Posted on 02/07/2002 6:13:32 AM PST by Temple Owl
Conservatives want FCC to look at racy Fox shows
By Brooks Boliek
WASHINGTON (The Hollywood Reporter)
--- A coalition of Christian and conservative groups is calling on federal regulators to investigate the Fox network, claiming that it is systematically violating the nation's indecency rules. In its letter to FCC chairman Michael Powell, the groups complain that "Boston Public," the David E. Kelley Fox drama that revolves around a high school teachers, has gone way too far in its depiction of sexual activity.
"It is our view that shows like 'Boston Public' and its ilk do not belong in primetime when any child in America can see them," the groups wrote in their letter dated Tuesday.
The groups cited story lines in the show that have included a female candidate for class president performing oral sex on a male opponent in exchange for his support, a student earning extra cash by working as a stripper and a prolonged affair between a teacher and a student.
Fox, not surprisingly, took exception with the coalition's assessment of the drama from one of TV's most acclaimed writer-producers.
"'Boston Public' deals dramatically and responsibly with real issues - - often sensitive issues - - that face our children everyday in our schools. Fox stands firmly behind David E. Kelley and his extraordinary work on 'Boston Public,'" said a network spokesman.
In addition to asking for an investigation into Fox, the groups contend that the commission is shirking its responsibility to investigate indecency complaints.
Of the current commissioners, only Michael Copps, a Democrat, seems to have taken an interest in pursuing indecency violations. The groups pushed Powell, a Republican, to work with Copps on the issue.
The groups' letter comes as a New York poet Sarah Jones is suing the FCC, claiming that the agency violated her First Amendment rights when it deemed one of her songs indecent and fined a radio station for playing it.
Under the commission's rules, which have withstood numerous court challenges, no radio or television licensee shall broadcast obscene material at any time, or broadcast indecent material during the period 6 a.m.-10 p.m. The FCC has defined indecent speech as language that first, in context, depicts or describes sexual organs or activities. The broadcast must be patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium.
The letter was sent by Focus on the Family, National Association of Evangelicals, Morality in Media, Christian Coalition, Family Research Council, Citizens for Community Values, Religious Freedom Coalition, American Family Assn., American Decency Assn. Wilberforce Forum, American Association of Christian Schools, American Values, Concerned Women for America, Culture and Family Institute and Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.
Racy? As in E.D. Donahe or Laurie Due?
-- Michael Powell (at his first press conference as head of the FCC)
Have you watched recent rap videos? Have you viewed programing like "Real World" or "Dismissed"? These are nothing but advertisment for a consequence-free sexual life style.
By the way, you will never see any of these programs showing someone smoking or wearing a fur coat. . .now that would be disgusting!!
I thought Fox was supposed to be the conservative channel? What's going on here?It's the "Reagan conservative" channel. Strong on patriotism, political, and economic issues, but by no means socially conservative. Fox has always been the "bad boy" network, going back to Married With Children, In Living Color, and The Simpsons.
-Eric
Yeah, we might be closer to libertarian on some aspects of culture and society, but at least we, unlike Bill Bennett and Brent Bozell, don't have a burr up our butt.
I'm a solid conservative Republican, who happens to enjoy listening to Howard Stern as I drive in to work, watches the WWF, and all that. Besides, "Black Sheep" kick butt!
I'm about to go on a Jihad myself against the supposed, "Christian" NUTS who portend to speak for all on the center line & Right into infinity.
And nuts they are; make no mistake about it.
These people are KILLING the ideological Right; much to the delight of the Socialists, I'm sure.
I'm rapidly beginning to wonder if they're afilliated witht the Right a'tall; or perhaps not some Leftist's chararterization designed for manipulation purpose(s).
...the Christian right HAS a voice; however, they need to use the freedoms we ALL were granted for their own needs.
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