We constantly wonder whether Britain or America is better. For instance; in America, networks like CBS get fined millions of dollars by the F.C.C for even hinting at possible nudity for a second on TV.

In Britain, however – where the regulations are more lenient – horrific beasts like Jodie Marsh can whap her baps out and gurn while she yammers about being in an orgy any time she wants, and nobody bats an eyelid. It’s a lose-lose situation.

Anyway, CBS has been hit with a record $3.6 million fine by the F.C.C for sort of hinting at a bit of an orgy during an episode of Without A Trace.

Remember Mary Whitehouse? She was a mental old lady who got incensed
any time that someone on TV said "bugger" or clearly exposed their bare
ankle. The Federal Complaints Commission (F.C.C) is America’s version
of Mary Whitehouse, except that it’s a huge organisation and not an
angry fruitcake in an armchair. And the F.C.C can hit networks with all
kinds of fines if it thinks that the TV is being indecent.

Yesterday the F.C.C fined 111 American TV stations for $3.6 million
after a prime-time episode of Without A Trace from 2004 suggested that
its teenage characters were participating in a sexual orgy.
Without
A Trace was among nine shows broadcast between February 2002 and March
2005 hit with F.C.C fines for violating decency standards.

CBS will be able to appeal the fines, which are being seen by many
as an effort by the F.C.C to show everyone who’s the real Johnny Big
Potatoes in television. An appeal looks likely, as CBS has defended the
episode of Without A Trace as:

"an important and socially relevant storyline warning parents to exercise greater supervision of their teenage children."

Plus,
they got to show some hot young girls not wearing too much. The F.C.C
also upheld the $550,000 fine against CBS for the time when Janet
Jackson’s (CDs) bazzer fell out during the Super Bowl in 2004. We’re still
stunned that such a fuss is being made about it, seeing as how in Britain,
people are generally disappointed if a naked human being doesn’t
disrupt a major sporting event. Tim Winter, the executive director of
the Parents Television Council, described yesterday’s fines:

"We absolutely are elated by the rulings handed down by the F.C.C. Where they could fine a broadcaster for breaking the
law, they did so. We think this sends a very powerful signal that those
who violate the law will be punished."

hecklerspray says: $3.6 million? Fucking yikes!

Read more:

TV Stations Fined Over CBS Show Deemed to Be Indecent – New York Times

[story by Stuart Heritage]