Dirty language on TV - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

treky · 11-08-2009, 12:49 AM

can you remember the first time you heard it, and what it was?

For me, it was on an episode of "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" way back in 1975, on Weekend Update once Chevy Chase was talking about Rene Richards-a tennis player who underwent a sex change and went from being a man to becoming a woman-and he said "Rene Richards then resumed work on her autobiography-TENNIS WITHOUT BALLS".

Mr. Television · 11-08-2009, 01:00 AM

I can't really remember but I imagine it was probably All in the Family.

Scoobiedoo30 · 11-08-2009, 01:10 AM

I can not Remember When I herd Bad Language on TV When I was a kid

charlie_voy · 11-08-2009, 02:14 AM

Hard to say, since a lot of 70s/80s comedies used a lot of sexual innuendo and double-entendres rather than actual 'dirty' language. One of the earliest examples that's stuck with me was from Too Close for Comfort in which Monroe, who was working as a security guard, was abducted and gang-raped by three fat women. He later explains to a cop, "They broke my beeper." I was 7 or 8 but still got the joke, sort of. A couple years after that I vividly recall the pilot of Dynasty going into syndication, with Blake Carrington ranting about "faggotry".

Schmoopie · 11-08-2009, 06:14 AM

Mine was probably SNL, but the first time I remember hearing a swear word written into a sitcom was on Growing Pains. The first time I heard Jason Seaver say "hell", I knew that TV was changing big time.

comedyfreak · 11-08-2009, 06:03 PM

All In The Family- One time Archie said GD
Maude- Maude full out called Walter an S.O.B that one caught my Mom's attention, lol. "What did she say?"

treky · 11-09-2009, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

All In The Family- One time Archie said GD
Maude- Maude full out called Walter an S.O.B that one caught my Mom's attention, lol. "What did she say?"

I doubt very much that Archie Bunker ever said GD. True, TV was changing in the 70s and "AITF" was at the forefront, but in the 70s the network wouldn't have allowed that word in prime time. The most they would have allowed in prime time was "SOB".

jehobden · 11-12-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

I doubt very much that Archie Bunker ever said GD. True, TV was changing in the 70s and "AITF" was at the forefront, but in the 70s the network wouldn't have allowed that word in prime time. The most they would have allowed in prime time was "SOB".

On the M*A*S*H 8th season episode "Guerilla My Dreams", Hawkeye actually calls a S. Korean officer "Son of a B----", so that may be the first time that the expression was said in full, since that ep originally aired in 1979.

Mr. Television · 11-12-2009, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

I doubt very much that Archie Bunker ever said GD. True, TV was changing in the 70s and "AITF" was at the forefront, but in the 70s the network wouldn't have allowed that word in prime time. The most they would have allowed in prime time was "SOB".

He did say it. I remember he actually tried to explain why that wasn't a cuss word. I forget what episode it was on but it was when he was fighting with Mike. I don't know how that made it past the CBS censors.

Edit: It was the We're Having a Heat wave episode.

Retro4Life · 11-12-2009, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

He did say it. I remember he actually tried to explain why that wasn't a cuss word. I forget what episode it was on but it was when he was fighting with Mike. I don't know how that made it past the CBS censors.

Edit: It was the We're Having a Heat wave episode.

When Mike's draft dodging friend came to Xmas dinner at the same time as Archie's buddy whose son had died in the war, Archie was as upset as I have ever seen him. He said that he "didn't want to talk about that GD war anymore".

It was quite powerful, and memorable.

treky · 11-13-2009, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jehobden

On the M*A*S*H 8th season episode "Guerilla My Dreams", Hawkeye actually calls a S. Korean officer "Son of a B----", so that may be the first time that the expression was said in full, since that ep originally aired in 1979.

I remember seeing that episode when it aired and I was a little surprised that they'd let someone say that in prime time.

treky · 11-13-2009, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

When Mike's draft dodging friend came to Xmas dinner at the same time as Archie's buddy whose son had died in the war, Archie was as upset as I have ever seen him. He said that he "didn't want to talk about that GD war anymore".

It was quite powerful, and memorable.

that's right; he did now that I think of it.

James28 · 11-13-2009, 07:25 PM

There was a programme named Dynasty and I have heard such words as b*+(#, $lu+, and w#0re. Probably the earliest instances of those words being used on American television.

Mr. Television · 11-13-2009, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

When Mike's draft dodging friend came to Xmas dinner at the same time as Archie's buddy whose son had died in the war, Archie was as upset as I have ever seen him. He said that he "didn't want to talk about that GD war anymore".

It was quite powerful, and memorable.

Yea that's right. That word was said on that episode also.

treky · 11-14-2009, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim856796

There was a programme named Dynasty and I have heard such words as b*+(#, $lu+, and w#0re. Probably the earliest instances of those words being used on American television.

no it wasn't, because "DYNASTY" was on in the 80s, and words like that had been heard on a couple other shos since then. Like the other posts said; Hawkeye uused the expresion SOB on a 1979 episode of "MASH" and Archie Bunker said GD on "ALL IN THE FAMILY" a couple times, and once on "MAUDE" she called someone an SOB.
Also, on "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" in the 7os when Jane Curtin and Dan Ackroyd were the anchors of Weekend Update and they used to do a regular segment called Point-Counterpoint where they would both debate an issue (it was a parody of a segment that was done on "60 MINUTES" on CBS) Jane Curtin would go first, then Dan Ackroyd would start out by saying "Jane you ignorant $lu+.

11-08-2009, 12:49 AM	#1
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	Dirty language on TV can you remember the first time you heard it, and what it was? For me, it was on an episode of "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" way back in 1975, on Weekend Update once Chevy Chase was talking about Rene Richards-a tennis player who underwent a sex change and went from being a man to becoming a woman-and he said "Rene Richards then resumed work on her autobiography-TENNIS WITHOUT BALLS".
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

11-08-2009, 01:00 AM	#2
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,128	I can't really remember but I imagine it was probably All in the Family.
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11-08-2009, 01:10 AM	#3
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	I can not Remember When I herd Bad Language on TV When I was a kid
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11-08-2009, 06:14 AM	#5
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	Mine was probably SNL, but the first time I remember hearing a swear word written into a sitcom was on Growing Pains. The first time I heard Jason Seaver say "hell", I knew that TV was changing big time.
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11-08-2009, 06:03 PM	#6
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,058	All In The Family- One time Archie said GD Maude- Maude full out called Walter an S.O.B that one caught my Mom's attention, lol. "What did she say?"
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11-08-2009, 02:14 AM	#4
charlie_voy Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 19, 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 78	Hard to say, since a lot of 70s/80s comedies used a lot of sexual innuendo and double-entendres rather than actual 'dirty' language. One of the earliest examples that's stuck with me was from Too Close for Comfort in which Monroe, who was working as a security guard, was abducted and gang-raped by three fat women. He later explains to a cop, "They broke my beeper." I was 7 or 8 but still got the joke, sort of. A couple years after that I vividly recall the pilot of Dynasty going into syndication, with Blake Carrington ranting about "faggotry".

11-13-2009, 07:25 PM	#13
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,976	There was a programme named Dynasty and I have heard such words as b*+(#, $lu+, and w#0re. Probably the earliest instances of those words being used on American television.