FCC Goes F**king Crazy!

As the FCC buckles down on indecency on the airwaves and on TV in many areas, they are loosening up in others. For instance, did you know the F-word is now considered not indecent when used in a non-sexual manner? Yes, it's true…

This issue came up as a result of the annual 2003 Golden Globe Awards ceremony when U2 singer Bono uttered the phrase "this is really, really, fucking brilliant." Bono's comment was aired in full glory by most television stations, prompting about 200 complaints to the FCC that those TV stations had violated the FCC's restrictions on obscene broadcasts. Months later, in October 2003, the FCC's Enforcement Bureau released a response to those complaints in which it held firm that broadcasts of Bono's words had not violated the FCC's prohibition of indecent program content because the word "fucking" was a "fleeting and isolated" remark used "as an adjective or expletive to emphasize an exclamation" and not "to describe or depict sexual and excretory organs and activities."

Wow! Did ya hear that!?! That's f**king awesome!

Of course, this immediately promoted a flurry of letters by groups outraged at the FCC's leniency. But the FCC is not saying anyone can say the F-word anytime for any reason. It's just saying that when Bono used it, it wasn't meant to be sexual or offensive, and in the context of his speech and the situation, was not indecent. In poor taste, maybe, but not indecent.

So here was a rare example of the FCC using good sense and fair judgment of a situation. A sign of things to come? Hardly. In fact, since Boobgate, not only is FCC Chairman Michael Powell reportedly looking into having the FCC commissioners' panel enact a proposal barring the word F-word from most radio and broadcast television, regardless of context, but he has announced he wants to reverse his decision of Bonogate and overturn the prior decision!

Dammit! I knew those boobs (Janet, Bono and Powell!) were gonna get us all into trouble. Now how am I going to get my TV show "Frank's Totally F**king Awesome Boobie F**K Parade" on the air???