Parents Television Council Slams Cartoons As Sexual, Violent, Indecent

The Parents Television Council, the conservative media watchdog group that recently complained about the upcoming NBC show "The Playboy Club," released a study on Tuesday criticizing broadcasters of cartoons for pervasive sexual, drug-promoting and foul language-using cartoon programs, which, they claim, "enables today's youth to dismiss risky behavior and attitudes, to belittle parents' concerns and to disparage threats to our nation's public health and safety."

The report, titled "Cartoons Are No Laughing Matter: Sex, Drugs and Profanity on Primetime Animated Programs," charted incidents of what they deemed inappropriate content from cable networks Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Disney Channel and Nick At Nite.

Amongst the findings, PTC found 377 instances of sexual references & conduct, including:

Simulations or obscured scenes of sexual intercourse, pornography, masturbation, pedophilia and prostitution. Also, there was nudity, emphasizing sexual body parts (i.e. close-ups of breasts), sexual clothing (i.e. dominatrix outfits, sexy lingerie, thong panties, etc.), suggestive dancing, and stripping.

Citing a number of incidents as examples, the PTC offered scenes in "Family Guy" that included an old man punching his penis while watching porn, as well as one that features star Peter Griffin's bumper sticker that reads, "My Other Penis Is A Vagina." They also point out a scene in "King of the Hill" in which Hank Hill grills hamburgers while nude.

The PTC cited "American Dad," as well, quoting a character as saying, "No, look, I'm a sex offender. I love offensive sex. I offend people with the sex I have. That's who I am. And that's who I'll always be."

As for foul language, the PTC said that they found 565 incidents of "sexual slang or misogynistic language," noting in particular the words:

Bitch, pussy, cock, dick, suck, screw, douche, ass, balls, slut, whore, ho, skank, damn, crap, hell, piss, and bastard.

One of the PTC's many offered remedies for the scourge of humor is a la carte cable broadcasting, or the ability for subscribers to choose which channels they want to receive, while not paying for or supporting other broadcasters. The group also recently criticized Rihanna's new music video, "Man Down," for its portrayal of violence.

For more on the report, click over to the PTC.

Comments

[cagog]

09:25 PM on 08/24/2011

These people need to shut it and suck it, i dont want these MothaF***a's mess'n up my family guy episodes, i have a need to laugh, if they take it away i'll turn green and muscular.

[INtherapy38]

12:11 PM on 08/24/2011

Although the PLC has the right to say what they want regading what's on TV and what they feel is pervasive towards children, it all boils down to "don't watch it if you don't like it". I happen to be a fan of Family Guy & American Dad and don't believe in any way "enables today's youth to dismiss risky behavior and attitudes, to belittle parents' concerns and to disparage threats to our nation's public health and safety." I feel (MY 1st Amendment right) that parents should discuss fantasy from reality to their children and advise what may or may not be appropriate on TV WITH them.

[Reasongal]

07:57 PM on 09/27/2011

Ditto - the PLC are also too shallow (or, face it, dumb) to understand satire and the many examples of astute social commentary - if the kids get that level, they're going to be smarter than most GOPers

[CatesA]

01:52 AM on 08/23/2011

Cartoons have always been subversive. Bugs Bunny is a cross-dresser.

[firelord5000]

12:25 AM on 08/22/2011

PTC can suck on Peter's peter, see what I did there? Long live Family Guy and Stewie the legendary baby!

[ranchero42]

09:28 PM on 08/21/2011

I love groups like the PTC, I really do. I'd never know what I should be watching until these hilariously prudish thought police tell me all about what they've been hating lately.

[serg36]

09:02 PM on 08/21/2011

Tell these people to go F?!@#$ themselves.

[duncansdad]

08:58 PM on 08/21/2011

These are the very same people who scream about their freedom of sppech being restricted when someone so much as criticizes them.

[SalesmanForLife]

06:05 PM on 08/21/2011

Conservatism is a disease, plain and simple.

[SpitfireMK9]

04:00 PM on 08/21/2011

I find their objections objectionable. Family Guy is one of the best American cartoon exports.

[NikkiDove]

04:00 PM on 08/21/2011

They conspicuously leave out violence. Why?

If they want a country with censorship like that, they can move to Iran or Saudi Arabia. Those countries also do not censor violence... unless the telly depicts the violence against Muslims, or whatever group of chosen people the government decide.

If you don't want you or your children to watch a program; don't watch it. As for me I was taught the difference between fiction and reality as a child, but I see how that would be hard for some people to do...

[beyondliberal]

03:49 PM on 08/21/2011

The PTC fails to appreciate that "Family Guy", "American Dad", and "King of the Hill" are not for children's consumption. They are intended for adults.
That being said, I'm a HUGE fan of Roger and Klaus!

[Dr Jimmy and Mr Jim]

01:28 PM on 08/21/2011

Conservative Activists ARE cartoons.

They're just not very funny cartoons.

[Tresco]

10:05 AM on 08/21/2011

I look at the PTC as critics who watch and evaluate for artistic, or in this case, cultural merit.
They DON"T want anything banned or boycotted according to the story. The people who make the cartoons have the Constitutional right to express themselves. The PTC have the same Constitutional right. If you don't like it too damn bad. If you want the PTC to shut up or go away you, not they, are anti-1st Amendment. I get the feeling that many people on this thread didn't pay much attention when they read the last paragraph. When it comes to sanctimony and hypocracy progs are the worst. Where's the "I disagree with what you say but defend to the death your right to say it." spirit now? What a bunch of phonies. The bible thumping fundys have nothing on you.

[eternalscorpio1]

08:43 AM on 08/21/2011

Family Guy is AWESOME!!!!!.......and the fact that it upsets the right-wing TV storm troopers makes it even more AWESOME!!!!!!......Giggity Giggity Goo!!!!.....

[firelord5000]

12:26 AM on 08/22/2011

Couldn't have said it any better myself, right on!

[handyallen1]

08:34 AM on 08/21/2011

that dam freedom of speech