ChasingBlueSky 0 #1 November 11, 2004 see full story here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41464-2004Nov10.html 'Saving Private Ryan': A New Casualty of the Indecency War By Lisa de Moraes Thursday, November 11, 2004; Page C01 ABC suits scrambled yesterday to try to contain the mutiny among stations that refuse to air tonight's broadcast of the unedited "Saving Private Ryan," citing indecency concerns. At press time, ABC stations owned by Cox Television, Citadel Communications, Belo Corp., Hearst-Argyle and Scripps Howard Broadcasting, among others, had declined to air the 1998 Academy Award-winning movie. They say they're afraid the film's scenes of extreme violence and intense adult language will lead to sanctions by the Federal Communications Commission under its new, supersize anti-indecency standards. Among those preempting the World War II movie are stations in Dallas (the country's seventh largest television market), Atlanta (No. 9), Tampa (No. 13), Phoenix (No. 15) and Orlando (No. 20). Foul language has made ABC stations hesitant to air "Saving Private Ryan." (David James -- Dreamworks Llc/paramount Pictures/amblin Enterta) Ironically, most of them already aired "Saving Private Ryan" when ABC ran it, unedited, to commemorate Veterans Day in 2001 and 2002. Of course, those broadcasts predated the FCC's decision to slap CBS-owned TV stations with a record $550,000 fine over the national debut of Janet Jackson's breast at the Super Bowl, and the commission's ruling that a rocker's spontaneous use of an expletive at a trophy show broadcast by NBC was indecent and profane. ABC has told its affiliate stations it would cover any fine the FCC might choose to impose over the movie broadcast. However, should the FCC fine a station, that could be used against it when its license comes up for renewal. "The Federal Communications Commission has changed its standards for certain content related to programming broadcast before 10 p.m.," Ray Cole, president of Citadel Communications, said in a news release. Citadel's ABC affiliates in Des Moines and Sioux City, Iowa, and Lincoln, Neb., are preempting the movie._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #2 November 11, 2004 I wonder whether it really is the foul language that is the issue? -------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
unformed 0 #3 November 11, 2004 No, I think it's that we need to protect the children from the realities of life and war. We don't want them to realize what our soldiers are going through on the other side of the world. This ad space for sale. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #4 November 11, 2004 "I think it's that we need to protect the children from the realities of life and war." Just the children? What about the childish?-------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #5 November 11, 2004 QuoteI wonder whether it really is the foul language that is the issue? The FCC does not enact fines on its own, it has to wait until there are complaints then they have to investigate. The guideline they live by is "current community standards." Combine the Bono F-bomb, Janet's Boob, Stern getting fined for airing Oprah's show that talked about sex (despite Oprah not getting fined because no one complained about her show) with the current 'conservative majority' mindset after the last election and you have a scared media. It is very possible that the FCC could receive complaints tomorrow about this despite the previous airing in the past. We could even see this for Schindler's List as well. The populace is over reactive these days._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #6 November 11, 2004 QuoteAmong those preempting the World War II movie are stations in Dallas (the country's seventh largest television market), Atlanta (No. 9), Tampa (No. 13), Phoenix (No. 15) and Orlando (No. 20). Add in Columbus in there too now. It was just announced this morning that they would not show it over fears of an FCC fine. Instead they are airing "Father of the Bride 2" Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #7 November 11, 2004 Everyone warned, myself included, that the over reaction on fines would eventually snowball. It didn't take that long did it? So, due to the "moral, conservative majority" tv stations cannot honor Veteran's Day without fear of fines from the FCC._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #8 November 11, 2004 Land of the free, well the gorvernment will make all decisions for you, but you are free to leave....... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kennedy 0 #9 November 11, 2004 Like kallend always says, bureaucratic idoicy comes from all shapes, sizes, and place on the political spectrum. Like billvon, I think every fourteen year old male should be forced to watch it twice with his eyes held open. Damn fine movie.witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanuckInUSA 0 #10 November 11, 2004 Quoteevery fourteen year old male should be forced to watch it twice with his eyes held open Hmmm ... I can't help but think of "A Clockwork Orange" right about now. QuoteDamn fine movie To date it is my favorite war movie and I can't help but remember how shocked I felt that first day I walked out of the theater and how happy I was that "to-date" I had yet NOT had to experience what those soldiers had to go through. WAR is nasty and should only be engaged when all else has failed. I wonder if GWB feels the same way? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrunkMonkey 0 #11 November 11, 2004 Quote[WAR is nasty and should only be engaged when all else has failed. I wonder if GWB feels the same way? I think this excerpt from Black Sabbath's War Pigs is accurate in this situation: QuotePoliticians hide themselves away. They only started the war. Why should they go out to fight? They leave that role to the poor, yeah. Time will tell on their power minds, making war just for fun. Treating people just like pawns in chess, wait till their judgement day comes, yeah. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,146 #12 November 11, 2004 QuoteLike kallend always says, bureaucratic idoicy comes from all shapes, sizes, and place on the political spectrum. Like billvon, I think every fourteen year old male should be forced to watch it twice with his eyes held open. Damn fine movie. Right! I'd make Presidents who haven't been in combat watch it too. Twice.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jdhill 0 #13 November 11, 2004 Janet Jackson's tit and Saving Private Ryan are two totaly different things... If these TV stations can't see that, maybe they should find another business to get into... I don't think the public will complain, they know what's coming, and have the option to change the channel... One could not say that about JJ's flashing. The FCC should be able to see the difference too... I didn't follow the JJ fine story very closely... if it was determined that it was an accident, then the fine was excessive... if it was determined to be planned, then maybe not... Many more stations will be showing than will not be... to bad for those markets that will not be... JAll that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #14 November 11, 2004 QuoteJanet Jackson's tit and Saving Private Ryan are two totaly different things... Right...one has graphic violence and gore which is usually tolerated in the US, while the other is a brief glimpse at a body part that everyone on earth has two of, and is not tolerated. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #15 November 11, 2004 QuoteJanet Jackson's tit and Saving Private Ryan are two totaly different things... If these TV stations can't see that, maybe they should find another business to get into... I don't think the public will complain, they know what's coming, and have the option to change the channel... One could not say that about JJ's flashing. The FCC should be able to see the difference too... I didn't follow the JJ fine story very closely... if it was determined that it was an accident, then the fine was excessive... if it was determined to be planned, then maybe not... Many more stations will be showing than will not be... to bad for those markets that will not be... J The public has shown that it has double standards - complaining about Howard Stern airing a tape of Oprah and her guest talking about sex got him in trouble, but it didn't get Oprah in trouble!!! The FCC will handle any complaint that comes in and won't just overlook it. Due to pressure from the Hill they have been over reactive to increase fines to make examples out of offenders. ABC affiliates are pulling the movie so they are not made an example and so they don't have any trouble when it comes to renewing their license. You are thinking logically. People can change the channel for Stern, et all but they don't. Instead, they listen and then call in to complain. I'm sure that at least one parent tonight would get upset if little Johnny saw the violence on tv tonight and call in to complain. Remember - this is a "conservative" nation now._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jdhill 0 #16 November 11, 2004 Quoteone has graphic violence and gore which is usually tolerated in the US, while the other is a brief glimpse at a body part that everyone on earth has two of, and is not tolerated. What was the community standards thing someone mentioned? The difference I was refering to was that the nature of the movie in known, and by tuning it in you know what you are going to get graphic depictions of war at its worse, to include the bad language soldiers use when they are getting shot at... When one tunes in the Superbowl one expects to see a football game and a bad halftime show, but not Janet Jackson's ugly tit to pop out in the middle of it... I could care less about the tit thing, but I didn't have any young kids sitting in front of the TV watching the superbowl. If CBS had said "there will be partial nudity during the halftime show" there would be no reason for anyone to complain, people would have had the opportunity to change the channel, or send the kids to the other room... JAll that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #17 November 11, 2004 I get ya...and that I do agree with. Although I still think it was an over reaction to the super bowl thing regardless. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jdhill 0 #18 November 11, 2004 Quotethis is a "conservative" nation now. Consvatives like war (movies), so why would they complain, right? I don't disagree that the FCC has a double standard, and tend to overreact to the vocal minority that complain... they should have a system that seeks to gauge the whole community, not just those that complain... maybe hearings in the community in question before fines are levied... or the number of complaints much reach a certain % of the market in question... J JAll that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanuckInUSA 0 #19 November 11, 2004 Unless someone can assure me that "Saving Private Ryan" will be shown tonight commercial free, unedited and in widescreen format. I have no reason to tune into ABC. I'll just pop in my DVD copy instead (assuming I actually want to watch it tonight). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #20 November 11, 2004 The JJ story was shown to be an accident with no prior knowledge by any executive or production crew. The FCC handed out a $500000 fine to each CBS station that showed the incident. Funny thing is that that moment is still the single most watch event in Tivo history. More people went back and replayed it then any other event ever yet. Viacom is taking the FCC to court over the fines right now so the story is not played out yet. Private Ryan is much worse since its planned and the blood and gore is at a level that earned it a higher rating then PG and its being shown during Primetime. All it takes is one complaint to the FCC and they have to investigate and if determined to be less then the community standerds they get fined. ClearChannel was just hit with a lawsuit here since one of the DJ's introduced "Jet - Cold hearted Bitch" and said Bitch. during the morning commute and it offened a listener and their child. Since then the are being dumped a lot more during the morning show by censors.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #21 November 11, 2004 QuoteQuotethis is a "conservative" nation now. Consvatives like war (movies), so why would they complain, right?J I know quite a few people that didn't like the movie or were ill because of the violence. One of them happens to be a conservative (I saw the movie with her, so I know how she reacted). So, I'm thinking someone will complain. btw - the article mentioned they cannot edit anything in the movie if they are to show it, that is the agreement with Spielberg._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanuckInUSA 0 #22 November 11, 2004 I was just thinking that ABC should show a commercial free unedited double header tonight. They should show "Saving Private Ryan" followed by "Blackhawk Down". This way their American audience can not only see the nasty side of war, but also how nasty urban war is (in reference to what is going on in Fallujah) and that American soldiers well well trained and armed, still die in war (not to mention the deaths of the people the US soldiers fight). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jdhill 0 #23 November 11, 2004 Not sure about widescreen, but it is supposed to be commercial free and unedited. JAll that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanuckInUSA 0 #24 November 11, 2004 QuoteNot sure about widescreen, but it is supposed to be commercial free and unedited. That's cool ... except that I'm kind of a widescreen snob when it comes to movies. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frenchy68 0 #25 November 11, 2004 ...and anyone who's kids gets offended by the mere sight of a breast and a nipple are in for a big surprise. EVERY WOMAN HAS A COUPLE OF EACH! Deal with it, people. It's only a freakin' nipple! Get the FCC where it belongs: the Smithonian! (jdhill, not meant to be directed at you) "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
