Can Somebody Explain Why Mary Ann's Shorty Shorts Were Allowed By Censors??? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 02-04-2012, 01:00 PM

....But not a naval by Jeannie on 'I Dream Of Jeannie?'

It just doesn't make sense, that the censors would allow Mary Ann to wear such tiny shorts, but had a big problem with Barbara Eden's belly button showing?!?

JWood201 · 02-04-2012, 01:46 PM

Well, they freaked out over MA's belly button, too. Both Barbara and Dawn had that issue.

I guess belly buttons are more offensive than your butt almost hanging out of your shorts. Shrug.

Also, the censors were probably guys. o.O

Brian Damage · 02-04-2012, 06:03 PM

That's what puzzles me, I mean granted, I am not complaining about Mary Ann's shorts, but they were quite risque for the time. lol

Reverend Jim · 02-04-2012, 07:42 PM

Brian Damage · 02-04-2012, 08:32 PM

Niiiiiice!

Great post Jim! LOL

dakert · 02-04-2012, 10:52 PM

I like and see nothing wrong with short shorts!!. There was a lady at work who wore short shorts and it was Disgusting to see the other women say negative things because they were Jealous of her

Brian Damage · 02-04-2012, 10:59 PM

Dakert, I don't see anything wrong with the shorts either, just curious why they were allowed and Jeannie's naval wasn't.

The Flying Dutchmans · 02-08-2012, 01:40 AM

I think the censors should have left it up to the professor to decide. He had an answer for everything. Of course maybe it was really Tina that protested because she wanted all the eyes on her.

Sterling Holobyte · 02-08-2012, 11:07 AM

It had something to do with the "intermittent navel rule" that Russell Johnson, and Sherwood Schwartz, talked about in their respective books about Gilligan's Island. If you notice, Mary Ann couldn't have her navel showing either for most shots.

As far as the shorts go, I think short shorts were the "in" thing at that time.

JWood201 · 02-08-2012, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Flying Dutchmans

I think the censors should have left it up to the professor to decide. He had an answer for everything. Of course maybe it was really Tina that protested because she wanted all the eyes on her.

No one protested, though. Except maybe Dawn, even though she designed them to "make her look taller." LOL.

It's funny that they had no problem with the shorts' length, but they had to be high-waisted. Oh well.

Reverend Jim · 02-11-2012, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Niiiiiice!

Great post Jim! LOL

Retro4Life · 02-11-2012, 02:53 PM

You know, that's really a good question, Brian.

At first I thought it was just down to the weird navel obsession the censors seemed to have back then, i.e. exposed thighs weren't considered as "daring" as a bare navel.

But as I look at those (wonderful) pictures that Jim posted, it occurs to me that not only were Mary Ann's shorts 'short', they were also, more importantly, VERY TIGHT. I mean, those are some form fitting pants! Remember how the Capri pants worn by MTM during the Dick Van Dyke show were so taboo? Why wouldn't they have applied the same standard to Mary Ann's wardrobe?

Ultimately, it's all a bit silly, when you think about what is shown on today's shows. But it's really true that there did seem to be some major inconsistencies in what was considered 'appropriate' back then!

Reverend Jim · 02-11-2012, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sterling Holobyte

It had something to do with the "intermittent navel rule" that Russell Johnson, and Sherwood Schwartz, talked about in their respective books about Gilligan's Island. If you notice, Mary Ann couldn't have her navel showing either for most shots.

As far as the shorts go, I think short shorts were the "in" thing at that time.

PartyOfOne · 02-15-2012, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

....But not a naval by Jeannie on 'I Dream Of Jeannie?'

It just doesn't make sense, that the censors would allow Mary Ann to wear such tiny shorts, but had a big problem with Barbara Eden's belly button showing?!?

For one thing, you have to remember that back in the 1960s, nobody had anything remotely resembling a VCR. Therefore, a quick shot was really just that-the vast majority of the audience wouldn't catch it. It was only much later that a significant number of people would have the technology to focus on such things.
I don't enjoy Brian's post nearly as much as some others on here. Even some of those pictures aren't that good (and very few actresses look better than Dawn Wells). The captions aren't funny at all. The pictures themselves, though, suggest the show might not have originally been nearly as clean as people are making it out to be.

Retro4Life · 02-15-2012, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PartyOfOne

For one thing, you have to remember that back in the 1960s, nobody had anything remotely resembling a VCR. Therefore, a quick shot was really just that-the vast majority of the audience wouldn't catch it. It was only much later that a significant number of people would have the technology to focus on such things.
I don't enjoy Brian's post nearly as much as some others on here. Even some of those pictures aren't that good (and very few actresses look better than Dawn Wells). The captions aren't funny at all. The pictures themselves, though, suggest the show might not have originally been nearly as clean as people are making it out to be.

Most of the pictures you mention were posted by Reverend Jim. I enjoyed them and his accompanying text. And I thought Brian's question was, as usual, very thought provoking and fun.

02-04-2012, 01:00 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Can Somebody Explain Why Mary Ann's Shorty Shorts Were Allowed By Censors??? ....But not a naval by Jeannie on 'I Dream Of Jeannie?' It just doesn't make sense, that the censors would allow Mary Ann to wear such tiny shorts, but had a big problem with Barbara Eden's belly button showing?!?
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02-08-2012, 01:40 AM	#8
The Flying Dutchmans Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 30, 2006 Location: New York Posts: 1,017	I think the censors should have left it up to the professor to decide. He had an answer for everything. Of course maybe it was really Tina that protested because she wanted all the eyes on her.
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02-08-2012, 11:07 AM	#9
Sterling Holobyte Harper House Senior Member Join Date: Nov 07, 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,896	It had something to do with the "intermittent navel rule" that Russell Johnson, and Sherwood Schwartz, talked about in their respective books about Gilligan's Island. If you notice, Mary Ann couldn't have her navel showing either for most shots. As far as the shorts go, I think short shorts were the "in" thing at that time.
	__________________ "Let it go. Forget about it. Try smiling." -Michael Harris WPIV studio producer/shoe salesman/grocery store employee/Ex-sanitarium patient/Stephanie's boyfriend-then husband --------------------------------------------------- My 2nd First Blog:http://saturdaymorningfunnies.wordpress.com/

02-11-2012, 02:53 PM	#12
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	You know, that's really a good question, Brian. At first I thought it was just down to the weird navel obsession the censors seemed to have back then, i.e. exposed thighs weren't considered as "daring" as a bare navel. But as I look at those (wonderful) pictures that Jim posted, it occurs to me that not only were Mary Ann's shorts 'short', they were also, more importantly, VERY TIGHT. I mean, those are some form fitting pants! Remember how the Capri pants worn by MTM during the Dick Van Dyke show were so taboo? Why wouldn't they have applied the same standard to Mary Ann's wardrobe? Ultimately, it's all a bit silly, when you think about what is shown on today's shows. But it's really true that there did seem to be some major inconsistencies in what was considered 'appropriate' back then!
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

02-04-2012, 01:46 PM	#2
JWood201 TV Nerd Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 25, 2001 Posts: 798	Well, they freaked out over MA's belly button, too. Both Barbara and Dawn had that issue. I guess belly buttons are more offensive than your butt almost hanging out of your shorts. Shrug. Also, the censors were probably guys. o.O

02-04-2012, 06:03 PM	#3
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	That's what puzzles me, I mean granted, I am not complaining about Mary Ann's shorts, but they were quite risque for the time. lol

02-04-2012, 07:42 PM	#4
Reverend Jim Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 08, 2009 Location: New York City Posts: 783

02-04-2012, 08:32 PM	#5
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Niiiiiice! Great post Jim! LOL

02-04-2012, 10:52 PM	#6
dakert Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Altoona PA Posts: 3,411	I like and see nothing wrong with short shorts!!. There was a lady at work who wore short shorts and it was Disgusting to see the other women say negative things because they were Jealous of her

02-04-2012, 10:59 PM	#7
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Dakert, I don't see anything wrong with the shorts either, just curious why they were allowed and Jeannie's naval wasn't.