Robert N EmersonCensoring Profanity
December 28th 2006 01:51
This post seems quite topical considering some of the issues being discussed within the Orble community as of late. Many television shows, particularly those of an improvised nature, are going to include some profanity. What I find intriguing is the decisions that networks make in choosing which words are inappropriate and should be bleeped.
I first started pondering this issue after viewing a number of episodes of Whose Line Is It Anyway? (US), an improve comedy game show. What struck me as odd was which words were censored. Obviously, the occasional s- and f-words dropped were concealed, but so were much less offensive terms such as 'laid.' Granted, it does have a sexual connotation, but is it really distasteful enough to warrant suppression?
It then struck me that maybe this was a cultural issue. I believe that, in Australia, we are much more laid back when it comes to profanity. Take for example another improvised show, Thank God You’re Here. Its timeslot was actually earlier than the one in which Whose Line originally aired, yet the occasional bad language let loose by the contestants was very rarely censored. Then there is the case of Rove Live, in which American guests are frequently amazed that they are allowed to swear.
It seems that in the USA, even late-night cable television is not exempt from the bleep. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, which airs on cable's Comedy Central, frequently features cursing, all of which is covered up. The version that is retransmitted on the Australian Comedy Channel retains the bleeping; however the global edition aired on the free-to-air SBS does not. While Australian subscription television does not have an equivalent of the Daily Show, local comedic programmes such as Stand Up Australia are completely uncensored.
As for the issue of censoring profanity, while I believe it is something that must be done to protect certain audiences, I don’t think we should go overboard. Australia does tend to be very relaxed about such things, and it really should stay that way. The level of profanity typically reflects the show - anyone easily offended is unlikely to be watching a programme such as Stand Up Australia anyway.
So, what are your thoughts? Is America’s censoring too rigid? Is Australia’s too relaxed? Where do we draw the line on what is profane?
*Screencap courtesy of Wikipedia, and used under Fair Dealing for identification and critical commentary
Whose Line Is It Anyway? is strictly censored*
It then struck me that maybe this was a cultural issue. I believe that, in Australia, we are much more laid back when it comes to profanity. Take for example another improvised show, Thank God You’re Here. Its timeslot was actually earlier than the one in which Whose Line originally aired, yet the occasional bad language let loose by the contestants was very rarely censored. Then there is the case of Rove Live, in which American guests are frequently amazed that they are allowed to swear.
It seems that in the USA, even late-night cable television is not exempt from the bleep. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, which airs on cable's Comedy Central, frequently features cursing, all of which is covered up. The version that is retransmitted on the Australian Comedy Channel retains the bleeping; however the global edition aired on the free-to-air SBS does not. While Australian subscription television does not have an equivalent of the Daily Show, local comedic programmes such as Stand Up Australia are completely uncensored.
As for the issue of censoring profanity, while I believe it is something that must be done to protect certain audiences, I don’t think we should go overboard. Australia does tend to be very relaxed about such things, and it really should stay that way. The level of profanity typically reflects the show - anyone easily offended is unlikely to be watching a programme such as Stand Up Australia anyway.
So, what are your thoughts? Is America’s censoring too rigid? Is Australia’s too relaxed? Where do we draw the line on what is profane?
*Screencap courtesy of Wikipedia, and used under Fair Dealing for identification and critical commentary
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Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Huh????????
I can understand the F bomb and C bomb being bleeped out, but America's censorship rules are far far too rigid. I think Australia's are ok....but overall censorship pisses me off. I think people should take responsibility for their own viewing habits and not have them regulated by a faceless body comprised of people who probably aren't even reflective of the demographics of our society.
Comment by Lizard68591
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Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
I'm in a lame frame of mind.
A bit drained....think tank leaked...
All I can think of is Nipplegate and how offensive this was...because this was far worse than seeing anything else like gang riots and poverty and murder and rape...
Sheesh.
Dusk
ps. Hope you're feeling better
pps. can I jump on Kylie's bandwagon? That girl is on fire! I second everything she said.
Comment by Nina
Comment by Nina
Comment by Nina
I definitely understand where you're coming from re Nipplegate. It's all just so trivial when you compare it to the true horrors of the world...
And thank you, I am feeling better now, although I'm still a little croaky. I won't be as presumptuous as to speak for Kylie, but I suspect she wouldn't mind you jumping on her bandwagon. If there's room I may have to join you, since I always find myself agreeing with her!
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
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I would prefer it if Australian TV censored bad language a bit more as I always find it offensive, even when people don't intend it to be.
The Daily Show is a unique piece of American TV, isn't it?
Merry Holidays,
luv PMC
*<BoP~
Comment by AnthonyB
From experience, teenagers are impressionable and I saw many of my friends act like american gangstas, and they took drugs and went to parties and spoke like the guys from "american pie". They thought it was cool. Stupid.
Great, thoughtful piece, Nina. I LOVE IT, EXTREM !!
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Comment by Trina
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Although am over the debate on censorship after doing a lot of catch up reading on Orble.
Comment by entertainmeorelse
2 of the commercials where for a gun shop. One features the owner firing off a sub machine gun for sale whilst wearing a Ronald Reagan mask. Patrick & the audience thought this was hilarious.
Later on was a commercial for condoms which featured an old man holding up a large condom. It had been pixellated out. I'm sure this was the Amercians who did this not the Australians.
If the Australians had censored this show they would have cut out the gratuitous guns & kept the condom. The phrase 'make love not war' becomes particularly ironic in the U.S.
You can buy a gun & invade a country with 'shock & awe' but you can't show a condom on TV. They can't even say the word 'toilet'!
Sick bastard!
Comment by Nina
The Daily Show certainly is unique - I adore it! The Comedy Channel may also be picking up The Colbert Report in the new year, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Comment by Nina
Comment by Nina
Comment by Anonymous
If it needs constant cursing to make it more watchable it must not be that good anyway. And
if there are profanity in it it should be on at a later hour so kids want have to listen to it. If its
sex and profanity that a person wants to watch there is HBO, and other movie channels that they put that kind on. But Guys don't be to upset about censorship they have censored God also in America.
Comment by David my David
[Deleted] [deleted] [deleted].
[Deleted] ...
Comment by Nina
Comment by Nina
Comment by Nina
Anonymous: It should definitely be about choice and what is appropriate to the show and its audience.
David my David: Lol! I suppose censoring yourself is one way to ensure others won't do it for you.
Comment by Francis
Passionate Apathy
To me the constant bleeps on The Daily Show is part of the humor, since we can always tell what word is being bleeped.
Comment by Nina
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
I'm not a big fan of censorship and bleeping but I don't find excessive swearing etc adds anything to a show and can detract from it.
Some TV shows are designed to reflect life and in real life there is swearing.
I try to make sure my children are protected when it comes to the things that they watch and hear on TV but I'm finding more and more that my daughter is learning her bad language at school instead. Thankfully she understands that she shouldn't say those words and she doesn't (in front of me, anyway!)
Then again, even Play School got into trouble not long ago for telling a story where a child had a family with two mothers instead of the traditional mother and father.
It can be very difficult to draw the line but I think Australia has got it pretty right so far.
A.H.
Comment by Nina
I agree with you that Australia has a pretty good attitude when it comes to censoring, because we don't go overboard.
Comment by Luke
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Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Have a wonderful NYE...hope your throat is croaky on New Year's Day for all the right reasons!
Happy 2007 Nina.
Dusk
Comment by Nina
DuskDevi: I hope so too! Happy New Year to you (and to all Orblers)
Comment by signals
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Who's Line Is It Anyway hasn't been on regular TV in quite awhile and I never cared for it. These days, Drew Carey and his crew do live shows of the TV version on the road.
Comment by Nina
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