On the 8th episode of this season's The Apprentice, one of the
candidates (I don't remember which; he was male), said "p***y" (same
word meaning cat, but the vulgar meaning).  The show is not live, and
this was aired.  I thought this was something that could not be said
on broadcast TV and certainly not in the 9-10 pm slot.  How did this
get past the censors?  What are the words that cannot be used on
broadcast channels?

Nelson,

Thanks for accepting my remarks as your answer. I've reposted them
below, with a couple of additions.

I doubt that the word 'p*ssy" would pass the network censors if it
were an obvious reference to female genitalia. The way it was used on
"The Apprentice 2," in referring to Elizabeth, was not such a usage.

" Wes, proving once again that he?s a standup guy, gives Elizabeth
some advice in dealing with Trump in the boardroom: 'Your best shot is
to be totally opinionated and honest and hope your opinion matches up
with what he thinks.'  Overhearing them, Jennifer is irate and
confronts Wes afterwards, 'I heard you coaching her.  You know it?s
not fair.  You?re not on our team.'  She can?t stand the fact that
he?s helping someone who?s bringing her team down.  Wes tells her,
'All I said to her was, don?t be a pussy,' to which Jennifer can only
say, 'I wonder if she can help it.' "

In such a context, "p*ssy" is more like "wussy" or "sissy." IMHO, it's
not a direct sexual reference.

The Apprentice Rules: Episode 208: "A Tale of Two Leaders"
http://www.theapprenticerules.com/weekly-reports/episode-208-page-6.html

Words which may have sexual connotations are often allowed if the
context does not specifically apply to the sexual meaning of such a
word.

As an example: up until recently, "ass" was permitted on network TV
only in the sense of "idiot" or "jackass" (such as "Don't be an ass"),
but not as a direct reference to buttocks. This has changed; I've
heard quite a few anatomical "ass" remarks this season.

Here's an interesting article about the origins of the word "p*ssy"
(BEWARE: some vulgar language)

The Guide Online: Don't be a pussy
http://www.guidemag.com/magcontent/invokemagcontent.cfm?ID=F6D0CFDF-F4A9-4FE6-B94FFA6B12B0422F

" Isn't there a law against cursing on television? Actually, no. 

'A lot of people think there are certain words you can't say on
television, but that's not the case,' says Robert Thompson, director
of the Center for the Study of Popular Television at Syracuse
University in New York. 'It's all really vague.'...

Even in terms of broadcast television, laws regarding what can't be
said or shown are fuzzy. They're much like obscenity laws, and depend
on artistic context and community standards. Nudity -- for example --
may be artistic, or it may be crude...
 
Complaints against programing are handled on a local basis, so the
question becomes whether something that's a dirty word in one part of
the country is necessarily dirty in another. Complaints filed against
a show are not filed against the network -- NBC, ABC, CBS, etc. --
broadcasting the show, but against a local affiliate. Which is why an
episode of NYPD Blue may be blacked out in Arkansas while shown in New
York. "

Detroit News Online: Crying Foul!
http://www.detnews.com/2001/entertainment/0107/10/d01-244251.htm

" While cable premium channel HBO has produced in recent years shows
marked by sex, violence, obscenities and profanities, networks such as
FX and MTV have been successful at pushing basic cable's limits in the
last year. This summer, reality programs such as NBC's 'Dog Eat Dog'
and CBS' 'Big Brother III' have further tested broadcast television's
standards, according to The Reporter.

'There's been a revolution in content going on over the past 10
years,' said Rick Mater, head of the WB Network's standards and
practices department, according to The Reporter. 'And it's not slowing
down -- it's speeding up.'

The use of certain obscenities previously banned on broadcast TV also
has become accepted.

'I think there's three or four words left that honestly everyone would
agree are still inappropriate, and I'm sure those [words] are going to
fall by the wayside anyway,' NBC's Wurtzel [Alan Wurtzel, who oversees
standards at NBC] told The Reporter.

Bochco said, according to The Reporter, 'The one thing you learn over
the years with broadcast standards is there's no such thing as
broadcast standards. The standard is anything you can get them to let
you do.' "

LifeWay: Broadcast TV May Test Limits on Sex, Language 
http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0,1703,A%253D150042%2526M%253D200341,00.html

Best,
Pink

---

Request for Answer Clarification by nelson-ga on 11 Nov 2004 19:40 PST

Big contrivery now here in the States.  In honor of Veterans Day
(known as Armistace Day elsewhere), ABC is showing "Saving Private
Ryan" uncut at 8 p.m.  Several ABC affiliates have decided not to air
it fo fear that the FCC could impose sanctions.  The film has blood,
gore and cursing.  (My local N.Y. ABC station is network owned, so I
can watch if I want, but I'm not.)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4002671.stm
http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-11-11-private-ryan_x.htm

---

Request for Answer Clarification by nelson-ga on 11 Nov 2004 19:41 PST

Sorry.  I meant to post a comment.

---

Clarification of Answer by pinkfreud-ga on 12 Nov 2004 07:43 PST

The "Saving Private Ryan" situation is similar to the controversy over
the airing of "Schindler's List" (uncut) on NBC a few years ago:

http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/Holocaust/schindler-on-tv.html

Thank you for your insightful response.

I doubt that the word 'p*ssy" would pass the network censors if it
were an obvious reference to female genitalia. The way it was used on
"The Apprentice 2," in referring to Elizabeth, was not such a usage.

" Wes, proving once again that he?s a standup guy, gives Elizabeth
some advice in dealing with Trump in the boardroom: 'Your best shot is
to be totally opinionated and honest and hope your opinion matches up
with what he thinks.'  Overhearing them, Jennifer is irate and
confronts Wes afterwards, 'I heard you coaching her.  You know it?s
not fair.  You?re not on our team.'  She can?t stand the fact that
he?s helping someone who?s bringing her team down.  Wes tells her,
'All I said to her was, don?t be a pussy,' to which Jennifer can only
say, 'I wonder if she can help it.' "

In such a context, "p*ssy" is more like "wussy" or "sissy." IMHO, it's
not a direct sexual reference.

http://www.theapprenticerules.com/weekly-reports/episode-208-page-6.html

Regarding the words that can't be said on television, here's a classic
George Carlin routine (WARNING: includes the seven no-no words without
*sterisks):

http://www.erenkrantz.com/Humor/SevenDirtyWords.shtml

Pink is right... as always!

(Is there anything that she doesn't know?)

It was actually a clever bit of 'product placement' (i.e. subliminal
advertising) for an exciting new gizmo ... the 'Purrfect'.

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=424180

Well spotted!

The inventor also thanks you for helping to spread the word.

I certainly am not a member of the overly politically-correct crowd,
but the usage of the word "pussy" has always bothered me.

I would say that pinkfreud is right, the word was not being used in a
sexual way, but I would argue that it is being used in a sexist way. 
In my experience, when someone says "don't be a pussy," pinkfreud is
right about this, they mean "quit being weak and timid."  However, the
implication is that you are being weak and timid because you are being
unmanly.  In my experience, "don't be a pussy" is the equivalent of
"don't be a vagina."

It's worth noting that "wussy" is most likely a blend of wimp and pussy.
Sissy, meanwhile, is a diminutive form of "sis."  "Sissy" is defined
by the American Heritage Dictionary as "a boy or man regarded as
effeminate."

I can't say that it bothers me that such usages are not censored; what
bothers me is the fact that such usages are becoming more and more
acceptable in mainstream society.

Anyway, that's just my two cents.

Pink, you surprise me.  I must disgree with your assessment.  Although
Wes did not mean a literal vagina, the etymology of the term is
definitely from the vulgar term for vagina, not cat.  I am a
left-leaning centrist (a.k.a., liberal to those of you in the Red
State of America), but even I think they should not have broadcast it.

Nelson,

I did not mean to imply that I endorse the use of the word. I was
merely speculating about the possible reason why the censors didn't
bleep it out. Words which may have sexual connotations are often
allowed if the context does not specifically apply to the sexual
meaning of such a word.

As an example: up until recently, "ass" was permitted on network TV
only in the sense of "idiot" or "jackass" (such as "Don't be an ass"),
but not as a direct reference to buttocks. This has changed; I've
heard quite a few anatomical "ass" remarks this season. Maybe I need
to stop watching "Desperate Housewives." ;-)

Here's an interesting article about the origins of the word "p*ssy"
(BEWARE: some vulgar language)

http://www.guidemag.com/magcontent/invokemagcontent.cfm?ID=F6D0CFDF-F4A9-4FE6-B94FFA6B12B0422F

I think it might be worth noting that the FCC does not list out any
specific words that are prohibited:

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/obscene.html

The article from The Guide brought to mind another insult that makes
me cringe: "that's gay."  At least I haven't heard that phrase used on
TV outside of "South Park."  Sadly, with the popularity of "reality"
shows (and judging by all the anti-gay ballot issues that passed this
year), I have a feeling that it too will start being accepted on the
airwaves.

There's an expression that is used here in Britain that SHOULD be banned:

Oh, sugarlumps!

Everyone knows that sugar ain't healthy.

Can we add that to the list, please?

Hi all,

I wonder if Mrs Slocombe of Grace Brothers was aware of political
correctness 25 years ago. Her reference to drying her "pussy" in the
microwave seemed less offensive and far more humorous than the
prancings of Mr Humphries checking inside leg measurements.

Pink, please go ahead and post an answer.  The ads on that Guide page
alone are worth the money.
:-)

Regarding "Are you Being Served", I have caught a few episodes on BBC
America and was a bit surprised by some of the references.  Again,
although they were about a cat, the obvious double-entdre would never
have been accepted in the U.S. at that time.  Another recent (for me)
surprise was the episode of "All in the Family" where the gorgeous
wife of Archie's old army buddy comes to town.  At one point after she
has fled after being offended, Archie says something to the effect of
it's hard.  Figure out for yourself the two possible meanings.  Maybe
I just have a dirty mind.

Of course, Hollywood's film censorship in the late Thirties and beyond
used to so ridiculous.

Nelson,

Thank you very much for the five stars and the nice tip!

~pinkfreud

All I can add is please bring back " Are You Being Served" It was
hilarious and still makes me laugh when I think about it. Who can
forget the greek wedding episode with Mr Humphries dressed in
traditional greek clobber. Also bring back 'All in the family" with
Archie Bunker; also hilarious and better than anthing curently on
mainstream TV.

Try watching Aussie TV. Now even offends me as anything seems to be
allowed. Ads are particularly grose. We have the young indian boy who
decides his nice warm  soft pasta is an ideal substitute to place his
penis in and masturbate until he gets caught, back to camera however.
We have the the young lady who feels so sexy in her new stockings that
she similarly feels compelled to masturbate, camera face on!!   Then
of course as most Melburnians would know we have the woman on the
production line who urinates into a saucepan which is subsequently
checked by next woman who she does not like who has to tip each
saucepan upside down for some reason only to tip contents all over her
front.
 Lovely eh!! Watching TV with my daughter is now embarrassing.

Wow, John

Sounds disgusting!

What's gone wrong?

All the Best

Bryan