Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Frakkin' Crazy Cuckoos

The initials for the above title? FCC.

In case you haven't heard, the FCC is proposing a $1.4 million fine aganst ABC and 52 of its affiliates for a nude scene during an episode of "NYPD Blue" - from five years ago.

The episode involved a nude scene from then-series regular Charlotte Ross, whose character was about to take a shower when Andy Sipowicz's young son, Theo, walks in on her. The FCC is objecting to what it characterizes as "panning down her naked back for a lingering shot of her buttocks." The images of Ross’ backside constitute "explicit and graphic depictions of sexual organs" and are "titillating and shocking," according to zap2it.com.

First off, someone needs to give the FCC an anatomy lesson as to where the sexual organs on a woman are, because in reality, that, um, area, wasn't shown. Second, while a lot of the lovely Ms. Ross was shown, it wasn't really any more than what other episodes of what "NYPD Blue" showed in the past.

But finally, I'm glad the FCC was so on the ball that it waited FIVE YEARS to pursue this action. Their statement?

"Our action today should serve as a reminder to all broadcasters that Congress and American families continue to be concerned about protecting children from harmful material and that the FCC will enforce the laws of the land vigilantly," Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate said in a statement released by the FCC.

FIVE YEARS! Real vigilant.

Next up for the FCC? Who knows? I think someone objected to something that ran on "I Love Lucy" that the FCC is probably all over.

STRIKE UPDATE: The 50th anniversary of the Grammys will go on, with the show getting a waiver from the Writers Guild to continue. Still no word as to the fate of the Oscars, which producers have vowed will go on in some format.

TUESDAY'S BEST BETS: Hey, what do you know? It's my birthday tomorrow and not only am I getting the return of "Lost" this week, but the first of three all-new episodes of "House" (Fox, 9 p.m.) beginning tonight. Tonight's episode, after "American Idol," features Janel Maloney ("The West Wing") as its newest patient.

ABC has new episodes of "According To Jim" and "Carpoolers" beginning at 9 p.m., which is a great way of getting people excited for the return of "Lost," I suppose.

Finally, the new HBO series "In Treatment" (HBO, 9:30 p.m.) continues tonight as it does every weeknight for the next several weeks.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hope it's a happy birthday tomorrow, Phillip.

The FCC is run by a bunch of dillusional raving lunatics. This is apparent. And no one should ever object to see Charlotte Ross naked.

Also, 5 years later? Huh?

Yay...the strike by the WGA isn't affecting the Grammys. I can go to sleep at night with that news.

In all seriousness, I can't get a new "24", "Heroes", "Chuck", "The Office", "30 Rock" and only HALF an order of new "Lost" episodes, BUT OH, LET'S SAVE THE FRAKKING GRAMMYS?

My head is currently shaking. Someone could PAY ME and I wouldn't sit through 5 minutes of the Grammys, writers or NO writers.

Phillip Ramati said...

Thanks, happy b-day to you too.

It's apples and oranges, the grammys and new dramatic episodes. Since the show was going to go on anyway, might as well let the WGA writers get paid for it. And maybe it will be the sort of olive branch that can get the studios back to the table.