TV Censorship

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

So I'm watching Family Guy reruns on my DVR off network TV - it happens to be the episode where Brian runs away, then gets taken to the pound and is set to be put down.

At the end of the episode, they are all watching Murder She Wrote, where the character says he hasn't seen Angela Lansbury's character since - "the abortion"

Normally in the episode, there is a joke, something along the lines of Peter saying "So I guess SHE'S the murderer"

Censored.

Is that really what TV in this nation has come to? Really?

 

[The Battousai]

Was it on Fox? They've done that with several episodes - really annoys the hell outta me...

It should be up to parents to not have their kids watching stuff tha isn't age appropriate - not censoring programs for people who are too lazy to do so.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

Was it on Fox? They've done that with several episodes - really annoys the hell outta me...

It should be up to parents to not have their kids watching stuff tha isn't age appropriate - not censoring programs for people who are too lazy to do so.

No it was a re-run on CW

 

[OctaviusINC]

Yeah I caught a few episodes of Family Guy on other networks besides Adult Swim and they really censor some strange things.

In one of the newer episodes where Stewie and Brian Travel to WWII Germany they beat up a Nazi to steal his uniform and he's wearing a McCain/Palin pin. I'm sure that'll be censored.

 

[black_dust]

You as a Nation are up tight... end of story

 

[Majic Walrus]

I don't support censorship on a government level and I really hate it when private companies participate in censorship but... At the same time I can't blame them and I appreciate the fact that it's their choice.

If a company feels it's wise to avoid certain kinds of topics and material to increase their revenue then I certainly understand their decision.

 

[BlackLantern]

any locally syndicated episodes are probably subject to editing....it doesn't really bother me as I usually watch Family Guy on Adult Swim or DVD....

 

[November Rain]

it probably has more to do with studios unwilling to take responsibility for putting it out so they play safe and edit it.

 

[Manic]

I think I briefly went over this in the Doctor Who thread, but I blame the British for America's over-the-top censorship! If somebody hadn't unloaded all of their uptight Puritans into the colonies, the US would've only been founded by corrupt businessmen and indentured tax evaders.

 

[Swordmaster]

Somewhat related. I'm watching Liar, Liar on USA, and I get to the part where Jim Carrey is beating himself up in the bathroom and (I think) Larry David finds him and asks what he's doing.

The usual response, as most know, is "I'm kicking my ass!" However, USA mutes out ass. Which is funny, because in the commercial advertising they're showing Liar, Liar, they don't bother muting it out at all.

Weird.

 

[Manic]

I think cable dub-overs are hilarious. They're always obvious, and they choose some of the dumbest phrases as substitutes for profanity.

They're completely unnecessary, though. Technically, cable networks can get away with whatever they want. The FCC has no control over cable. They only censor themselves because they don't want to lose advertisers. If you pay attention, however, TBS, BBC America, Comedy Central, and a few others let their TV shows and movies get away with the S-word if they air at night. Comedy Central even has their "secret stash" block on Saturday nights, where they let movies get away with all language (but still no nudity).

 

[Dodger]

I remember watching THE SHILED on Spike when it use to air in the morning. Man talk about being on the chop block. It wasn't even the same show.

 

[wiegeabo]

I find censorship ridiculous. We have this reliable old technology called a 'button'. With this 'button' someone can actually change the channel from the program they find offensive to one of the hundreds of other available channels out there. We also have guides that one can use to avoid shows and channels they'd find offensive.

And for parents worried about kids, we have a newer technology in the V-chip. So parents can actually be active parents and lock out stuff they find offensive. God forbid parents spend a few minutes to program their v-chip or, if they don't have v-chip tv's, pay attention to what their kids are watching. I'm tired of people demanding government to the stuff they don't feel like doing.


And it's not like, if censorship were removed, every show on every channel would suddenly become offensive. Networks are trying to sell a product, and there's a huge market out there of people who don't want to see, and advertisers who don't want to promote, 'offensive' material. So networks are still going to make stuff that's acceptable like they do now.

 

[Johann Krauss]

tv censorship was created so parents didn't have to do their job and because right-wing republicans thought certain words or nudity would turn their kids into gang members and high schol dropouts because god forbid you hear the word ass or actually see one on tv...it's only a matter of time until this country is like China with the censoship.

 

[BlackLantern]

I don't think it's wrong to not want certain material on the airwaves....Parents can't be around 24/7 and most really aren't....there are alternatives like the V Chip and parental controls on cable boxes....but a lot of the better content is being found on cable and premium channels (in terms of shows) because there aren't those restrictions...

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

because right-wing republicans thought certain words or nudity would turn their kids into gang members and high schol dropouts because god forbid you hear the word ass or actually see one on tv...

This brings me around to an entirely different point altogether - the one that the (extreme) Christian right-wing is 100% anti-American, despite their constant claims that it is the Liberal left wing that is anti-American.

 

[wiegeabo]

tv censorship was created so parents didn't have to do their job and because right-wing republicans thought certain words or nudity would turn their kids into gang members and high schol dropouts because god forbid you hear the word ass or actually see one on tv...it's only a matter of time until this country is like China with the censoship.

Especially since the kids heard those very same words from their own parents at home.

 

[Bnightwing]

I watched 'Back To The Future' a couple of days ago and it said "When this baby hits 88 miles per hour your gonna see some serious (Girl Voice no lie!) STUFF!" It made me mad because cussing to me makes some movies what they are!

 

[the_ultimate_evil]

You as a Nation are up tight... end of story

please have you seen the way channel 4 cuts the simpsons apart

 

[Addendum]

I think cable dub-overs are hilarious. They're always obvious, and they choose some of the dumbest phrases as substitutes for profanity.

They're completely unnecessary, though. Technically, cable networks can get away with whatever they want. The FCC has no control over cable. They only censor themselves because they don't want to lose advertisers. If you pay attention, however, TBS, BBC America, Comedy Central, and a few others let their TV shows and movies get away with the S-word if they air at night. Comedy Central even has their "secret stash" block on Saturday nights, where they let movies get away with all language (but still no nudity).

"where'd you get that beauty scar tough guy? Eating pineapple?"

 

[BatMatt]

When Stewie says "can you really say bang on TV?" it is bleeped (bang) on syndicated networks besides Cartoon Network and makes it sound worse than it already was

 

[BlackLantern]

but it's not like the unedited or uncut versions aren't available with DVD, cable, and all that

 

[black_dust]

please have you seen the way channel 4 cuts the simpsons apart

Ah yes but is that Channel four or the cast offs from America, dont forget Channel 4 knows no bounds, they gave us Brass Eye and Ali G

 

[BatMatt]

They can be humorous however: "You son of a sandwich" and "What the bajinkins?"

 

[Manic]

Cartoon Network actually lets Family Guy get away with more than Fox. There was an episode where Peter and Lois got unbelievably high, and ended up lying naked on the sofa when Brian & Stewie walked in. The FG crew didn't show anything full-blow; they were on their sides. Fox still made them go back and draw underpants on them.

When the episode reran on Adult Swim, the underpants were taken out.