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FCC Reviewing Golden Globes After Indecency Complaints

Posted on Wednesday, January 14th, 2009 by Peter Sciretta

The FCC is reviewing NBC’s telecast of The Golden Globes due to multiple complaints from viewers claiming that portions violated public indecency rules. The biggest moment of contention happened when The Wrestler director Darren Aronofsky “flipped the bird” at Best Actor winner Mickey Rourke. The moment came across to moment as playful jabbing between a director and his star actor. On the West Coast, NBC filled the screen with black to censor the two second shot. I remember in the second pro wrestling boom, Stone Cold Steve Austin would often flip the middle finger at opponents on cable television in prime time. I’m not sure if the rules changed after Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction or if the laws are different for cable broadcasts.

Some of the 18 complaints received also focused on objectionable language caught on mic by some award winners. I still find it amazing that 18 people can dictate what is and what isn’t indecent on national television. It’s actually pretty ridiculous if you think about it. I doubt that anything serious will come of this. Even the $500,000 fine the agency slapped CBS with after the Janet Jackson 2004 SuperBowl incident was later overturned by the courts. Thanks to /Film reader Ben O for the tip.

source: LA TImes

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  • Come ooooooon. -rolls eyes-
  • The people complaining about Darren obviously haven't seen The Wrestler
  • Absolutely ridiculous. What a joke. Also, thanks for mention the golden boom of wrestling back the the Stone Cold days. I miss those telecasts. Haven't watched wrestling since Austin retired, Bret had a stroke and Rock became 'an actor' (of sorts). Shame.
  • Dvq
    wow!, people actually complain about that? i thought it was a goverment surveillance system...
  • That was the best part of the show. Lets get Mickey and Darren a TV show and they could just banter for 1/2 an hour. It would be great.

    At least a podcast... Come on who wouldn't listen to a Rourke or Aronofsky podcast?
  • Clay without hands to mold it is just clay... that said, I don't think I could really listen to Mickey Rourke just shooting the shit for more than a few minutes. There are a few actors who could probably pull it off but the more interesting podcasts tend to be the ones led by people who create entertainment. Kevin Smith's Smodcast or Ricky Gervais' The Ricky Gervais Show come to mind.
  • Nick
    Cable isn't regulated by the FCC since it's a pay service, therefore, theoretically cable can show anything: thus nudity on channels like FX, and lots of uncensored swearing on Comedy Central.

    If NBC gets fined for Aronofsky or Rourke, then I think we as a people need to rise up and destory them.
  • The FCC still has some control over cable channels, particularly when it comes to the amount of Commercial time on children-themed networks and rules about showing commercials advertising the people/characters in the show the commercial is scheduled in (even voice talent of a cartoon character cannot be in a commercial featured in the show).
  • Ish Zendejas
    Actually, the FCC doesn't monitor cable shows sicne itt doesn't run on public airwaves, Cable is self regulated, which is why you can show the middle finger on tv and why a show like Nip/Tuck is able to be on FX.
  • America...still...
  • greycolumbus
    Remind me why the FCC was formed...
  • Remind me why its still around...
  • The FCC was formed to allocate first radio and then TV stations their channel and to make sure their signal didn't bleed over into another station's frequency.

    They are still around as they have expanded their mandate under various Republican administrations to intrude into business of telecommunications with a bunch of vague and non-defined guidelines of what a small minority feel is right or wrong. The expansion of government and over regulation, truly the cornerstone of conservative philosophy. Oh wait a minute...
  • There IS good and evil, and obviously you don't know the difference.
  • That the FCC's powers have expanded considerable over the years is a historical fact.

    That this expansion of powers and subsequent increased regulation of the business of broadcast runs counter to the traditional conservative philosophy that conservatism demands smaller goverment and self-regulation of business is a fact.

    That this expansion of powers has happened during the Presidency's of Reagan, Bush I and Bush II is a fact.

    That the FCC's definition of "indecency" is vague, the commission has declined to further define it and has even declined to rule on specific material before it airs is a fact.

    That many of the complaints received by the FCC are orchestrated by groups in the religious right who ask members to file complaints, even if they did not see the material in question when it aired is a fact.

    That there is no way to prove that these groups speak for the majority of those who actually viewed/heard said material and did not complain is a fact.

    As Thomas of Aquinas said, "Nothing is inherently good or evil, or its usage makes it so."
  • I always think of this: "Just remember what the MPAA says: Horrific, deplorable violence is okay, as long as people don't say any naughty words!" - Kyle's Mom
  • gah
    No one would ever in a million years watch live telecasts if there wasn't the possiblity of seeing things like Janets boob or Aranofsky's birdie. Isn't that why we tune in? Otherwise it's just a bunch of rich people stroking their own egos.
  • Seth
    Obama's FCC will be flipping the bird to these 18 complaints.

    However, since 18 people complained, you have to wonder if everyone that didn't give a rat's ass complained would the FCC shut the fuck up about this shit?
  • The FCC is soon to ban ego stroking from the public airwaves. All I can do is laugh at the outdated FCC machine. Sparky, the maintenance help, hasn't been able to oil the cogs for quite sometime since he's so busy watching Big Love (Which is being advertised just west of this text).
  • Once it happened, i was thinking that someone will complain about that. And i also heard people say fuck that night too. Funny stuff, who cares, no need to make this fuss over it.
  • When I saw it or see stuff like it I immediately think someone is getting fired and I may be right this time.
  • starscream9289
    LMAO 18 people. They must be Texans.

    Stone Cold still flips off people when he makes his random appearances once or twice a year. But then again, it is cable.
  • Palmer
    Seriously, don't these people have anything better to do than to complain about a few seconds of "indecency" to the FCC? Though, my money is on them being from the PTC.
  • Sheriff Dewey
    Oh what - tha - fuck ever. That shit went out with Bush. Bad language? We got bigger fish ta fry homeslice.
  • tom
    There was a Texan who posted this video on youtube and attacked the "left" Hollywood types for allowing things like indecency, reading and free thought to taint the land of the retarded mule Dubya. Flamed to a cinder.
  • 790
    The fcc is a joke a sham on the people of the US!,
    (The group) was originally set up as an organisation that regulated radio frequencies.
    Wake up ppl!
    It has borgafied itself into a propaganda outlet that wants to control all media on America TV and Radio. (Fines) kiss my ass!!!

    Its illegal practices need to be looked into and delt with by a non partisen commitee. The FCC has no Power over media content. They get away with enforcing there Bullshit laws, only because knowone questions them,,
    Fuck them there days are numbered!!!
  • joshi38
    I'm reminded of a Simpsons episode..."FCC: We received 20 complaints about last nights episode. And as we all know, 1 complaint equals 1 million complaints, so we received 20 million complaints about last nights episode"
  • Chad
    LOL!! Perfect reference. Nice pull.
  • That was the Family Guy episode "PTV". They used "billion" to underline the ridiculousness of the FCC's process: "...one call equals a billion people, which means 20 billion people were offended by this". You are absolutely right though in the similarity of the absurdity of the two.
  • joshi38
    Dammit, no wonder I couldn't find that quote anywhere on Google. I must have gotten confused between the two.

    And I call my self a Family Guy fan *ashamed*.
  • I know what you mean, I just remember it because on the DVD one of his original shows he airs is a Jackass rip and shits off of an overpass and causes Lois to wreck. Stewie freaked out afterwards is hilarious.
  • joshi38
    Yeah, I've got the DVD as well. From what I remember of the commentary for that episode, the FCC actually liked it.
  • Zach
    It's funny, all this talk about someone flipping the bird when the real indecency was a coked up Colon Farrell spewing some drug induced rant. Seriously, the guy was so high I thought he was gonna eat someone in the audience. That was both hilarious and shocking. When he came to the stage the first time and did his little head tilt and mouth stretch (yes I'm familiar with cocaine) me and my wife just looked at each other and laughed. Later, during his obvious snorts to keep his nose from oozing on national tv, we both thought, "does anyone care that this guy is blatently high right now?" I guess not. Whatever he said at his acceptance speech was classic, I just wish I had a coke translator.
  • what's the most that could happen, beeping noises over the curse words and a black strip over the middle finger? It sounds like some angry mom is making too much of a deal that her kid already knows about. This FCC thing means nothing to me and shouldn't mean anything to anyone.
  • Well someone tell those 18 old ladies its the golden "globes" not the golden 'years"
  • Haha, or the Golden Girls either.
  • Too many sensitive people nowadays.
  • sean
    the FCC is a bunch of fucking pussies
  • Byron W.
    Jesus, there's some full of shit people out there...
    Honestly, do they have nothing better to do than sit around and wait to find things to complain about? And if it's their kids they're so worried about... be a better parent, is your child really THAT influenced by everything little thing they see or hear on television?
  • nope they dont have anything better to do
  • Let Rourke have is moment. It was great acknowledgement between two respected friends.
  • it's not like Mickey Rourke got naked onstage and masturbated... I mean, seriously, people need to STFU. It was just the bloody Bird... I hate people.
  • Sean
    I hate society... fuck the FCC
  • TedTedPoleyPoley
    i think they used to blur Stone Cold's salute, even back in 98?
  • dva
    Didn't one of the producers for Slumdog Millionaire say "Oh fuck" when the music started playing before he could finish his speech at the end of the night.
  • they blanked that out where i live
  • The abusive power of government at hand. It warms my heart.
  • Sara D.
    If only these people had legitimate problems...not the middle finger, the horror!! Another Simpsons reference, JUST DON'T LOOK! Lord.
  • Bull
    I agree that this is stupid, petty, and lame, but your analogy to cable television and Stone Cold Steve Austin is wrong. Like someone else mentioned, cable TV is not regulated by FCC standards - which is why Comedy Central at certain hours is almost completely uncensored. So to compare the two is just as dumb as the people who are complaining about a middle finger.
  • yep, cable TV is a whole different story. Playboy channel, a premium (or pay for view) cable channel, for instance, won't get fined by FCC for hardcore sex and nudity...
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