Variety: Fox network president admits self-censorship

[villager]

on the other hand, they're bringing back "Family Guy," though seemingly in toned-down form, now that cartoon butts are censored, too, as you'll read...

Fox's reality check

Net prexy admits missteps, self-censorship

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER


Addressing reporters Monday during Fox's portion of the TV Critics Assn. press tour, Berman said Fox recently had to go back and add pixelation over the rear end of a cartoon character on a repeat of the animated laffer "Family Guy." The episode originally ran five years ago with the naked shot, to no complaints. But times have changed.

The net was stung in October after the FCC fined Fox stations $7,000 each in October for airing an episode of the reality show "Married by America." With no clear direction from the FCC, Berman said the net has started to err on the side of caution. "We have to be checking and second-guessing ourselves now," Berman said. "We have to protect our affiliates."

Meanwhile, having stumbled in the fall, Berman said the network will take another hard look at how it rolls out its schedule. Berman admitted that the net's plan to stunt in the fall with short-order reality shows hadn't fared well.

<snip>

Meanwhile, Berman said she was still surprised over last summer's accusations by rival webheads that Fox stole their reality ideas. Berman pointed out that those networks are also launching shows containing twists on pre-existing, successful concepts.

<snip>

In other Fox news:

* Net will bring back reborn animated series "Family Guy""Family Guy" with new episodes starting Sunday, May 1, at 9 p.m.

"Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlaneSeth MacFarlane's new animated entry, "American Dad," officially premieres the same night, at 9:30 p.m.

<snip>

more at: www.variety.com -- subscription site

[Ezlivin]

1. Coming Soon! Nothing but static 24/7

It's the only safe thing to watch, you know?

[tridim]

6. Either that or 24/7 Christian approved shows

That's their goal.

It would be kick ass if the Simpsons started censoring Ned Flanders just to piss off the JCC (Jesusland Communications Commission).

[villager]

9. that's a good idea!

Flanders could walk around with a constantly "failing" wardrobe, or something...

[Seldona]

20. 'Feels like I am wearing nothing at all, nothing at all, nothing at all'

'Stupid sexy Flanders.'

ROFL!

[blindpig]

19. more true than you know. n/t

[WI_DEM]

2. are they going to do this to "The Simpsons" too

Bart and Homer show their butts all the time.

[villager]

4. good question

hopefully, the "Simpsons" show has more showbiz pull than to allow it to happen...

[Mike Daniels]

16. The Simpsons has their nudity usually worked into some sight gag

so I have a feeling that they may get a pass.

The Family Guy has always worked along a much cruder sense of humor and lacks a lot of the wit and comedic set-ups that marks most Simpsons episodes.

All I have to say though is they better never touch/edit the in-episode film of "Man Getting Hit in Groin with Football" starring George C. Scott.

[central scrutinizer]

3. what bullshit

Murdoch has gotten rich by following one rule: you can never be too tawdry or too sleazy or too titillating. Pandering pays big.

[NNguyenMD]

5. they should have sold the show to Cartoon Network or Comedy Central

Cable has thrived because the creativity red tape is cut, and shows have more freedom to do what they please. Hence all the best shows are on cable TV can be created like, "The Shield", "Niptuck", "Daily Show", "Chapelle Show", "Sopranos", "Sex in the City", "the Wire" and the awesome mini series "Angels in America"

[villager]

7. exactly

you'd think Murdoch would tell his censoring GOP pals to "ligten up" so he could make some $$. Then again, maybe that's what he has FX for...

[sidpleasant]

10. Um..."Family Guy" is on Cartoon Network 5 nights a week at 11

And has been for at least a year. Fox had to trade time for promotional ads to CN to get back the "Family Guy" episodes they're showing now.

[NNguyenMD]

11. but the new episodes won't be on CN, it would have been nice to have just

left the show exclusively on a cable channey so it wouldn't have its creativity pounded by the FCC.

[Stockholm]

8. www.foxblocker.com n/t

[genieroze]

13. My cable box already has a block for any channel I want blocked.

This was a joke right?

[theoceansnerves]

12. is "laffer" even a word?

nice reporting...

[genieroze]

14. Laffer Curve

Laffer Curve
What does it Mean? Invented by Arthur Laffer, this curve shows the relationship between tax rates and tax revenue collected by governments. The chart below shows the Laffer Curve

It's a word but I don't think it has any relevance to the article.

[villager]

15. Variety has its own slang

"Prexy" for President, "ankled," for quitting, "laffer" for sitcom, "oater" for Western, "meller" for melodrama, etc., etc...

[Megahurtz]

17. How stupid can it get?

I guess the fundamentalists will likely pass out if they see a cartoon butt and try to sue Fox.

[villager]

18. a cartoon butt...

...is the devil's playground!

Or perhaps, given animation terms, the devil's foreground!