The Parents Television ...
Question: The Parents Television Council and FCC each place complaints and fines on stations that air material deemed inappropriate, correct? But why do they continue to watch these shows if they find them inappropriate? Don't they have a better use of their time than purposely watching shows like
Rescue Me and
Without a Trace in hopes of being able to lead a campaign of complaints? And if shows like that can be fined, why wouldn't evening newscasts like
World News be fined for showing gruesome images of war and violence? Doesn't the government need taxpayers' dollars for more important causes? I would really like to know how you think this totalitarian organization, the FCC, will affect the future of television.
Answer: I'm not sure about the future, but I'm more concerned about the present, when networks are pulling their dramatic punches in fear of offending any of these watchdog groups. For the record, the FCC doesn't generate complaints, it only acts upon them, making them the perfect tool for a noisy group like PTC, which can spur its lapdog members into action with alarmist reports of adult material or anything that smacks of controversy. As I
reported during PBS' portion of the press tour, that high-minded network is even considering alterations to
Ken Burns' upcoming World War II documentary project all because of a few profanities uttered by war veterans. (The other alternative is to air the show at 10 pm/ET or later, when it will be more protected from interference, though that would limit the audience for such an important work.) The problem with such arbitrary and punitive fines is that it could drive some of our more creative talents away from this industry, which is already facing challenges from less-regulated media. And that's not a good thing, even for those with ideological agendas and who wish everything looked like it belonged on Nick at Nite.
