FCC On Arrested Development: Corn-Holing Isn't Just For Sodomites Anymore
Your tax dollars hard at work: The FCC is forced to explain why references to "corn-holing" are not patently offensive in shooting down a year-and-a-half old indecency complaint against Arrested Development. God, it's so hot when bureaucrats talk about anal:
2. PTC alleges that Station WTTG(TV) and other television stations affiliated with the Fox Television Network (“Fox Affiliates”) broadcast indecent material on November 16, 2003, at 9:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time contained in an episode of the Arrested Development program. PTC complains about several scenes in the episode. Specifically, according to the Complaint, “There are multiple scripted bleeps, and some sexual innuendo dealing with homosexuality.”
In particular, the episode contains a reference to “making corn-holes” and then “corn-holing” (which the Complaint describes as “slang for anal sex”), within the context of discussions of a corn baller, an implement for making popcorn balls. After review of the Complaint and the videotape of the subject episode provided by PTC, we find that the material is not patently offensive, as defined by Commission precedent, and therefore does not violate our indecency prohibition.
We suspect that Will & Grace will undergo an immediate retooling to reap some of the windfall from this ruling; watch for Will to quit his lawyer job and join Jack in a factory that exclusively manufactures corn-ballers.
It's also reassuring to know that the bleeps used to cover up profanity are not themselves considered profane. How about a test case to search for a loophole? If Arrested Development ever returns to the air, they should replace the bleeps with the grunt-track from a gay porno.