Writer Files FCC Complaint Against FOX TV Series 'Family Guy'
by Mark on 8/30/2006 (37)
 | A call to arms: This Buds for you, Bugs. | | When is too much just too much?
I'm certainly not one for excessive censorship. Censorship is a ticklish issue that tugs the corners of the Constitution itself. There are many interpretations of free speech, however, but just when is free speech excessive, or simply dangerous and even counter-cultural?
We all knew strange and creepy kids in high school that said and did weird and disturbing things. Not just a play on creativity, but artistic notions that frightened and unsettled. It seems the current trend in media is to sanction and give voice to the creatively depraved, the most nefarious and notable being Seth McFarland's FOX animated series 'Family Guy.'
For the greater part, the show probably does no discernable damage, but I believe that sometimes it does. In one episode, animated character "Mayor West", chases down the Domino Pizza "Noid" mascot, beats him to a bloody pulp, grabs him by the neck, and kills him with a resounding, highly audible twisting "crack" of his hands.
How did FOX censors miss this? How was it allowed to be aired, on a Sunday night, presumably to an audience consisting of predominately young children? Does FOX even have censors?
Incredibly, a partial transcript of the episode made it onto an online Wiki Encyclopedia. The Wiki description of the episode is as follows:
In the episode "Deep Throats", Mayor West famously beat the crap out of, then killed, the Noid, who had tried to ruin his pizza. ("I guess the Noid should've avoided me.") He considers himself a tomato due to the fact that "red fluid" came out of his nose when he got hit. Adam West doesn't like the popcorn at the movie theaters because "it's too crunchy" so he brings his own bag of creamed corn.
In a hauntingly similar episode, Elmer Fudd tracks down Bugs Bunny, shoots him, grabs him by the neck and twists, again to a resounding audible "crack", and drags him off in a pool of blood.
Sometimes too much is just too much, right?
I filed an FCC complaint against both episodes, and received confirmations in the mail that both events would be investigated by the agency. When a decision has been reached regarding FOX's culpability, and if any decency laws were violated by these broadcasts and fines levied, I will post them in an upcoming editorial.
It is a sad commentary on American culture that nothing is being done at the corporate level to stop such clearly inappropriate broadcasts. Where is our conscience? Who is the gate keeper? How has disfunctional media gained favor in America in the first place? Are we a truly a depraved nation gone mad?
And placing responsiblity or blame on parents is absurd.
Anyone who has kids knows that parents are not magicians, and cannot be everywhere at once. With the current trend from all 4 corners of free media embracing violence and overt sexuality, parents are at an impasse in trying to monitor their children's media activity.
That is what the FCC is for. To pick up on what parents miss.
It seems to me that shows like 'Family Guy' are better slated for cable TV, where stricter controls can be levied on material that in all respects should be classified as adult media. Say what you will, but in my opinion, it is unsuitable for free television.
And finally, and most significantly, this is a personal vendetta. You mess with Bugs Bunny, you're messin' with me.
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