Commentary

Your Alleged Profanity-Laced TV Networks: Where's The Rub?

by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, November 10, 2010

There's now more of everything TV-related, like the percentage of profanity -- though expletives seem to come cheap. And the merger of Comcast and NBC is going to cost me billions, apparently.

One TV organization says there is more profanity on the air now than five years ago -- 70% more -- for words like "crap" and "other breasts" (whatever that means) and "ass," as well as the garden-variety bleeped expletives. (Though "damn" and "bastard" are down -- 5.7% and 37% respectively.)

Seems like a terrible TV world to come. But advertisers keep paying the freight, with the cost per thousand viewers still climbing by double digit percentage increases on broadcast, cable and syndicated TV and spot television.

Racier language seems to be getting attention for TV. But are the plots racier or better? Rough looking crime dramas hint at a crazy world. Foul-talking reality in kitchens, on talent shows, can lure us in with traffic-accident-observing qualities.

But here's the key: Groups pressuring viewers or advertisers haven't very successful. Viewers keep watching, and advertisers keep buying. That's what Comcast sees in NBC.

Comcast would be a lot more worried if there was a 70% gain in alleged profanity -- and a 70% loss in viewers. Yes, broadcast has taken an audience dip. But looking at all of television, viewership has never been higher. What exactly does that say?

Comcast has already stated NBC will remain a broadcast network -- the company is not looking to change it into a cable network. But if it that ever happened, NBC would be totally free to write whatever kinds of scripts it wants.

In the end, however, TV executives want shows with a sizable number if people watching. It's not about a plan to jam specific words to incite viewer riots or morally minded leaders to make fire-breathing speeches.

More language data? The use of "piss" is down 36% at 10 p.m., while "screw" and "suck" are up 260% and 333% respectively. Words by themselves are never reflective of a TV business winner -- or loser.

4 comments about "Your Alleged Profanity-Laced TV Networks: Where's The Rub? ".

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Douglas Ferguson from College of Charleston, November 10, 2010 at 2:19 p.m.
Some of the best motion pictures ever made, classics we all know and love, somehow were made in the 1930s and 1940s without rude language. Some of these movies had sexual themes, but creative directors found safe ways to portray sensuality. How is that even possible? Easy. People were decent then, so they tried harder to avoid offending others. And those who were not decent were ostracized. Today there's no penalty for rude talk. Each new broken barrier begets a new cruder barrier. "Other breast" clearly means "a breast that does not refer to female anatomy, e.g., breast of chicken" -- yet it's used as cheap humor in an otherwise thoughtful opinion piece.
Today TV writers are mostly lazy. With some thought and consideration, they could be just as funny as Carol Burnett or Jackie Gleason or Ricky & Lucy, but instead they push the boundaries because no one will stand up to them. And when someone tries, they are made the object of derision. Isn't this what happened before the fall of Rome?
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Joe Kelly from Triad Consulting Corporation, November 10, 2010 at 2:46 p.m.

Less profanity and better scripts. I don't see an improvement in the quality of the scripts commeasurate with the new freedom that the writers obviously have.
Is it asking too much for stronger but profanity free dialogue?

Rob Frydlewicz from DentsuAegis, November 10, 2010 at 3:50 p.m.

I think it's a conspiracy, a way to get those unattractive 55+ viewers to stop viewing so much TV!

Jonathan Mirow from BroadbandVideo, Inc., November 10, 2010 at 7:12 p.m.

Let's get real here - we live in a profanity laced society. Some of the best, innovative and most engaging shows on TV (and I count cable) are laced with adult language, but I have to look at it as a mirror of realism (I know D. Ferguson from below would like to go back to the "good 'ol daze", but that's not going to happen). Ok, so some punk drug dealer on "Breaking Bad" steals another character's car - which works for you? "Yo, holmes, bring back mah whip before I bust a cap in your ass" or "Say sport, I believe you've mistakenly absconded with my motor vehicle". Um, pretty obvious in my world and hell, (oops!) I live in Denver! Shameless pimping: catch this week's video New Media Commentary at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5A0DyqviUU