Posted 1/18/2005 05:35:00 PM by Douglas

Hey, Fox, here's an idea. Instead of self-censoring the most cleverly written show you've had since The Simpson's, how 'bout trying not to churn out so much crap?

Fox says it covered up the naked rear end of a cartoon character recently because of nervousness over what the Federal Communications Commission will find objectionable.

The latest example of TV network self-censorship because of FCC concerns came a few weeks ago during a rerun of a "Family Guy" cartoon. Fox electronically blurred a character's posterior, even though the image was seen five years ago when the episode originally aired.

"We have to be checking and second-guessing ourselves now," Fox entertainment president Gail Berman said Monday. "We have to protect our affiliates."

Fox hadn't gotten any complaints about the cartoon. But the move follows the FCC's decision in October to fine 169 Fox stations $7,000 each for airing an episode of "Married By America" that showed people licking whipped cream from strippers' bodies and a man in his underwear being spanked by strippers.

"It's certainly confusing when you have to do something like that," Berman said. "It's just that we were trying to find our way and do what's responsible."

Am I the only one that finds it odd, no, hilarious, that a TV executive can't discern the differing levels of inappropriateness between an animated ass-crack and "people licking whipped cream from strippers' bodies and a man in his underwear being spanked by strippers?" There are really people in this world that are that stupid, and they probably make seven figure salaries.

Meanwhile, the funniest parts of the The Family Guy are getting blurred, or even worse, cut entirely. Why? So they don't piss of the sponsors of Trading Spouses: Meet your new mommy.

Those looking for evidence that we live in a just universe need to keep looking.