The FCC has unanimously upheld the Janet Jackson Super Bowl fine, as well as finding episodes of "Without a Trace" and "Surreal Life 2" indecent, according to a report on Broadcasting & Cable.com
"The Commission today affirms its initial finding that the broadcast of the Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show was actionably indecent," said FCC Chairman Kevin Martin. "We appropriately reject the argument that CBS continues to make that this material is not indecent. That argument runs counter to Commission precedent and common sense."
The FCC also fined several programs for language, including an episode of "NYPD Blue" and a PBS show, "The Blues: Godfathers and Sons." According to those rulings, bullsh-t can be indecent, as are the f-word and s-word in a documentary, the report said.
Far from reconsidering its decisions that an f-word by Bono in a "Golden Globes" broadcast was indecent, as numerous First Amendment scholars suggested it should, the FCC expanded its crackdown on language, the site reported.
Those indecency findings against language troubled Democratic Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, who disssented in part, saying: "The Order builds on one of the most difficult cases we have ever decided, Golden Globe Awards, and stretches it beyond the limits of our precedents and constitutional authority.
"The precedent set in that case has been contested by numerous broadcasters, constitutional scholars and public interest groups who have asked us to revisit and clarify our reasoning and decision.
"Rather than reexamining that case, the majority uses the decision as a springboard to add new words to the pantheon of those deemed to be inherently sexual or excretory, and consequently indecent and profane, irrespective of their common meaning or of a fleeting and isolated use."
Here, from the table of contents of a 200-plus page report, is a list of programs for which complaints were either acted upon or dismissed.
A. Notices of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture........................................... 22
1.“The Surreal Life 2” (February 8, 2004)........................................................ 22
2.“Con El Corazón En La Mano” (October 9, 2004)..................................... 33
3.“Fernando Hidalgo Show” (October 19, 2004)............................................. 43
4.“Video Musicales” (February 2-March 8, 2002)............................................. 52
5.”The Blues:Godfathers and Sons” (March 11, 2004).................................... 72
6.“The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper” (March 15, 2003)........................................... 87
B.Indecent /Or Profane Broadcasts But No Forfeiture Proposed...100
1.“The 2002 Billboard Music Awards” (December 9, 2002)....................... 101
2.“The 2003 Billboard Music Awards” (December 10, 2003).................... 112
3.“NYPD Blue” (various dates between January 14 and May 6, 2003)... 125
4.“The Early Show” (December 13, 2004)...................................................... 137
C.Broadcasts That Do Not Violate Indecency/Profanity/Obscenity Restrictions................. 146
1.“Alias” (January 5, 2005)................................................................................... 147
2.“Will and Grace” (November 11, 2004)......................................................... 153
3.“Two and a Half Men” (February 21, 2005)................................................ 160
4.“Committed” (March 8, 2005)......................................................................... 163
5.“Golden Phoenix Hotel & Casino Commercial” (February 19, 2005)... 166
6.“The Oprah Winfrey Show” (March 18, 2004)............................................ 173
7.Political Advertisement (October 14, 2004)................................................... 180
8.“The Amazing Race 6” (December 21, 2004).............................................. 188
9.Various Programs Containing Expletives (various dates between August 31, 2004 and February 28, 2005)............................................................................... 193
10.“Family Guy” (January 16, 2005)................................................................. 200
11.“The Academy Awards” (February 27, 2005).......................................... 206
12.“8 Simple Rules” (February 4, 2005).......................................................... 210
13.“The Today Show” (January 11, 2005)...................................................... 213
14.“The Simpsons” (September 9, 2004)........................................................ 219
15.“America’s Funniest Home Videos” (February 5, 2005)....................... 224
16.“Green Bay Packers v. Minnesota Vikings” (January 9, 2005)............ 227
17.“Medium” (January 17, 2005)...................................................................... 230
