FCC is turning down indecency complaints about ABC's "Saving Private Ryan" broadcast
01-24-05, 11:22 PM
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FCC is turning down indecency complaints about ABC's "Saving Private Ryan" broadcast
From CNN/Reuters:
FCC to rebuff 'Private Ryan' complaints
Regulators plan to turn down indecency complaints about ABC's airing of the movie.
January 24, 2005: 7:24 PM EST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A majority of U.S. communications regulators have voted to deny viewer complaints that ABC television stations violated indecency rules when they aired the movie "Saving Private Ryan" last November, an FCC official said on Monday.
Three of the five commissioners on the U.S. Federal Communications Commission have voted to deny complaints against 159 ABC affiliates that aired the award-winning film, said the official, who asked not to be named because the vote was not completed.
The movie, which includes profanity and violence, told the story about the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II and ran on Veteran's Day. Sixty-six ABC affiliates refused to show the movie for fear of attracting an indecency fine.
Warnings were aired throughout the broadcast about the content. The ABC network, owned by Walt Disney Co., ran the movie twice before and did not incur FCC penalties.
The FCC decision would become final once the remaining two commissioners cast their votes.
Separately, the FCC also on Monday rejected 36 complaints that television stations violated decency limits by airing episodes of popular shows like "Friends" and "The Simpsons," as well as the movie "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me."
The Parents Television Council had complained about the shows' sexual references, like an episode of "Friends" on the NBC network where characters discussed a cake in the shape of a penis. Another complaint centered on Fox's "The Simpsons" show where students carried signs that said: "Don't cut off my pianissimo".
The group also said indecency rules were violated when the main character in the Austin Powers movie had his genitals hidden by furniture and other objects.
But the FCC denied the complaints by PTC, which has been pushing regulators to crack down on broadcasters and lawmakers to raise fines, now $32,500 per incident.
"We find that none of the material referenced in PTC's complaints rises to the level of being patently offensive under our indecency definition," the FCC said in its order. The agency also said the material was not profane.
A representative for the organization said the FCC was only going after extreme cases.
"The FCC is only deeming everything indecent that is way over the top," said Lara Mahaney, a spokeswoman for the PTC. "We know of no community in America where words like 'dick' and 'dickhead' would be considered decent or commonfare language."
Those vulgarities were aired on the programs "Dawson's Creek" on the WB Television Network, owned by Time Warner Inc. and "NYPD Blue," on ABC.
Federal regulations limit television and radio stations from airing indecent material, such as sexually explicit discussions or profane language, except during late night hours when children are less likely to be watching or listening.
Over the last year, the FCC has been tougher in cracking down on incidents after Janet Jackson exposed her breast during the Super Bowl football game last year.
NBC is owned by General Electric Co. and Fox is owned by News Corp. CNN/Money is alsoowned by Time Warner.
FCC to rebuff 'Private Ryan' complaints
Regulators plan to turn down indecency complaints about ABC's airing of the movie.
January 24, 2005: 7:24 PM EST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A majority of U.S. communications regulators have voted to deny viewer complaints that ABC television stations violated indecency rules when they aired the movie "Saving Private Ryan" last November, an FCC official said on Monday.
Three of the five commissioners on the U.S. Federal Communications Commission have voted to deny complaints against 159 ABC affiliates that aired the award-winning film, said the official, who asked not to be named because the vote was not completed.
The movie, which includes profanity and violence, told the story about the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II and ran on Veteran's Day. Sixty-six ABC affiliates refused to show the movie for fear of attracting an indecency fine.
Warnings were aired throughout the broadcast about the content. The ABC network, owned by Walt Disney Co., ran the movie twice before and did not incur FCC penalties.
The FCC decision would become final once the remaining two commissioners cast their votes.
Separately, the FCC also on Monday rejected 36 complaints that television stations violated decency limits by airing episodes of popular shows like "Friends" and "The Simpsons," as well as the movie "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me."
The Parents Television Council had complained about the shows' sexual references, like an episode of "Friends" on the NBC network where characters discussed a cake in the shape of a penis. Another complaint centered on Fox's "The Simpsons" show where students carried signs that said: "Don't cut off my pianissimo".
The group also said indecency rules were violated when the main character in the Austin Powers movie had his genitals hidden by furniture and other objects.
But the FCC denied the complaints by PTC, which has been pushing regulators to crack down on broadcasters and lawmakers to raise fines, now $32,500 per incident.
"We find that none of the material referenced in PTC's complaints rises to the level of being patently offensive under our indecency definition," the FCC said in its order. The agency also said the material was not profane.
A representative for the organization said the FCC was only going after extreme cases.
"The FCC is only deeming everything indecent that is way over the top," said Lara Mahaney, a spokeswoman for the PTC. "We know of no community in America where words like 'dick' and 'dickhead' would be considered decent or commonfare language."
Those vulgarities were aired on the programs "Dawson's Creek" on the WB Television Network, owned by Time Warner Inc. and "NYPD Blue," on ABC.
Federal regulations limit television and radio stations from airing indecent material, such as sexually explicit discussions or profane language, except during late night hours when children are less likely to be watching or listening.
Over the last year, the FCC has been tougher in cracking down on incidents after Janet Jackson exposed her breast during the Super Bowl football game last year.
NBC is owned by General Electric Co. and Fox is owned by News Corp. CNN/Money is alsoowned by Time Warner.
Last edited by Mr. Salty; 01-24-05 at 11:28 PM.
01-24-05, 11:52 PM
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"We know of no community in America where words like 'dick' and 'dickhead' would be considered decent or commonfare language."
01-25-05, 06:24 AM
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"The FCC is only deeming everything indecent that is way over the top," said Lara Mahaney, a spokeswoman for the PTC. "We know of no community in America where words like 'dick' and 'dickhead' would be considered decent or commonfare language."
01-25-05, 09:41 AM
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I am curious to know why SPR is okay but why other things deemed indecent are not okay. Answer me that, FCC.
The PTC does live in the America. 1950s America.
The PTC does live in the America. 1950s America.
01-25-05, 09:44 AM
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"We know of no community in America where words like 'dick' and 'dickhead' would be considered decent or commonfare language."
01-25-05, 09:53 AM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Salty
The group also said indecency rules were violated when the main character in the Austin Powers movie had his genitals hidden...
01-25-05, 09:58 AM
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I started a thread in Politics about the 36 complaints the FCC denied.
http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=406636
That thread has links to the FCC's two opinions, which lay out the bases for the complaints. Some of my favorites:
If I'm ever on TV, I'll be sure to say that I think the PTC are a bunch of dicks.
http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=406636
That thread has links to the FCC's two opinions, which lay out the bases for the complaints. Some of my favorites:
- “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me,” January 8, 2003, 8 p.m. EST: musical number during which the title character’s naked torso and genital area are blocked by objects, furniture, and, in one instance, by his hands. Later scenes include the use of the phrase “fat bastard,” and the word “testicles.” In another scene from this film, a male and a female character are in bed together, but no sexual or excretory organs or activities are depicted or discussed.
- “Friends,” May 1, 2003, 8 p.m. EST: a female character and her husband encounter the husband’s former girlfriend at a medical office. After a conversation concerning fertility treatment, the female character says that she has to go because she’s got “an invasive vaginal exam to get to.”
- “Run of the House,” October 23, 2003, 9 p.m. EST: a female character teases her brother about dating a woman who looks like his mother and, after her brother and his girlfriend have been in the hot tub, tells him “I know what you’re doing.”
- “Gilmore Girls,” November 18, 2003, 8 p.m. EST: in one scene, a character’s grandfather reminisces about college pranks involving nudity; in another scene, two current college students discuss the night the male student spent nude in a dorm hallway. There is also another scene in which a female character listens to a brief message on her answering machine in which a male caller makes a reference to “growing a pair.”
- “One Tree Hill,” November 18, 2003, 9 p.m. EST: in a school hallway, a male
character tells a female character, “I’ve got something for you,” and she replies, “I know you do, gorgeous.” He then gives her a book, telling her she might want to “check it out,” and she replies, “Oh, I definitely want to check it out. I suppose I could read the book, too.” - “Gilmore Girls,” February 10, 2004, 9 p.m. EST: one character says to another: “you’re a dick.”
- "Angel,” February 11, 2004, 9 p.m. EST: one character says to another: “you’re still a dick.”
- "Night of Too Many Stars,” May 31, 2003, 8 p.m. EDT: comedian Dana Carvey, reprising his role as the Saturday Night Live character, “Church Lady,” says to the actor Macaulay Culkin: “…then we jumped on the puberty train and got all tingly . . . we want to fornicate, so we thought it would be nifty to get married when we were twelve.” Dana Carvey later discusses Michael Jackson and says of him: “Did he ever dangle anything in front of you at the sleepovers? . . . Say, his happy man-loaf? . . . When he moon walked, he didn’t moon you as he walked, did he? . . . Did he ever get into Billy’s jeans?” Another character asks whether “his [Jackson’s] shalonthaz [sic] ever rose up to salute you? You never played hide the toast?”
- "The Next Joe Millionaire,” October 28, 2003, 8 p.m. EST: the complaint alleges
that a character says “fuck off.” Based on our review of the tape, however, this description is inaccurate in that no character appears to utter the quoted language. - “One Tree Hill,” October 28, 2003, 9 p.m. EST: one female character is depicted putting her lips to a hose that had been inserted into a gas tank. Seeing this, another female character quips, “Had a lot of practice? Siphoning gas, what’d you think I meant?”
- “Friends,” November 13, 2003, 8 p.m. EST: certain characters use the words “hell,” “crap,” “pissed,” “bastard,” and the phrase “son of a bitch.” One character says he “didn’t say the F-word.” Other characters ponder where a male character may have hidden “porn.” A male character states, “You broke my heart. Do you know how many women I had to sleep with to get over you?”
- "The Simpsons,” November 16, 2003, 8 p.m. EST: in this animated program, a scene depicts students carrying picket signs that read “Don’t cut off my pianissimo” and “What would Jesus glue?” A male character says “Well, I guess this story has a happy ending after all. Just like my last massage.”
- “King of the Hill,” November 23, 2003, 7:30 p.m. EST: in this animated program, a cartoon boy is shown about to enter a communal shower at his school. An off-screen voice emanating from the shower asks, “Is that a pimple or another nipple?” As the cartoon boy removes his towel and enters the shower, his buttocks are briefly depicted.
If I'm ever on TV, I'll be sure to say that I think the PTC are a bunch of dicks.
01-25-05, 10:41 AM
#12
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“One Tree Hill,” November 18, 2003, 9 p.m. EST: in a school hallway, a male
character tells a female character, “I’ve got something for you,” and she replies, “I know you do, gorgeous.” He then gives her a book, telling her she might want to “check it out,” and she replies, “Oh, I definitely want to check it out. I suppose I could read the book, too.”
character tells a female character, “I’ve got something for you,” and she replies, “I know you do, gorgeous.” He then gives her a book, telling her she might want to “check it out,” and she replies, “Oh, I definitely want to check it out. I suppose I could read the book, too.”
01-25-05, 11:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Salty
"The FCC is only deeming everything indecent that is way over the top," said Lara Mahaney, a spokeswoman for the PTC. "We know of no community in America where words like 'dick' and 'dickhead' would be considered decent or commonfare language."
01-25-05, 11:09 AM
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These PTC people are out of control. They think that Michael Powell was too liberal. From their website:
“While we acknowledge and respect his many years of service to the nation in a number of capacities, Michael Powell has brought us four years of failed leadership at the FCC. His reluctance to enforce broadcast decency laws have led to confusion and uncertainty. During his term, bestiality, masturbation, oral sex, anal sex and pedophilia became FCC-sanctioned topics on prime time network television. American families deserve more from the FCC in protecting our children from overtly indecent content,” said L. Brent Bozell, president of the PTC.
01-25-05, 01:37 PM
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There aren't enough 
's in the world.
How about letting the parents do that?
's in the world.
Originally Posted by PTC President
"American families deserve more from the FCC in protecting our children from overtly indecent content,” said L. Brent Bozell, president of the PTC.
01-26-05, 08:03 AM
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Originally Posted by Bandoman
These PTC people are out of control. They think that Michael Powell was too liberal. From their website:
Can't WAIT for their response!
01-26-05, 08:56 AM
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Originally Posted by SMB-IL
I e-mailed PTC asking for backup for the statement: "During his term, bestiality, masturbation, oral sex, anal sex and pedophilia became FCC-sanctioned topics on prime time network television."
Can't WAIT for their response!
Can't WAIT for their response!
So they watch SVU, obviously they miss the point of the show.
01-26-05, 10:21 AM
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Screw the FCC. They could have easily announced before the airing of SPR that they would refuse any complaints, but instead gave the ambiguous "we'll have to wait and review the complaints" answer, which lead to so many stations cancelling their broadcast.
As for the PTC and L. Brent Bozell... what a joke. This is an organization that got sued by the World Wrestling Federation and lost. Bozell had to admit that he was a liar as part of the settlement. Mick Foley completely shredded Bozell and the PTC in his book "Foley is Good (and The Real World Is Faker Than Wrestling)"
As for the PTC and L. Brent Bozell... what a joke. This is an organization that got sued by the World Wrestling Federation and lost. Bozell had to admit that he was a liar as part of the settlement. Mick Foley completely shredded Bozell and the PTC in his book "Foley is Good (and The Real World Is Faker Than Wrestling)"
03-01-05, 11:54 AM
#19
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'Private Ryan' not indecent, FCC rules
By Chris Baker
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
The Federal Communications Commission acknowledged yesterday that "Saving Private Ryan" features heavy profanity, but said the ABC affiliates that aired the film on Veterans Day did not violate the government's decency standards.
The language used in "Saving Private Ryan" is not indecent, given the context in which it was presented, the FCC ruled. The 1998 film tells the story of a violent rescue mission during World War II.
"The horror of war and the enormous personal sacrifice it draws on cannot be painted in airy pastels. The true colors are muddy brown and fire red, and any accurate depiction of this significant, historical tale could not be told properly without bringing that sense to the screen," said FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell, a Republican who is scheduled to depart the agency this month.
The ruling by the five-member FCC was unanimous. The commissioners reached their decision Feb. 3 and released it yesterday. A spokeswoman said she did not know why the announcement was delayed.
Sixty-six of ABC's estimated 225 affiliates declined to air "Saving Private Ryan," citing concerns about the profanity and violence depicted in the film.
Station managers said they were nervous because ABC scheduled the airing in the wake of last year's Super Bowl halftime-show brouhaha, when Justin Timberlake briefly exposed part of Janet Jackson's right breast, triggering a government crackdown on indecency on the airwaves.
The FCC spokeswoman said the number of complaints the agency received about the November 2004 airing of the film was unavailable, but an official with the American Family Association -- a conservative watchdog group that campaigned against the film's broadcast -- said its members sent 23,339 complaints.
"Our reaction is one of extreme disappointment. ... I think it confuses a lot of people," said Randy Sharp, the association's director of special projects. He cited the FCC's so-called "Bono" decision, which suggested context is not necessarily a consideration when determining whether profanity violates decency standards.
In October 2003, the FCC ruled that Bono's use of an expletive during NBC's January 2003 broadcast of the Golden Globes was not indecent because the rock star used the word as an adjective, not a verb.
Six weeks after Miss Jackson's Super Bowl performance, the FCC reversed the decision, ruling Bono's use of the word was indecent. However, the agency declined to fine NBC, saying the network had not been put on notice that airing profanity violated the rules.
According to the government's regulations, over-the-air television and radio stations cannot broadcast materials involving sexual and excretory functions between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., when children might tune in.
"The FCC is right. Context matters," said Howard M. Liberman, a communications lawyer in Washington who formerly worked as an FCC staff attorney.
Many of the ABC affiliates that declined to air "Saving Private Ryan" said they recognized the artistic value of the film, which opened to critical acclaim and won five Academy Awards.
"Based on this ruling today, we would be favorably disposed to airing it if the network scheduled it again," said Raymond Cole, president of Citadel Communications, which owns three of the ABC affiliates that pre-empted the film last year.
The FCC also announced yesterday that, in a Feb. 14 ruling, denied indecency complaints against episodes of the comedy series "Arrested Development" and "Will & Grace."
The Parents Television Council, a conservative watchdog group that lodged the complaints, argued the segments contained explicit dialogue about sex or euphemisms for sex acts, but the FCC disagreed.
By Chris Baker
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
The Federal Communications Commission acknowledged yesterday that "Saving Private Ryan" features heavy profanity, but said the ABC affiliates that aired the film on Veterans Day did not violate the government's decency standards.
The language used in "Saving Private Ryan" is not indecent, given the context in which it was presented, the FCC ruled. The 1998 film tells the story of a violent rescue mission during World War II.
"The horror of war and the enormous personal sacrifice it draws on cannot be painted in airy pastels. The true colors are muddy brown and fire red, and any accurate depiction of this significant, historical tale could not be told properly without bringing that sense to the screen," said FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell, a Republican who is scheduled to depart the agency this month.
The ruling by the five-member FCC was unanimous. The commissioners reached their decision Feb. 3 and released it yesterday. A spokeswoman said she did not know why the announcement was delayed.
Sixty-six of ABC's estimated 225 affiliates declined to air "Saving Private Ryan," citing concerns about the profanity and violence depicted in the film.
Station managers said they were nervous because ABC scheduled the airing in the wake of last year's Super Bowl halftime-show brouhaha, when Justin Timberlake briefly exposed part of Janet Jackson's right breast, triggering a government crackdown on indecency on the airwaves.
The FCC spokeswoman said the number of complaints the agency received about the November 2004 airing of the film was unavailable, but an official with the American Family Association -- a conservative watchdog group that campaigned against the film's broadcast -- said its members sent 23,339 complaints.
"Our reaction is one of extreme disappointment. ... I think it confuses a lot of people," said Randy Sharp, the association's director of special projects. He cited the FCC's so-called "Bono" decision, which suggested context is not necessarily a consideration when determining whether profanity violates decency standards.
In October 2003, the FCC ruled that Bono's use of an expletive during NBC's January 2003 broadcast of the Golden Globes was not indecent because the rock star used the word as an adjective, not a verb.
Six weeks after Miss Jackson's Super Bowl performance, the FCC reversed the decision, ruling Bono's use of the word was indecent. However, the agency declined to fine NBC, saying the network had not been put on notice that airing profanity violated the rules.
According to the government's regulations, over-the-air television and radio stations cannot broadcast materials involving sexual and excretory functions between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., when children might tune in.
"The FCC is right. Context matters," said Howard M. Liberman, a communications lawyer in Washington who formerly worked as an FCC staff attorney.
Many of the ABC affiliates that declined to air "Saving Private Ryan" said they recognized the artistic value of the film, which opened to critical acclaim and won five Academy Awards.
"Based on this ruling today, we would be favorably disposed to airing it if the network scheduled it again," said Raymond Cole, president of Citadel Communications, which owns three of the ABC affiliates that pre-empted the film last year.
The FCC also announced yesterday that, in a Feb. 14 ruling, denied indecency complaints against episodes of the comedy series "Arrested Development" and "Will & Grace."
The Parents Television Council, a conservative watchdog group that lodged the complaints, argued the segments contained explicit dialogue about sex or euphemisms for sex acts, but the FCC disagreed.
The full opinion is available here.
Good news! As long as Michael Powell and his buddies are OK with the context in which you say "fuck," you're allowed to say "fuck."
Fuck the FCC's content regulation.
03-01-05, 12:04 PM
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Meanwhile, Senator Ted Stevens is pushing for FCC content regs to cover cable and satellite. Like I have said - just a matter of time.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-2005Mar1.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-2005Mar1.html
03-01-05, 12:15 PM
#23
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Meanwhile, Senator Ted Stevens is pushing for FCC content regs to cover cable and satellite. Like I have said - just a matter of time.
03-01-05, 12:17 PM
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The government can have control over whatever it wants.
03-01-05, 12:31 PM
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Originally Posted by spainlinx0
The government can have control over whatever it wants.
Exactly. Congress can just waive the magic wand (even if the action is unconstitutional) like they have on thousands of occasions and make it so.