• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, July 2, 2008

Are TV protesters giving up? Can't they find some profane, scandal-laden, moral-robbing, broadcast TV programming to complain about?

Apparently TV viewers are shrugging their shoulders. In the second quarter of 2007, there were 4,368 complaints filed to the Federal Communications Commission against broadcast TV programmers for indecent content -- that being bad language, inappropriate visuals, or low moral outlook.

But in the next period, the third quarter 2007, there were only 368 complaints to the FCC, an amazing drop of 4,000 grievances.

And that's not the big news. That quarterly number is microscopic when compared to the first quarter of 2007, when there were a whopping 149,457 complaints filed. What's a TV pressure/religious group to do?

Now it seems that lazy TV viewers can't even be bothered to cut and paste their names and addresses into ready-made emails provided by TV pressure/religious groups to be sent to the FCC.

This may all be seasonal, for sure. The third quarter is the summer period when the networks lie low, letting cable networks take all the glory with new original series. The FCC has no jurisdiction over cable programming content.

Still, it could be something else. Janet Jackson probably hasn't been on anyone's invite list recently when it comes to sporting her wares at major sporting events. Cher and Nicole Ritchie are no doubt bored by using profane language on TV awards shows.

The only broadcast TV program of late that seems to raise the hairs on the back of a few TV watchers has been "Swingtown," a CBS series about 1970s swinging couples.

The Internet, cable, VOD, mobile, and a plethora of other media platforms probably have some people throwing up their hands.

The FCC is trying to enforce its indecency rules, but increasingly its actions against TV programmers are being challenged in the courts.

Don't worry. New ground will always be tested, and long-time TV complainers won't stop. When you're in the business of complaining, you need to fill the shelves.