroVertigo](#): > > NBC just replayed this skit. Even the disclaimer was humorous. something like: “Remember, this is the 70s. Things that seemed edgy then may not now” Not an exact quote ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2015, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/79 "2015-02-22T04:25:30Z")
n/m ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2015, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755/80 "2015-02-22T04:30:59Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > 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). Fox’s “MasterChef” used to tell us how wonderful Walmart steaks were, all the time, but the most recent season didn’t do that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-do-that-on-television-even-though-they-once-did/712755.md?page=5)