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Last night on Saturday Night Live (SNL), NBC did the unspeakable again when new cast member Jenny Slate dropped the F-Bomb in her very first skit on SNL.
Earlier this year OhMyGov! reported that Tara of the green team dropped the F-Bomb loud and clear during the first few minutes of "The Biggest Loser."
So once again, we ask…will the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) be forgiving or fine NBC for the apparent mistake?
edtva21 September 27, 2009 9:19 AM
Uhm, no they won't because the FCC's regulations on profanity only pertain to broadcasts between 6am and 10pm. www.fcc.gov
Richard Hartman September 27, 2009 9:21 AM
edtva21...You're right on target! We covered that issue in the reference story OhMyGov! reported earlier this year on the "The Biggest Loser" which was edited and on prime time. Not sure about the time delay on SNL but there was no excuse for the prime time blooper on "The Biggest Loser."
edtva21 September 27, 2009 9:23 AM
Good to know! NBC still should have network SoP`s and someone on the button, and at LEAST should have edited the west coast feed.
shane September 27, 2009 3:13 PM
I don't think she did it intentionally. When you say "frickin'" 100 times in one sketch during a live broadcast your just asking for trouble. A few years ago Janet Jackson said "*** sucker" instead of "cork soaker" in a sketch where she was taking a tour of a wine factory. I think the biggest travesty of the night was the overall quality of the show. It was so bad up to that point I'm sure the only people watching were the ones like me who fell asleep with the TV on.
ems74 September 27, 2009 8:02 PM
To edtva21 - THIS is what you are worried about? In any case, it was edited for the west coast, and what children are up at 12:40 AM? Americans don't have enough to worry about if they are worry about the f-bomb on SNL in the middle of the night ...
Bridey September 28, 2009 4:00 PM
As noted, and backing up edtava21: There is no FCC issue here. This broadcast took place during "safe harbor" hours, when indecency standards are set by the broadcaster. Obscenity is never allowed, of course, but a fleeting, unscripted expletive in a non-sexual context is clearly indecent, not obscene, according to FCC precedent. (The FCC rules pertain to indecency and obscenity, not "profanity.") In any case, the FCC does not monitor broadcasts at any time, nor should it. It takes action only if there's a complaint; if there's no complaint, as far as the FCC is concerned, it didn't happen. But that doesn't matter in this case, because this is plainly safe harbor. There's no basis for any FCC action here.
As noted, and backing up edtava21: There is no FCC issue here. This broadcast took place during "safe harbor" hours, when indecency standards are set by the broadcaster. Obscenity is never allowed, of course, but a fleeting, unscripted expletive in a non-sexual context is clearly indecent, not obscene, according to FCC precedent. (The FCC rules pertain to indecency and obscenity, not "profanity.")
In any case, the FCC does not monitor broadcasts at any time, nor should it. It takes action only if there's a complaint; if there's no complaint, as far as the FCC is concerned, it didn't happen.
But that doesn't matter in this case, because this is plainly safe harbor. There's no basis for any FCC action here.
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