"S--t!" On Network TV, Another Taboo Falls, but Nobody Notices

A Different Drummer ^ | 2 July 2002 | Nicholas Stix

[mrustow]

Although dramatically brilliant, the May 9 episode of TV's ER, in which star Anthony Edwards bade farewell to the series he had anchored for eight years, had Edwards utter a four-letter word, the use of which was yet another blow to civilized standards in broadcasting.

[Paul Atreides]

I saw that. E.R. has become nothing but a liberal propoganda machine.

[cmsgop]

What was it?

[Dan from Michigan]

S**T has been on the TV or radio for 25 years.

Steve Miller band - "...get caught up in that funky S**T going on in the city...big ole Jet Airliner"
Pink Floyd - "Don't give me that goody goody good bulls*it."

[uglybiker]

I'm not suprised. I've been using that term to describe network TV for years.

[lsee]

I quit watching ER years ago, but when it first appeared, I watched it regularly. Since I didn't watch the final episode, I missed the expletive. If you heard it, you could report it to the FCC, naming the network in your complaint. Don't say, "nah, nobody cares"...A formal complaint with the appropriate agency can sometimes do a lot of good!

[Mr. Burns]

Good Lord....
American civilization is in decline. Children might hear this and actually use it on the playground.... Never before has this happened.

[InvisibleChurch]

mellencamp: don't give me any of that macho tish

[reagan_fanatic]

How F*^^$ dare you and the rest of you &^$*%#! right-wing,
conservative neanderthals try take away my @)!@*$# constitutional
right to $*%#+_@) swear on television!
[/sarcasm]

[Guillermo]

I love seeing people whine about TV...then patronize it every single day with several hours of mind numbing, mouth drooling attention.

[Political Junkie Too]

Children might hear this and actually use it on the playground....

Maybe children should rename the game of Tag to the game of Bull. Instead of being "It" you can be "--it."

-PJ

[JD86]

If you watched the final episode (as I did) you would find the use of the word totally appropriate in context. He was young, dying, leaving his wife and chidren, he was frustrated that he had no control over his situation. He knew he was going to die and could only wait and watch his body betray him. Under those circumstances, I think many of us would have used stronger language than that. It was a single word....out of his frustration and pain. I thought the episode was skillfully written and acted.

[mrustow]

I saw that. E.R. has become nothing but a liberal propoganda machine.

Yup -- they can use any language they like, as long as they don't offend any minority groups. Ain't diversity grand?

[seenenuf]

S^&T HAPPENS, 'Under God'.

[general_re]

I assume that's a rhetorical question...

[mrustow]

S**T has been on the TV or radio for 25 years.

Steve Miller band - "...get caught up in that funky S**T going on in the city...big ole Jet Airliner" Pink Floyd - "Don't give me that goody goody good bulls*it."

I don't know what sort of TV network channels and radio stations you Michiganders get, but I've never heard that sort of language on the radio in New York. I did hear cuss words on TV in August, 1991, on a local station (then WPIX, which has since been bought by the WB), but not on a network affiliate. The occasion was an uncut, unbleeped airing of The Deer Hunter over two nights on a weekend. Don't know if that was a screw-up (someone sent the theatrical version?) or an insubordinate employee, but when the WB recently re-aired the movie, it was all chopped up.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

Already done on South Park 162 times in one episode. Nothing to see here people, move along.

[Sabertooth]

S**T has been on the TV or radio for 25 years.

In the fall of 1978, the movie "Network," was broadcast on network TV, with the word "bullsh*t" unedited.

I believe that was the first time.