FCC swamped with indecency complaints about Oprah

[Bond]

MAY 4--In the wake of an Oprah Winfrey show that included explicit talk about teen sexuality (and addressed topics such as rainbows and getting one's salad tossed), the Federal Communications Commission received more than 1600 letters complaining about the racy March 18 broadcast and demanding that the talk show host be cited for indecency. And since most FCC correspondents were prodded to write by the agency's Public Enemy Number One, Howard Stern, and ABC late night host Jimmy Kimmel, the Oprah complaints are particularly entertaining and vituperative in their decrying of a double standard employed by the fine-happy FCC brass. Below you'll find a sampling of the Oprah complaints, a small chunk of the stack we received via a Freedom of Information Act request. Since the commission redacts the names of letter writers, there is no way to actually confirm the true identity of letter writers like the "parent" who, having returned home from "Bible day camp" with their three-year-old twins, had to endure Oprah's "disgusting rhetoric." Or the "teacher" who worried about his third grade students "viewing these vulgar conversations about sex." Despite the complaints, it is unlikely that stations broadcasting Winfrey's March show--which originally aired, to little apparent notice, in October 2003--will be sanctioned. (14 pages)

Source: The Smoking Gun

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[GameMaster]

I'd like to see the episode. I don't think there's anything wrong with it. Adults are entitled to watch the TV show which is directed towards adults. Besides, the parents wouldn't need to complain if they were being responcible and supervising their children's TV watching. Children only see this stuff because their parents either don't care or they're not supervising their children.

[Dyne]

I agree it's a bit weird to talk about that topic out of the blue like that.. go to Maury Povich at least.

[The Germanator]

I agree with GM here though. Doing some research, if you look at the guidelines for a show rated "PG", this is what it says: TV-PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — This program contains material that parents may find unsuitable for younger children.) Many parents may want to watch it with their younger children. The theme itself may call for parental guidance and/or the program contains one or more of the following: moderate violence (V), some sexual situations (S), infrequent coarse language (L), or some suggestive dialogue (D).

And there we go...It's not like Orpah just talks just about kid-apropriate subjects.

[Jonbo298]

OMFG, The people of America just need to shut the f*ck up. This is getting out of hand. Most shows are rated at least TV-PG for a f*cking reason! I wish I had these people's email addresses

America is turning into a country of Big Brother's and censorship. Your f*cking children will know what it means eventually so just let them learn their own f*cking way.

/end rant....or is it?

[Jason1]

Originally Posted by Jonbo298

OMFG, The people of America just need to shut the f*ck up. This is getting out of hand. Most shows are rated at least TV-PG for a f*cking reason! I wish I had these people's email addresses

America is turning into a country of Big Brother's and censorship. Your f*cking children will know what it means eventually so just let them learn their own f*cking way.

/end rant....or is it?

Eh, I cant say I entirelly agree there. We've had ratings for a long time. If anything, it's gone the oppisite way over the years. Stuff that they show all the time on TV today was the kind of stuff that would be considered unappropriate on TV 30 or 40 years.

[Rndm_Perfection]

Originally Posted by Jonbo298

I wish I had these people's email addresses

That's not good enough. *loads shotgun*