fcc

Darren Aronofsky’s Middle Finger A ‘Digit Of Interest’ In FCC’s Golden Globes Indecency Inquest

2:28AM Seth | A three-hour delay meant some of those colourful, Prosecco-fuelled Golden Globes moments of celebrity spontaneity—such as Darren Aronofsky lovingly serving Mickey Rourke some Pi during Rourke’s acceptance speech—were blacked out for US audiences completely. More »

First High-Def ‘Survivor’ Episode Also Provides First CBS Full-Frontal Nudity

6:00AM Kyle Buchanan | For seasons, fans of Survivor have been awaiting the day when CBS would finally start broadcasting episodes of the long-running reality competition in HD. With so much beautiful scenery on display in every episode, what better way to notice new, unforeseen details of the show to appreciate? Unfortunately for CBS, their first HD episode of Survivor bore full-frontal fruit, as eagle-eyed watchers of this past Thursday’s two-hour premiere noticed that hunky doctor Marcus Lehman showed off a little bit more of his own personal immunity idol than the network had doubtlessly intended. More »

Brave Judges Make the Airwaves Safe at Last For Unscripted Nudity

5:20AM Defamer Hollywood | In a landmark decision for bodice rippers and the networks who love them, a trio of federal judges today threw out the FCC’s $550,000 fine against CBS for the Super Bowl “wardrobe malfunction” that exposed Janet Jackson’s right breast in 2004. The damning decision resulted in a miserable spoof by Justin Timberlake at last night’s ESPY Awards and, worse yet for the FCC, essentially wiped out the upgraded decency standards implemented after the broadcast — at least for live shows, which required the judges to buy CBS’s defence that the nip slip was an “accident.” More »

Producer Surnow Leaves ‘24,’ Tired Of Thinking Up Ways For Jack Bauer To Violate The Geneva Convention

6:45AM Mark | · 24 co-creator/primetime-torture advocate Joel Surnow is leaving the series to follow his muse, having previously ceded day-to-day control of the show to fellow executive producer Howard Gordon. Surnow explains his decision to officially pass on Jack Bauer’s interrogation-speeding belt-sander to his colleagues: “I’ve done seven years, almost eight years at the same place with the same great group of people. During the strike I started thinking about different things I’d like to do independently, and decided it was time to see if there were other opportunities I wanted to pursue.” [Variety] · Hoping to pressure SAG leaders into opening negotiations with the studios long before the June 30th expiration of their contract, “several top stars” may launch a public campaign in hopes of preempting a second industry-crippling work stoppage, possibly in the form of a series of “Don’t Be Fucking Crazy. No One Wants Another Strike For At Least Three Years” ads in the trades featuring actors like George Clooney, Ben Affleck and Teri Hatcher hugging moguls such as Peter Chernin and Les Moonves. [Variety] More »