News & Politics - Will the FCC Fine ABC?

mh67511 · 11-15-2004, 02:34 AM

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Family Groups File Indecency Complaints Over 'Ryan'

It all seemed so simple. ABC planned to air Steven Spielberg's Oscar-winning war epic "Saving Private Ryan" in honor of Veterans Day. The network planned to show the movie uncut, complete with the violence and the foul language of war, but even that seemed simple enough, given that the movie had aired uncut on two occasions previously.
Instead, roughly 20 percent of the network's 250 affiliates, including the now notorious Sinclair Group, refused to air the movie on Thursday (Nov. 11). In addition, several organizations with conservative Christian ties have launched campaigns to flood the FCC with complaints.

The American Family Association, led by Rev. Donald Wildmon, has filed complaints with the FCC both times "Private Ryan" aired uncut previously. On both occasions the FCC ruled that the movie was not indecent.

"We realize it is important for families, especially our children, recognize the sacrifices made by our loved ones during wartime," reads a statement posted on the AFA website and on the sites of several affiliated groups, including the Mississippi-based One Million Moms and One Million Dads. "However, airing excessively profane language during prime-time television hours is not necessary to convey that sacrifice. We believe ABC should have aired their salute to heroes without violating broadcast decency laws."

Although countless soldiers are brutally murdered in the movie, the AFA's real concern isn't about the gory violence, but about several words the group is too sheepish to use.

"ABC crossed the line by airing at least 20 "f" words and 12 "s" words during prime time viewing hours!" the statement exclaims.

All of the sites contain forms that allow users to submit letters which will be filed "with all five FCC commissioners and the FCC Decency Enforcement Bureau." FCC Chairman Michael Powell's contact information is also provided.

In a statement, Arizona Senator John McCain questioned the logic of the protesting affiliates.

"'Saving Private Ryan' is a powerful and important depiction of the sacrifices made for our country," he says. "While it contains violence and profanity, these are not shown in a gratuitous manner."

Given that the FCC recently fined 169 FOX affiliates $7,000 apiece stemming from an episode of "Married by America" that nobody watched, this will make for an interesting test of the commission's new mandate to crack down on television indecency wherever it may roam.

Because of the number of affiliates pre-empting "Ryan," it's too early to know how many viewers tuned in for the screening, but ABC average around 9.2 million viewers for the evening, counting all programming.

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CBS was fined $550,000 for showing a glimpse of Janet Jackson's boob.

Fox owned and affiliated stations were fined $7,000 each for airing an episode of Married By America -- a total of $1.18 million. They showed: bachelor and bachelorette parties, including scenes of (i) a topless woman straddling a man's torso while lap dancing, (ii) whipped cream being licked off another topless woman's chest and (iii) two female strippers spanking a man wearing only underwear, were indecent under federal standards. -- nudity was blurred.

I have no problem with them showing this movie on TV, but rules are rules. Why do they go seem to only care about sexuality and not language or violence? If FOX and CBS got fined, how come ABC is getting away with this?

Lovesbitch · 11-15-2004, 02:48 AM

I think it's stupid in general that CBS got fined for like a milli-second of a nipple.

And I can't believe they're getting upset with the language of Private Ryan and not the violence.

Hello, in that situation shoulders are not gonna say "dang" instead of "d*amn"

SweetLisaLisa · 11-15-2004, 03:22 AM

Technically, it wasn't even a nipple. Her nipple was covered with...whatever that was.

This whole thing on censorship is really annoying. But, it's not cable so rules are rules and children should be protected. The parents have more of the responsibility but the networks need to be cooperative as well.

Lovesbitch · 11-15-2004, 03:24 AM

See, it's the point that "children must be protected" thing that annoys me the most.

If a child is old enough to watch that kind of violence (which i guess they were all perfectly fine with) they are old enough to hear the language. Honestly, I would be far more concerned about my child seeing a person gunned down and blown up then to hear a few swear words.

Mandy Renay · 11-15-2004, 03:34 AM

They talked this to death on the radio... and they were saying that ABC was trying to figure out exactly what the regulations were from the FCC, but the FCC just said 'Sorry, we can't tell you.' Isn't that dumb?

capesidefan · 11-15-2004, 03:35 AM

screw the fcc, get the kids in bed or be parent and make sure your child does not watch it. the fcc is on a witch hunt right now....

Saving Private Ryan shows the true reality's of war, and is a nice tribute to ww2 vets

Lovesbitch · 11-15-2004, 03:44 AM

FCC is being a *****ing prick.

SuperDeluxe · 11-15-2004, 04:02 AM

I hope the FCC can keep its hands off of this one

Talk about chilling effects on what can be aired or not.

Here is my suggestion to those that dont want to see this.

TURN THE CHANNEL

its called self police. I swear we have become a nation of people dependent on the government to do everything for us.

Timeo · 11-15-2004, 07:00 AM

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Originally posted by SuperDeluxe
I swear we have become a nation of people dependent on the government to do everything for us.

No, the USA has become a nation of people where those in the government impose their moral beliefs upon all others. There's a difference.

ceilirose · 11-15-2004, 09:51 AM

This is just another example of what this country will be facing from now on. A group with specific values is deciding what can and cannot come into our living rooms.

**TheAngel** · 11-15-2004, 11:00 AM

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Originally posted by Timeo
No, the USA has become a nation of people where those in the government impose their moral beliefs upon all others. There's a difference.

The US has become a nation of minority rule. People write letters to the FCC and that's why they respond to something. That's why they responded so harshly to the wardrobe malfunction, because there was a public outcry. So a hundred parents allow TV to raise their kids and suddenly their kids are saying damn because they saw it on TV, suddenly it's the television program's fault and not the fault of the parents. People need to take responsibility for their actions

LittleMilkJug · 11-15-2004, 11:41 AM

These 'family groups' scare me, and I'm a mom of 4 young kids. If I don't want my kids to see a film, I don't let them , it's that simple. I wouldn't dream of telling other people what to watch.
I'm also wise to what goes on in the playground at school. My kids hear much worse than you get on TV.

dyxlecis gril · 11-15-2004, 12:08 PM

i don't get this whole 'body parts are dirty' thing. i come from a country where stuff like that is shown on tv all the time (i'm talking nudist beach naked, not playboy). people don't think saggy boobs and flaccid penises are sexy, man. i don't get it. and how is a finger symbolizing something dirty, actually dirty? what about butts, how are butts dirty? kids can see one everytime they look in the mirror. i mean, what's up with that?

ah, anyway. i don't see the big deal with the cusswords either. when i was a kid, i learned profanity from other children, who learned it from older siblings or parents, so i doubt television has much involvement in that.

i actually didn't know american television was allowed to air uncut stuff, until last year, when i was visiting and the southpark movie came on. i don't mind, i don't have a problem with it, but if rules are rules, why don't you stick to them?

86amanda86 · 11-15-2004, 12:28 PM

i think its as stupid as if someone were to fine a network for airing schindlers list uncut.

Ambular · 11-15-2004, 02:33 PM

When I was a kid, my parents emphasized to us enough that curse words were not acceptable language in our house. That said, if we were watching a movie together and someone said the "F" word, nobody wigged out and started suing the networks. We just knew it wasn't what WE were supposed to say. Of course I curse now, but that's beside the point

Anyway I agree that the censorship is a little out of hands. Yes, cursing and naked body parts should be omitted from programs that children are meant to watch, but as for rest, I don't get it. If my child is too young to be hearing the word "*****" on television, because they are impressionable and I didn't want them repeating it, you can bet your ass they will not be watching a movie as brutally violent as Saving Private Ryan, that's for sure.

I'd be more concerned with the kids seeing a man's legs blown off instead of hearing a swear word. Because, unlike cursing, you will not find bloody warfare on the playground.


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