Fuck fest

After an inexplicable absence from the headlines, fuck has resurfaced...

Just today, a news reporter on WCBS in NYC let "What the fuck is your problem, man?!" slip during a live broadcast, after being punk'd by a few XM satellite radio shock jocks. Oh video footage, where art thou? Alas, it must be too soon for the mighty google to retrieve that nugget.

The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (their version of the FCC) recently ruled against fuck on the radio. FM station CHOM was slapped on the wrist for airing the song “Locked in the Trunk of a Car” by the Tragically Hip during the daytime, which contains the following objectionable lyrics:

Morning broke out the backside of a truck-stop
the end of a line a real, rainbow-likening, luck stop  
where you could say I became chronologically fucked up.

Although the CBSC generally rules against airing fuck during times when children may be listening or watching, they surprisingly acknowledged that "formerly unacceptble language gradually but invariably insinuates itself into more common usage and a review of the old and new practice is merited from time to time." They went as far as saying that this is likely the case for fuck, but weren't willing to make an issue of it just yet.

Could it be that fuck is on the precipice of losing its edge?

We certainly hoped so after the FCC ruled that fuck was ok in a patriotic context (i.e., 21 times during the broadcast of Saving Private Ryan, which was riddled with language warnings during every commercial break). But then again, there's always the Bono decision to muddy things up. The FCC has yet to issue any rulings on the subject of indecency since Kevin "Babyface" Martin stepped up to the plate as Chair, but given his history, we're guessing that fuck still has a long way to go.

Comments

[Bruce]

here is the video footage in handy dandy zip file:

http://files.foundrymusic.com/WMV/05192005_cbs2_assault.zip

[Listener James from Westwood]

Wow, I was wondering what he said. He seemed pissed when he wheeled around on the guy with the sign. I saw this while at the gym, but the sound on the TV was off. Two seconds more and he might have been able do it when the camera was off. Bad timing.

The funny thing is that Fox aired a "Memorable Live TV Foul-Ups" show a night or two ago. At least they've got something for the next episode.

[Listener James from Westwood]

Aaaaaaand the reporter's fired:

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/311379p-266377c.html