The Parents Television Council—"Because Our Children Are Watching," goes its creepy tagline—is the insufferable TV watchdog group behind the record FCC fines lobbied against the major networks in recent years. Last summer, PTC members poured most of their energy into vociferous protests of the sitcom title $#*! My Dad Says, swearing they "wouldn't rest" until CBS changed the name; the network didn't budge. I presume they eventually got a little bit of rest, since $#*! My Dad Says was canceled. Which should give them plenty of energy for their new, stupid, puritanical campaign: Banning NBC's The Playboy Club entirely.
One Mormon Church-owned station in Utah has already chosen to do so. But the PTC wants assurances that no minor in America will ever lay eyes on the shocking sight of a woman in a satin swimsuit outfit and bunny ears. Because god knows, that is just the most shocking thing ever! Nothing worse than that is available to today's kids with a few clicks of a mouse on the internet. No sir. That Hugh Hefner. Always pushing the envelope.
"Putting a veneer of sophistication on an industry that exploits women and destroys families is not laudable, it is disgraceful," PTC president and noted censorship laureate Tim Winter wrote in a letter sent out to individual NBC affiliates. "In what manner does the airing of such material reconcile with your public interest obligations as a broadcast licensee?"
He even goes so far as to quote the founder of something called "the Pink Cross Foundation"—basically a halfway house for former porn stars—which says, "NBC is breaking the law with this show. They're not meeting FCC standards." The letter goes on to threaten that affiliates will be fined by the FCC if they broadcast the show.
I'll say this for the campaign: NBC does seem like the wrong home for a show about the original Chicago Playboy Club, especially if the network wants to air an accurate depiction of what went down at Hef's all-night Mansion parties. But the PTC is sorely mistaken if it thinks this is going to do anything besides create more anticipatory buzz for the series. The climate has changed significantly from the one of five years ago, when CBS could be fined $3.6 million for airing what was deemed to be a "teen sex orgy" on Without a Trace.
What do you think? Is The Playboy Club too risque for network TV? Is it demeaning to women? Does American culture tolerate violence far more than we tolerate sex?
I somewhat understand their concern, but what about all the other awful tv shows (and movies) that our kids are watching that are on the "dark" side about vampires and werewolves???!!! Just watched The Teen Choice Awards, and almost all the awards were for vampire-themed movies and shows. Just saying there are a lot worse shows on tv, so why pick on just one???!!!
A better question would be then does a show like Mad Men demean women? Of course it does, but so do shows like Big Bang Theory by portraying Penny as an blonde air-head. They should also get the FCC to fine a show like Bones because it shows graphic forensics.
Definitely will watch the show to see what all the fuss is about and highly doubt NBC is going to pull the show because a right-wing group wants the show pulled.
Just one thing to comment here...
"Does American culture tolerate violence far more than we tolerate sex?"
You really have to ask that question? Really?
I think a list of the shows that the PTC frown upon would probably be half decent viewing and get good ratings. Cant wait to see me some bunnies!!
Why dont these "Parents" spend less time policing what should be on television and more time with their kids...its hilarious that time and time again they start a losing fight against a show/network...which in turn ends up mocking them in glorious fashion (See South Park for my personal favorite)....so in the end if you dont want your kids watching these shows..then dont let them watch you have no right to decide for other parents children
I'm not knocking on any doors demanding that they watch any show on television. So, stay the HELL out of MY living room!!!
I dont know about you but i think that the parents television are stupid basterds whats wrong with the playboy club who cares that there children wathing its there own desicion not someone else if the children wants can watch porn, fight wherever ,its there life not parents television or else even that forbidden alcohol and cigarettes for the children til they make 21 i really stupid in my country its 18 but still we are lucky that no matter what age we are we can bye wherever we wont and watch wherever we wont and thats life not someone sick old bitch to make that desicion for us
what?
oh FCC you so crazy...no literally, fucking crazy...oh oops, i mean insurmountably crazy
I think that, given the nature of these groups, they have no choice but to oppose this, much in the same way that the second season of "Everwood" (??!?!) was voted the most irresponsible TV show by the PTC because of its portrayal of s*x without consequences. Let's ignore the fact that Ephram ended up getting Madison pregnant, those don't qualify as consequences. But the show did a great job of promoting the practice of safe s*x as well as giving a reasonable amount of air time to the religious and social ramifications of premarital relations and the influence of age and circumstance. That being said, if you don't want to watch it, turn off the TV, if you don't want your kids to see it, don't let them. I have no problems with NBC airing this other than the fact that it likely won't be as good as it could be at HBO or Showtime given that the very substance of the material that would make this an authentic show is the same stuff that cannot be shown because it is network TV and thusmoreless
It's way too early to start protesting the show. It hasn't even aired yet. They're blowing their argument by making a fuss so early. They've just got themselves worked up about what the show could be and not what it will be. By the time the show does air they won't have any respect left for any real objectionable material. And considering that it's on network TV and not cable, it's probably going to be a lot tamer than many of the other shows out there.
Maybe the ptc should focus on a campaign against allowing kids to have a TV in their room. And another campaign on how come kids can watch TV on a school night after 10 pm.
It's funny since s.e.x. is as old as humankind, but there are still some that act like it never existed.
And sexy women in bunny or other outfits are everywhere (all media) - it's not like the show invented that as a whole new concept the world's never seen before.
This is a huge waste of time and it doesn't make sense for anyone who is smart.
What a giant waste of time. This doesn't even make sense using the logic of their strange perspective.
Why is swearing moderated in forums but feature writers can say what they like! Censorship!
But Jersey Shore is totally ok?
i have to say i dont know if ppl in america are stupied are what but trust me kids are learning bout s.e.x from schools.so u can either tell them now or wait til its too late.btw if parents are so worried dont let your children watch i mean whats the problem this parents cant control their children or something.sometimes i feel terrible to be american..i mean its very simple if u feel a show is too much for your childrens dont let them watch or u can watch it first then decided if u would let ur kids watch or not.i mean this isnt a big issue.
Oh please! Lol
Has anybody else noticed the sudden censorship of the comments posted on this site. You can't even say s.e.x or g.a.y without adding superfluous punctuation. Talk about needless censorship.
theyre all guna be corrupted at some point in time.. stop acting like you can stop it.. damn.
In my opinion parents should do something if they don't want their kids to watch this show. So what if your kid watches one episode it's normal. The same scenes that are in this series are shown in movies so why attack a good series. What actually states in the article is that parents care more about something that their children will do in high school and college than the violence in movies and other TV shows. It's surprising actually because most teens that have a computer have actually seen what is aired on the show. I'm 25 and im turning out OK. You know the movies that have overprotective mothers in them I think there rubbing off on your everyday mothers. Movie series like american pie are shown on TV so a kid see the movie before the parents come back. In my opinion, parents just see that your child has good grades and friends, Be controlling enough to stop your child a few time not every time and they will be okmoreless
These people should focus on the network TV Tampon Ads and the Condom ads that show up daily and also the Herpes commercials, I mean they are more risque then anything on network Television. I guess the commercials aren't watched by these people. Also I have kids and I just won't allow them to watch something I think they shouldn't watch and I would hope they listen, but if they didn't then obviously they will find some way to see whatever they are trying to see anyway because kids have their ways. Parents that join these groups are the parents that have no control over their children or don't trust their children to do the right thing and they probably don't even talk to their children about these issues before spouting off to their gossip friendsin these groups.moreless
These religious idiots that fight these things are really getting old. I've been seeing nudity since I was a child and it never ruined me or made me mistreat woman. I'm a well adjusted married man with a family. If you take issue with the show's content or topic than just don't watch it. You are not my moral compass if I want to watch it or some teenage boy wants to watch it and get off on seeing some Playboy Bunnies the world will not end.
This show is not too risque at all it's just another show. Demeaning to woman give me a freakin' break already. Woman like sex too you morons! Small groups seem to ruin the fun for everyone else and that's why HBO & Showtime will continue to have the better shows and AMC to a lesser degree. Get rid of these small interest groups by ignoring them and stop allowing ridiculous religious views that are so dumb now and out of step to continuously infiltrate where they are not wanted.moreless
u said what i didnt get to say.im a 20 year old guy and ive have seen some stuff and im okay.so i understand where u coming from and i agree too
The PTC is like an annoying poodle always barking loudly and no one cares.
Here's the thing... NBC could have made a show about a fictional men's club during the 1960's, and the PTC never would have noticed. (Presumably, they're OK with the dozens of cop shows that show people getting injured or killed... no problem with the kids seeing THAT.)
TV at 8 should be reasonably appropriate for children... but why should TV at 10 be? Why are you letting your kids stay up so late on a school night?
cna, the point isn't whether you want your kids to watch it--it's a matter of the rest of the world's freedom to make the choice to watch it themselves.
And just because a show includes depictions of sex--which, in this case, would be historically relevant--doesn't necessarily mean it's inherently or automatically a bad or lewd program. To think that is close-minded and a wee bit overly puritanical.
I would not want my children stumbling across this. Sex is not a game. It's meant to be an outgrowth of love. Portraying women as sex objects corrodes the values that hold families and societies together. Why should anyone waste their time watching this?
You are an anal retentive idiot that is probaly addicted to the big black book of fairytales that for some reason your kind takes as truth instead of all the actual reality around you. Grow up and pull up your big girl panties or maybe you need to pull them down and have a guilt free orgasim. Your kids do more and probably have had sexual experiences with more than just their minds already. You do not have permission to force your religious views on me and I will never conform to such stupidity.
Seriously, I don't agree with cna1108 but at least her comment is reasonable. You're being completely ridiculous. Grow up. No one is forcing their opinions on you. Stop attacking people.
Wow! I don't in any way agree with cna1108's comment, but your overreaction is funnier and more ridiculous than his/her naive beliefs. You need to go to anger management or learn a breathing exercise, try counting to ten when you think people are forcing their religious views on you. I for one believe the Bible is a literal interpretation of historical events, and the only way to attain spiritual salvation is through the son of god Jesus Christ, remember now 1 2 3 . . .
That make you an idiot, too.
It was a joke dumbass
Then you're doing it wrong.
Seth, I find it funny that this article is complaining about the puritanical campaigns of the PTC, when a word as benign as sex is being censored from all the comments here. Oh the irony.
because so many kids are watching primetime nbc..........seriously?
Across the pond sex is on TV all the time, and its not like the British Isle is sinking.
My soultion is don't let your child watch it's a show for adults anyway..It's not like it's pron here.
I, and hundreds of thousands of other people, haven't worked in over three years. I'm glad the Parents TV Counsel are focused on such important matters
Another group of morons trying to ruin a tv show because their afraid that there child might catch a peep of something that their child probably have already seen because of them in the first place.
I just have one thing to say the first amendment!! bottom line the parents(not the PTC) decides what thier watch period!! but I'm going to let everyone in a little secret, young children these days understand more than the parents think period, if I have the explain that maybe the kids should watch the playboy club and not the parents Is the Playboy Club too risque NO
Tim Winter is a prime example of someone who is either over-protective or over-zealous about religious ideology (or something else just as scary) and doesn't realize that not everyone is as tight-laced as he is but still thinks his ideas and beliefs should be able to be forced upon everyone else in the country. Pathetic. How can he know how TPC will depict things when it hasn't even aired yet, anyway?
The show will be fine. I would prefer it on HBO or Showtime, but it shouldn't be banned or fined, that's stupid.
I think this will always be an issue when it comes to censorship and children. I often wonder do parents really worry about what children are watching. You really don't have to much power against the corporation these days.
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