FCC Seeks To Fine ABC $1.4M For Indecent "NYPD Blue" Episode

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission has proposed a $1.4 million fine against 52 ABC Television Network stations over a 2003 broadcast of cop drama NYPD Blue.

The fine is for a scene where a boy surprises a woman as she prepares to take a shower. The scene depicted "multiple, close-up views" of the woman's "nude buttocks" according to an agency order issued late Friday.

ABC is owned by the Walt Disney Co. The fines were issued against 52 stations either owned by or affiliated with the network.

FCC's definition of indecent content requires that the broadcast "depicts or describes sexual or excretory activities" in a "patently offensive way" and is aired between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

The agency said the show was indecent because "it depicts sexual organs and excretory organs _ specifically an adult woman's buttocks."

The agency rejected the network's argument that "the buttocks are not a sexual organ."

Comments

[micro]

02:01 PM on 02/01/2008

oh, pulease! It would appear the FCC is run by an immature and overly hormonal cult desperate for slush money. Look out, it's the fanny police!
Grow up, FCC! and stop sending the message that Americans are so mentally unbalanced that we need government agencies to save us from viewing the human physique.

[jungpatawan]

03:08 PM on 01/31/2008

Ealier in the series, they showed Dennis Franz's droopy, cellulite-ridden butt. Nothing from the FCC. Butt show Charlotte Ross's fine, smooth butt, and the Bible Squad goes nuts.

Franz's was shown in a sexual situation... nothing.

Ross's was in a comical one... BUSTED.

So tell me again how the Republican party isn't poulated by self-loathing, closet-gay, gay-bashing hypocritical perverts?

JP

[GenXer]

05:11 PM on 01/28/2008

Finally a way the GOP can reduce government spending. The FCC should be the first to go. Does this count as a Frivilous law suit?

[nyboomer]

04:15 PM on 01/28/2008

Can the agency point out to any medical textbooks that refer to buttocks as a sex organ?

[tumblewind]

09:59 AM on 01/28/2008

I am so sick of the 'do gooders' in this Administration trying to curb my viewing of foul language, nudity and violence! If they are allowed they will turn us back to the 'Leave it Beaver' days of television viewing. Of the sickening pablum that passed for entertainment. I feel like I am an adult enough after 65 years to turn the television channel when I am offended by something. It only takes me a few seconds when President Bush comes on to get it flipped to another channel. Even quicker if it's Rush Limbaugh. So why the big deal about nudity! It's been around for centuries. I feel like it should be left up to an individual's tastes. If they want to watch it fine. If they are offended they know where the remote is!

[adzeman]

09:22 AM on 01/28/2008

Reason number 497 why the bush nightmare cannot end too soon. It gave us a taste of theocracy that hopefully is bitter enough to put it to death.

[thedirtman]

07:50 AM on 01/28/2008

We could save a lot of money by just disbanding the FCC altogether. What entitles this government agency to money from our paychecks anyhow?

[memojames]

07:03 AM on 01/28/2008

Buttocks are sexual organs? OK, I admit they turn me on, but so do faces, legs, hair, backs...

[GoodwithWood]

06:24 AM on 01/28/2008

"patently offensive way" .....WTF?

This is brought to you by your friendly neighborhood Christian police.
The Bush administration installed them in the FCC. They have civilian volunteers who scan the airwaves for this kind of shit. In 1999 it was no secret that Bush would do this if elected. I’m surprised by the infrequency of it.

Jezzzus saves

GWW

[racetoinfinity]

06:11 AM on 01/28/2008

Ridiculous.

[SteveStephens]

10:58 PM on 01/27/2008

ABC. Get some Lawyers and Fuck the FCC up their ass.

[totalliberal]

10:51 PM on 01/27/2008

BTW, nipples, genitals and buttocks have been declared as terrorist objects.

We have a war against skin on our hands folks.

[totalliberal]

10:48 PM on 01/27/2008

I remember when they used to have film censor boards that would view pornography and tell us how much we can watch.
They said it was to protect us.
Of course they had to shoot these censors every year because they had turned into criminal perverts.

[totalliberal]

09:25 PM on 01/27/2008

Th Kaiser Family Foundation have yet to discover the channel 'change' or 'off' buttons on their TVs.
Man, they are too stupid to have families.

[fantagor]

06:56 PM on 01/27/2008

The FCC is a governmental agency.

The 1st Amendment prohibits the curtailment of free speech by the government.

Nudity in artistic works has been held up by the SCOTUS as an expression of free speech.

Ergo, the FCC is violating the 1st Amendment every time they fine or police or edit ANYTHING on broadcast TV.

Randy