Begging for Censorship 

I swear... the networks are just begging to be censored more and more by the FCC. Of course if you haven't heard, the latest "indecency" scandal took place during the Monday Night Football Eagles game, when Terrell Owens (who I really can't stand anyway) did a skit during the opening of the game with Desperate Housewives star Nicolette Sheridan. I saw the skit myself, but didn't find it offensive, but that's me. I don't watch Desperate Housewives, and the promo didn't all of a sudden make me want to, but that's not the point. Now, because of this crap, the FCC is probably going to come down even harder on networks, which pisses me off. Hell, during Veteran's Day, many network affiliates refused to play Saving Private Ryan for fear of being fined by the FCC. What's up with that?

So Nick, why are you upset at ABC? Shouldn't you be upset with the FCC for censorship? Partly I am. But mostly I'm upset at the networks for being stupid. The issue is that the networks are lying to their viewers. Nobody accidentally turns on Desperate Housewives, or Howard Stern on E!, or Sex and the City, and gets outraged by the "shocking" content. OK, some people do, but that's their own fault. When you advertise the content as being adult, then the viewers have the responsibility not to watch if it will bother them. That is the way it should be.

But when you're advertising football, and then start showing something completely different, that's not acceptable. The networks have to take responsibility for what they show, and how they advertise it so that viewers can make choices for themselves and their values, and their viewing habits. It's unfair and wrong to tell them you'll show one thing, and then blindside them with something else. I can't imagine being a parent trying to actually be responsible about what my child was viewing today.

I am tired of the FCC telling the networks what is appropriate to show, and what is not. I also don't blame people for being upset that they're shown things that they didn't want to see, or don't want their children to see. I also get upset at people who defend the networks saying that the people who complain are just prudes. If someone doesn't want to see something, they have as much of a right not to be fooled into watching it, as you have to choose to watch it.

So here is my solution. Networks... be up front and honest about what you're going to show. Not only that, but choose appropriate venues for your material. When I turn on Monday Night Football, I actually want to watch football. I'm not watching it for the sexy promos. I don't watch the Super Bowl for the half time show, and I really don't know anyone who does. If I want sex on TV, then I'll watch porn. Screw subtlety. Viewers... if you don't want to watch adult shows, then don't turn it on. But that also means that you can't complain just because someone else might choose to turn it on. Finally to the FCC... well if the networks and the viewers both keep up their end of the bargain, you should be out of a job. It couldn't be this simple could it?