Since its inception in 1995, the Parents Television Council has logged enough complaints with the FCC to fill roughly three Super Domes’ worth of paper work, so it comes as no surprise that they’d chime in on the kerfuffle surrounding Joe Flacco’s uncensored post-game f-bomb (for the uninitiated, the PTC is responsible for about 99.9% of the kerfuffling over network television). However, in regards to their latest complaint — they probably haven’t gotten around to reviewing Monday night’s episode of Hawaii 5-O yet — they find Flacco’s f-bomb totally acceptable, meaning even the tightest of uptight kooks understand the jubilation tied to winning the Super Bowl. Still, because we can’t have nice things, they’d like to see CBS fined for not taking the proper precautions to prevent such naughty language from “blindsiding” millions of Americans.
“Despite empty assurance after empty assurance from the broadcast networks that they would never air indecent material, especially during the Super Bowl, it has happened again,” said PTC president Tim Winter.
“No one should be surprised that a jubilant quarterback might use profane language while celebrating a career-defining win, but that is precisely the reason why CBS should have taken precautions. Joe Flacco’s use of the f-word, while understandable, does not absolve CBS of its legal obligation to prevent profane language from being broadcast – especially during something as uniquely pervasive as the Super Bowl. The instance was aired live across the country, and before the FCC’s designated ‘Safe Harbor’ time everywhere but along the East Coast.
“Now nine years after the infamous Janet Jackson incident, the broadcast networks continue to have ‘malfunctions’ during the most-watched television event of the year, and enough is enough. After more than four years of inaction on broadcast decency enforcement, the FCC must step up to its legal obligation to enforce the law, or families will continue to be blindsided,” concluded Winter.
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