I was never a huge fan of “Saving Private Ryan” – in fact, I don’t think I’ve ever watched it all the way through. Mainstream Hollywood just doesn’t do much for me. Regardless of the film’s merits, however, this is just stupid.
More than 20 ABC affiliates around the country have announced that they won’t take part in the network’s Veterans Day airing of “Saving Private Ryan,” saying the acclaimed film’s violence and language could draw sanctions from the Federal Communications Commission.
The decisions mark a twist in the conflict over the aggressive stand the FCC has taken against obscenity and profanity since Janet Jackson flashed the world during the last Super Bowl halftime show.
Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning movie aired on ABC with relatively little controversy in 2001 and 2002, but station owners — including several in large markets — are unnerved that airing it Thursday could bring federal punishment. The film includes a violent depiction of the D-Day invasion and profanity.
Uh, yeah, it’s the immoral violence of war that the FCC wants stricken from the airwaves.
Other stations choosing to replace the movie with other programming are located in Atlanta, Dallas, Honolulu, New Orleans, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Orlando, Fla., and Charlotte, N.C. They are owned by a variety of companies, including Cox Television, Tribune Broadcasting Corp., Hearst-Argyle Television Inc., Belo Corp. and Sinclair Broadcast Group.
“We regret that the FCC, given its current timidity in dealing in this area, would not grant an advance waiver, which would have allowed stations like ours to run it without any question or any concern,” Cole said.
In a statement on WSB-TV’s Web site, the Atlanta station’s vice president and general manager, Greg Stone, cited a March ruling in which the FCC said an expletive uttered by rock star Bono during NBC’s live airing of the 2003 Golden Globe Awards was both indecent and profane.
The agency made it clear then that virtually any use of the F-word — which is used repeatedly in “Saving Private Ryan” — was inappropriate for over-the-air radio and television.
This entry was posted on November 11, 2004 at 9:43 am and is filed under Culture war. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
i feel that the fcc is full of it they bleep the profanity anyway so what is the damn problem i really the the fcc and anyone that is involved in that decision is a mentally frustated, mainly FUCKED UP IN THE MIND. went to school too long that their education overloaded their brains. STUPID PEOPLE ITS JUST A MOVIE, ANYONE TAKING IT PERSONAL HAS SOME VERY SERIOUS MENTAL ISSUES AND FOR ME THE HELL WITH THE MOVIE I NEVER SEEN IT ANYWAY SO IT DON’T BOTHER ME AT ALL I’LL JUST GO BUY THE DAMN MOVIE SINCE THE IDIOTS WON’T SHOW IT ON T.V.. FCC GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER. YOU ALL START THIS TELEVISION SHIT NOW YOU WANT TO MONITOR WHAT COMES ON WELL THEM MAKE ALL THE STATION SHOW CHRISTIAN PROGRAMS IS THAT TOO MUCH FOR SPIRITUALITY FOR YOU OR ARE YOU JUST FULL OF EVILNESS LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD,DON’T PLAY NOTHING BUT WHAT YOU THINK YOUR PEOPLE WANT ANYWAY SO WHAT’S THE PROBLEM.