When did swearing start to be okay? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Nanny Fine · 02-06-2003, 11:12 PM

So I'm watching ER right now and Kerry calls Romano an *******. After I got over the shock of hearing that on regular TV I did laugh because she's OH SO RIGHT. But. When did it become "okay" for these types of words to get through? I remember when "Damn" was a huge deal.

Anyone know? Does a show have to get special permission from a censor to say these things?

I'm not offended by it, BTW. Just wondering

TelevisionQueen · 02-07-2003, 12:58 AM

It does seem that there has been a lot more err...stronger content in the shows this season, from the old guy with the boner on the halloween episode, to the "electroejaculation" thingy on one of the episodes a couple months ago...I mean, it's pretty hilarious stuff, and it really doesn't bother me either with the swearing or anything, but it really has changed from a couple years ago when NOTHING could be said or even implicated.

Chocoholic · 02-07-2003, 01:10 AM

Mark let out a great big "S***!!!" on his final episode. I don't blame him though. If I was in that situation, I'd probably yell a lot worse

TV does seem to be getting away with more and more stuff these days.

I don't let foul language bother me too much. There are many more worse things in this world than listening to someone curse.

Kay Scarpetta · 02-07-2003, 01:08 PM

I found that to be funny....Romano was hillarious last night

Bootsy Whoosh · 02-07-2003, 05:09 PM

I'm so dulled to people swearing that I don't even notice anymore. I didn't even notice she called him that, but now that I think back to it, I remember it.

I know for the radio, at least, some stations get away with certain things simply because they make more money and are willing to pay the FCC fines. I don't know how much the FCC actually forbids, but with radio stations I think you can say/play pretty much anything, you'll just get heavy fines for doing so. If this is how it works for network TV, suffice it to say that if there is any show that can afford to pay the fines, it would be ER.

TelevisionQueen · 02-08-2003, 01:53 AM

lol, i loved ramano's thing when kerry asked him if he was ok coming to her press conference thing when she got promoted, and he was like "...and unlike the new ----- (I DONT KNOW HOW TO SPELL IT!!!!!) I have two working legs!" I cracked up

The swearing doesn't bother me one bit, I think it adds to the show actually. I mean, most of the swearing is in a joke or a funny part, and it turns out to be hilarious! It's not like I've never heard swearing before

CDNatelvr · 02-09-2003, 03:14 AM

The swearing doesnt bother me at all. ER has had a lot of swearing in the past from other characters way back to Season 1. What's the point of having a show come on @10 if you cant show some explicit stuff, ex: swearing, sexual innuendo, etc.

ISmellFine · 02-09-2003, 05:16 PM

I was amused when she called him an a$$hole.

TelevisionQueen · 02-09-2003, 09:29 PM

Yeah!

02-06-2003, 11:12 PM	#1
Nanny Fine Justine and Holden.. Senior Member Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: Watching The Ellen Degeneres Show and luvin' it Posts: 2,852	When did swearing start to be okay? So I'm watching ER right now and Kerry calls Romano an *******. After I got over the shock of hearing that on regular TV I did laugh because she's OH SO RIGHT. But. When did it become "okay" for these types of words to get through? I remember when "Damn" was a huge deal. Anyone know? Does a show have to get special permission from a censor to say these things? I'm not offended by it, BTW. Just wondering
	__________________ * How it all came down to this, only the Devil knows. Retail Rodeo is at the corner on my left. The motel is down the road to my right. I close my eyes and try to peer into the future. On my left, I saw days upon days of lipstick and ticking clocks, dirty looks and quiet whisperings. And burning secrets that just won't ever die away. And on my right, what could I picture? The blue sky, the desert earth, stretching out into the eerie infinity. A beautiful never-ending nothing. ~Justine, "The Good Girl" * Bush for President!

02-07-2003, 12:58 AM	#2
TelevisionQueen Just like his Dad Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 10, 2002 Location: Drooling over my small collection of Jason Ritter pictures...what a hunk! Posts: 338	It does seem that there has been a lot more err...stronger content in the shows this season, from the old guy with the boner on the halloween episode, to the "electroejaculation" thingy on one of the episodes a couple months ago...I mean, it's pretty hilarious stuff, and it really doesn't bother me either with the swearing or anything, but it really has changed from a couple years ago when NOTHING could be said or even implicated.
	__________________ RIP John Ritter - Where the kisses are hers and hers and his...Three's Company too...

02-07-2003, 01:08 PM	#4
Kay Scarpetta Defy Gravity 8.26.05 Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 04, 2001 Location: La Vie Boheme Posts: 28,013	I found that to be funny....Romano was hillarious last night
	__________________ The people who think they know everything about Broadway make me laugh. They've never seen a Broadway play in their life. "oh mi godddd RENT's a mooovie! lyke 525600 minuuuuuuutes!" No. To be a Broadway Freak, you must live, eat, sleep, study, devout, think, obsess, dream, believe Broadway. You must know original & revival casts, soundtracks, performance runs, dates, theatres, numbers, how many Tony Awards A Chorus Line won. You must be Broadway. That's right bitches. I AM Broadway.

02-07-2003, 05:09 PM	#5
Bootsy Whoosh Storms abrewin'... Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2001 Location: The Alpha Quadrant, Sector 001 Posts: 2,104	I'm so dulled to people swearing that I don't even notice anymore. I didn't even notice she called him that, but now that I think back to it, I remember it. I know for the radio, at least, some stations get away with certain things simply because they make more money and are willing to pay the FCC fines. I don't know how much the FCC actually forbids, but with radio stations I think you can say/play pretty much anything, you'll just get heavy fines for doing so. If this is how it works for network TV, suffice it to say that if there is any show that can afford to pay the fines, it would be ER.
	__________________ Watch your thoughts; they become your words. Watch your words; they become your actions. Watch your actions; they become your habits. Watch your habits; they become your character. Watch your character for it will become your destiny. - unknown

02-09-2003, 05:16 PM	#8
ISmellFine Zim Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 13, 2001 Posts: 4,886	I was amused when she called him an a$$hole.
	__________________ Milton: "...and it's not okay, because if they take my stapler...then I'll set the building on fire."

02-07-2003, 01:10 AM	#3
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	Mark let out a great big "S***!!!" on his final episode. I don't blame him though. If I was in that situation, I'd probably yell a lot worse TV does seem to be getting away with more and more stuff these days. I don't let foul language bother me too much. There are many more worse things in this world than listening to someone curse.

02-08-2003, 01:53 AM	#6
TelevisionQueen Just like his Dad Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 10, 2002 Location: Drooling over my small collection of Jason Ritter pictures...what a hunk! Posts: 338	lol, i loved ramano's thing when kerry asked him if he was ok coming to her press conference thing when she got promoted, and he was like "...and unlike the new ----- (I DONT KNOW HOW TO SPELL IT!!!!!) I have two working legs!" I cracked up The swearing doesn't bother me one bit, I think it adds to the show actually. I mean, most of the swearing is in a joke or a funny part, and it turns out to be hilarious! It's not like I've never heard swearing before

02-09-2003, 03:14 AM	#7
CDNatelvr Member Forum Hawk Join Date: Dec 10, 2002 Location: USA Posts: 4	The swearing doesnt bother me at all. ER has had a lot of swearing in the past from other characters way back to Season 1. What's the point of having a show come on @10 if you cant show some explicit stuff, ex: swearing, sexual innuendo, etc.

02-09-2003, 09:29 PM	#9
TelevisionQueen Just like his Dad Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 10, 2002 Location: Drooling over my small collection of Jason Ritter pictures...what a hunk! Posts: 338	Yeah!