Censored movies on TV

[Rory L. Aronsky]

When AMC started showing commercials during movies, I stopped watching that channel. I also vowed not to watch movies on channels like TBS, TNT, WGN, and even Comedy Central for the same reason, and because censored movies are not for me.

But even when censorship is a detriment to the films involved, the way some movies are censored are pretty funny. For example, I flipped to Comedy Central earlier today when they had "The Big Lebowski" on, and it was the scene where Walter was smashing "Larry's car", shouting: "You see what happens Larry? You see what happens when you fuck a stranger in the ass?!"

Except in the Comedy Central version, it was changed to: "You see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?!" Just once or twice, I'd like to hear the dialogue covered up by a deep-voiced mariachi singer.

Now what about your experiences?

[GiGi]

I was just complaining about the same thing, Rory. I was watching "Platoon" on AMC the other night, and it was just all wrong without the cursing. Not to mention, all of Gary Sinese's great lines chopped up in "Forrest Gump" via TNT. It was like an entirely different film altogether. The cursing had huge purpose and gave validity to the settings, situations, and characters in this case.

[Terminal_Ny]

I think Censored is a bit hyperbolous.

It's heavily edited. Censored is completely concealing any form of expression, what they do is just trim it down for the sole intent of knowing as well as the studios do, that it will be trimmed for the general audience.

Would you call a DVD that has both an R and PG-13 edition censoring as well?

Also, they cut it down so they can squeeze in as much commercials as possible. It's a good way to produce ratings and extra revenue.

This has been happening for decades and decades. And though I dont watch movies on these channels, I dont really have a problem with it. It's safe syndication. They show inoffensive movies now and trim it to be even more inoffensive.

When I was a kid without cable, without movies, and without a VCR, these were my only source for watching films, so I'm less harsh on this topic. These are basic cable channels for the general audience.

I dont see why anyone would watch these movies with commercials and heavy editing, but it's a fixture of network television. Better than infomercials.

[eshap]

"Censorship" is not hyperbolic. First it's a simple "reformatting" so that "objectionable" material is taken out, then ABC pulls Saving Private Ryan because of "violence", and CBS pulls "The Reagans" because... what was that reason again?

A very small minority of squeaky wheels, with a great grass roots machine, is helping the FCC decide what you can and cannot see, and Senator Ted Stevens, along his new clique of power brokers are trying to regulate it even more.

Fuck the FCC (http://ifcblog.ifctv.com/evan/2005/08/oh_fuck_its_the.html)

Strangely enough, no one from that crowd seems to care about the "Four Hour Erection" commercials that air - during the day - as a part of every NFL broadcast.

Censorship, is mos def NOT hyperbolic.

e

[Terminal_Ny]

"Censorship" is not hyperbolic. First it's a simple "reformatting" so that "objectionable" material is taken out, then ABC pulls Saving Private Ryan because of "violence", and CBS pulls "The Reagans" because... what was that reason again?
Well, if you make the case of these incidents, then yes, it's indeed censorship. I'm fully aware of what these incidents were about. And they were in fact censorship in its fullest.

But in terms of syndication, bleeping out curse words, and cutting out parts for afternoon viewing on basic cable channels that are deemed general viewing for general audiences, then no it's not.

[seagull]

Commercials always fucked me up, because I would be watching a movie, and by the third commercial break, I was bored out of my skull. So, I would change the channel, promising I would return after the break, but then I would start getting interested in something else and forget to skip back.

Rory, I too witnessed that line in The Big Lebowski. How the hell did they settle on that line? I laughed, though, laughed at the sheer idiocy.

[Terminal_Ny]

Rory, I too witnessed that line in The Big Lebowski. How the hell did they settle on that line? I laughed, though, laughed at the sheer idiocy.
I know. It's funny what ridiculous words they'll use for it. I guess they have this computerized response that replaces the swears with the closest words resembling the prior. Like in Saturday Night Fever, instead of the girl saying "Fuckers!" she screams "Fakers!" Lol.

[Mr B Natural]

I remember the first time they broadcast Ghostbusters on TV...instead of "yes, it's true, this man has no dick" it was "yes, it's true, this man has no wally woodchuck."

Wow.

[AmaiStina]

Commercials always fucked me up, because I would be watching a movie, and by the third commercial break, I was bored out of my skull.

Or when you watch a movie on TV (cause you dont feel like spending money renting it..or it's on F/X at 2AM?) & you think to yourself, "now why didnt they put a commerical there; it wouldve been the perfect place."




Censorship, is mos def NOT hyperbolic.

e


Mos Def. ^F^



But in terms of syndication, bleeping out curse words, and cutting out parts for afternoon viewing on basic cable channels that are deemed general viewing for general audiences, then no it's not.

When I worked in the Standards & Practices dept of Turner last spring, i learned all kinds of interesting things as far as the ever-changing mentality of what is not okay under any circumstances (to be shown or heard) & what might be okay if broadcasted late night as opposed to early evening or prime time. B/c in order to keep viewers from watching other cable or non-cable channels (that have or would show the same films or syndicated tv series), Turner has to keep picking at the envelope.

based on surveys conducted, they see patterns of what kinds of images an overwhelming number of people do not want to see at all (guns in mouths); and what kinds of cursing is okay ("bullshit" is preferable to just "shit").

[Terminal_Ny]

When I worked in the Standards & Practices dept of Turner last spring, i learned all kinds of interesting things as far as the ever-changing mentality of what is not okay under any circumstances (to be shown or heard) & what might be okay if broadcasted late night as opposed to early evening or prime time. B/c in order to keep viewers from watching other cable or non-cable channels (that have or would show the same films or syndicated tv series), Turner has to keep picking at the envelope.

based on surveys conducted, they see patterns of what kinds of images an overwhelming number of people do not want to see at all (guns in mouths); and what kinds of cursing is okay ("bullshit" is preferable to just "shit").
Hah! That's odd. Bullshit preferable over shit? Lol. That's odd.

[Rory L. Aronsky]

The "bull" covers the "shit" easily so people don't have to face the "shit" right away.

[Terminal_Ny]

The "bull" covers the "shit" easily so people don't have to face the "shit" right away.
I gathered that.

It's amazing what exceptions there are.

[Mormo Zine]

I think the worst is "Cheech and CHong's Next Movie" when Cheech's cousin has a bag full of diamonds. WTF!?!?!

[Pirate Duck]

Isn't the FCC bringing in an ultra-religious-right-wing-mother with no qualifications whatsoever to start deeming what is indecent?

I mean, Airplane was rated PG and had mild nudity in it. A movie which is HORRIBLY stripped down during it's many re-runs on the networks every year.

Hold me, I am scared

[Furious D]

Back in 80's one of the local stations in my area used to do their own 'bleeping' but the guy who handled it for them either wasn't very good at it or he was deliberately screwing around for a laugh. Instead of hearing someone say 'motherfucker' you'd hear 'bleep-fucker,' or 'you piece of shit' would turn into 'you piece bleep shit.'

That was always entertaining.

[eyeresist]

But in terms of syndication, bleeping out curse words, and cutting out parts for afternoon viewing on basic cable channels that are deemed general viewing for general audiences, then no it's not.If, in order to prevent an audience from seeing or hearing something originally present in a communicative medium, you eliminate, change or rearrange content, that's censorship.


One example of TV censorship that actually improved a movie: in the cafeteria scene in Alien 3, when the prison boss is snatched up into the ceiling, the annoying little cockney prisoner responds by saying, emphatically, "Fuck!" Which, when I saw it in the cinema, caused the audience to burst out laughing, killing the mood and the rest of the film. Cutting out this profanity actually made Alien 3 a better movie.

Pulp Fiction censored for TV was a pretty weird experience.

[Terminal_Ny]

If, in order to prevent an audience from seeing or hearing something originally present in a communicative medium, you eliminate, change or rearrange content, that's censorship.
It's called syndication. Not censorship. This has been a practice for decades.

[eyeresist]

Get a dictionary.

[Terminal_Ny]

Get a dictionary.
Get some common sense.

[Rory L. Aronsky]

Alright girls, Daddy's not going to stand for this. Now behave. One snippy exchange is enough and you've had your one. ;)

[Terminal_Ny]

I'm behaved.

It's just some people want to be controversial so they forget that syndication is a common practice for decades and for basic cable, movies are cut and edited for daytime airing for all general audiences. It's not censorship in the least.

One is much different than the other.

[Certex]

about movies on TV and how they are presented? What do you expect from them by now? I just turn the channel and forget about it and get the thing out on DVD, or go to the pictures to see it. And I enjoyed purposefully stupid dialog remixes like "Flip you" and "Melonfarmer" (work 'em out) when Repo Man was presented on British telly. With some extra footage from the normal version, but that's another story.

G.

[Pete Vonder Haar]

The "Goodfellas" parody on "Mr. Show" might be my favorite example of this.

"Hey, watch your <motherfather> mouth!"
"Don't you tell me what to do you little piece of <shoe>!"
"Hey, kiss my <aunt> you <motherfather>!"

And I have to watch "The Breakfast Club" every time it's on TBS just so I can hear Anthony Michael Hall tearfully saying "F-damn you!"

[truepictures]

Some channels have started to do just a brief pause in the dialogue or just a cut to commercials for nude scenes or a cut to a b-roll of some harmless body part like the nose when tits are involved. That, I don't really mind. There's some pleasure in watching TV - when it just feeds you - and it's a whole different experience.

Censorship on television is sometimes forgiven for films that are considered classics. The Godfather on Bravo a few years back was played in its entirety without any edits. The same thing was done for Schindler's List on NBC - without interruption. If somebody deems it "educational" or "classic" enough - I guess they feel it's fine to air the fucks and tits. But when you have a comedy masterpiece like Caddyshack or what not - it's not okay.

I don't really mind it but I'm a fan of the uncensored.

[eyeresist]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRGHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

...

Feel a little better now.

[Gorillaboss]

My favorite examples of ludicrous editing came from a 1988/89-ish airing of Police Academy on NBC.

I remember these lines to this day:

1. "You fat jigaboo" became "You fat nincompoop." The change might not seem all that funny, but it's all in the follow-through. The original line prompted big, black Bubba "Hightower" Smith to flip the offender's squad car, so it's ridiculous to see him Hulk-out out at the word "nincompoop."

2. This one boggles the mind, and I still don't get it. "You god-damned asshole" was changed to..."You gosh-darned eggroll." Seriously.

[AmaiStina]

My favorite examples of ludicrous editing came from a 1988/89-ish airing of Police Academy on NBC.

I remember these lines to this day:

1. "You fat jigaboo" became "You fat nincompoop." The change might not seem all that funny, but it's all in the follow-through. The original line prompted big, black Bubba "Hightower" Smith to flip the offender's squad car, so it's ridiculous to see him Hulk-out out at the word "nincompoop."

i love the word "nincompoop" ; i dont remember the first time i ever heard it...except that it was on tv.



2. This one boggles the mind, and I still don't get it. "You god-damned asshole" was changed to..."You gosh-darned eggroll." Seriously.


maybe "You go-dank casserole" didnt roll off the tongue as easily?

[drsweetscience]

Chinese dentist.

[Bayouradio]

I try to avoid movies on regular TV for this reason.

On the other hand, if they put out Lebowski or (my personal favorite) Do the Right Thing on DVD with the optional TV track, I would buy them in a skinny instant. They are at least funny.

[Rory L. Aronsky]

On the other hand, if they put out Lebowski...

"The Big Lebowski" is coming out as a "Collector's Edition" from Universal on October 18 with an hour-long documentary, production notes, a slew of photos by Jeff Bridges, and a trailer, but no alternate TV audio track.

[dianalucy]

Although I am hard-pressed to remember any hilarious semantic substitutions from the days when I watched movies on TV, I used to love how passionately my favorite characters would scream "heck" and other pseudocursewords. In "Adventures in Babysitting," a switchblade-wielding el train gang warned Elisabeth Shue and her charges not to "f[ool] with the Lords of H[eck]." In cases of PG-13 movies being syndicated to TV so little kids can watch them too, the editing or censorship is really more an added joke than a travesty. Especially since filmmakers are recording their own alternate dialog and clean scenes for distribution to TV and airlines. I recently ran across "Good Will Hunting," and was surprised to see a scene that I didn't recognize. It was a clean version of Minnie Driver's blow job joke that the filmmakers had obviously created themselves, because it was a completely different joke. However, I agree that some movies just aren't suitable for general audiences at 4:30 on a Saturday. Somebody already mentioned "Pulp Fiction." Thanks, but no thanks, Bravo Network. Why bother sanitizing something that's intentionally steeped in delicious filth?

[truepictures]

Diana, have you ever watched Casino on USA? It's a mind-blowing thing to experience.

Since the inception of HBO syndicated shows on regular channels - Sex & the City manages to cut out most of its dirtiness with fair ease and some skill. And with the Sopranos scheduled for syndication on non-HBO TV, this will become even more interesting to watch. In the case of the Sopranos, I know that during shoots, they do both clean and dirty versions of the show. And James Gandolfini still couldn't get a raise. Go figure.

[eshap]

That's why i love IFC!!!!

(of course, I am biased)

:D

[Rory L. Aronsky]

Stay on topic, please.

[Mulisha7]

The worst I ever saw was when they showed Mallrats on broadcast TV. The scene in the begining when Jason Lee was explaining why his girl may have left him. Origionally explains that the other day when she was going down on him he farted and that may be why she left. In the edited version they changed "going down on" to "fooling around" and "farted" to "vomited", which I personally find far more offensive and disturbing. The edits to the rest of the filrm were all ridiculous but that one is the one that stood out the most.

[Bayouradio]

"The Big Lebowski" is coming out as a "Collector's Edition" from Universal on October 18 with an hour-long documentary, production notes, a slew of photos by Jeff Bridges, and a trailer, but no alternate TV audio track.
Yeah, well, I'll buy it anyway.

[Rory L. Aronsky]

I figured as much since The Dude will always abide.

[El Duderino Diablo]

I figured as much since The Dude will always abide.


How will I abide? Like a clown? What is there to abide by me? What the FUCK is there to abide by me? Tell me! Tell me what's to abide?


Has this gotten old yet?

[Rory L. Aronsky]

Has this gotten old yet?

YES!!!! :D

[Mr B Natural]

"The Big Lebowski" is coming out as a "Collector's Edition" from Universal on October 18 with an hour-long documentary, production notes, a slew of photos by Jeff Bridges, and a trailer, but no alternate TV audio track.

No director commentary? Come on Coens, you can do better than that!

[w24x192]

Still my favorite was from Die Hard 3...melon farmer...damn.

Anyway, there was a really bad show on Fox earlier this summer...not a movie, though, some reality show about a rich father and his spoiled kids. Whenever someone would cuss, they would bleep it out, but would also put a cartoon speech bubble coming from their mouth with a word that replaced the cuss word. It was actually funny in a Blind Date kind of way. I can't recall specific examples thanks to my not caring enough at the time, but some possible examples would be:

"This house smells like rotten shit" to "This house smells like rotten fish"
or
"Get that fucking thing out of here" to "Get that wonderful thing out of here"

You can do the math.

[Rory L. Aronsky]

Anyway, there was a really bad show on Fox earlier this summer...not a movie, though, some reality show about a rich father and his spoiled kids.

Was it "The Princes of Malibu" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0464767/)?

[w24x192]

Was it "The Princes of Malibu" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0464767/)?

Yes, yes it was that...normally, I wouldn't name a turd, but hey, I'm not FOX.