While the rest of NBC stations broadcast the new show The Playboy Club this fall, Salt Lake City-based KSL will be showing test patterns or scripture or something. They refuse to air the show, saying its subject matter is objectionable.

The station's president said of the decision: "We want to be sure everyone is clear what the KSL brand stands for, which is completely inconsistent with the Playboy brand." Meaning the valuable local NBC affiliate brand cannot stand to be tarnished by women wearing suggestive clothing. People getting brutally raped and shot in the head? Sure thing, no problem. Absolutely fine. Women wearing bustiers while the limp, network-TV-safe implications of pleasurable sex hang in the air? Absofuckinglutely not.

Sigh. The station's programming manager added: "Our intent is not to tell people what they can and cannot watch, but rather to share programming with our audience in accordance with our mission." Mission, huh? Just when the Mormons had some good will going, they had to go and do this. [EW]