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[disnut8]

The atheist in me is cracking up over this.

'God' References Are Removed From Movie
Jan 25, 11:50 AM EST
The Associated Press

ATLANTA -- So much for God and country, at least during some in-flight showings of the Oscar-nominated movie "The Queen." That's because all mentions of God are bleeped out of a version of the film given to some commercial airlines.

Even in these politically correct times, censoring references to God in the film wasn't a statement of some kind. Rather, it was the mistake of an overzealous and inexperienced employee for a California company that edits movies selected for onboard entertainment.

The rookie censor was told to edit out all profanities — including any blasphemy — for the version of the movie distributed to Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, Air New Zealand, and other carriers.

So the new censor mistakenly bleeped out each time a character said "God," instead of just when used as part of a profanity, said Jeff Klein, president of Jaguar Distribution, the company that distributed the movie to airlines this month.

"A reference to God is not taboo in any culture that I know of," Klein said. "We excise foul language, excessive violence and nudity."

In-flight viewers of the film at one point heard "(Bleep) bless you, ma'am," as one character spoke to the queen. In all, the word "God" is bleeped seven times in the version.

Fortunately, at no time in the original film is the common phrase "God save the queen" spoken or else passengers from the United Kingdom might have been royally irritated to hear "bleep" invoked to save Her Majesty.

Klein discovered the mistake after a London-bound Air New Zealand passenger complained earlier this month and the airline apologized for showing "the incorrect version of the film."

Airlines routinely work with studios to get film versions that have removed the kind of graphic scenes and strong profanities that would not be shown on network TV, Delta spokeswoman Betsy Talton said.

Officials with Delta and Air New Zealand say their airlines have been showing the edited version of 'The Queen' on many international flights.

Jaguar has been replacing all the cassettes it sent out — in English and other languages — to its airline clients with the original, unedited version of the movie.

"The Queen" depicts the reactions of British monarch Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Tony Blair in the week following Princess Diana's death in 1997.
 
Much of the drama revolves around the opposed perspectives of the modernizing prime minister and the old-fashioned queen.

On Tuesday, the movie was nominated for the Academy Awards for best picture and best actress for Helen Mirren's performance as the queen.

The editor responsible for the mistake is still working in the editing laboratory of the Studio City, Calif.-based company, Klein said.

A spokesman for Miramax, which produced the film, declined to comment on the editing.

[Vengeance]

I don't think they should bleep it out at all, even when part of a profanity. I just don't get that.

[disnut8]

I don't think they should bleep it out at all, even when part of a profanity. I just don't get that.

I don't understand it either.  You can say "son of a bitch" on TV or in the movies but you can't say "God damn".  It has to be plain "damn".

[Catfish]

"Asshole" is also becoming fairly well accepted.  That's now commonly heard on radio (though, gd is, as well).  Not that radio is as well regulated, but still.

For the record, though, not all TV is regulated.  If I recall how this works correctly, this is ridiculous, but anyway:

Network TV is regulated only though gentlemen's agreement, not by any government body.
Cable TV is regulated by the FCC

Case in point: South Park's parody of that network TV program that involved saying the word "shit" nearly perpetually for 30 minutes.



I really don't get it...

[elmono311]

I thought network TV was regulated by the FCC and cable TV was the gentleman's agreement?

[Catfish]

I can't recall, you may be right on that, but I don't think the FCC would have allowed that program on Network, though it could pass for cable

[disnut8]

Network TV is regulated by the FCC.  Hence the whole Janet Jackson crap on CBS during the Super Bowl.  Cable has a lot less restrictions.  Think The Sopranos would be on ABC?  Even A&E had to "clean up" the episodes for viewing the syndicated ones.

I watched all three Back to the Future episodes on TNT today.  "Son of a bitch" was in there.  Manure was substituted for a different word.  So was "shoot". I've seen these three films uncensored and the cuts that were made were stupid.  Yes, it was during the day.  Yes, kids could be watching it.  But God Damn, there's got to be a time where we stop shielding our children and let them experience the real world.  Jesus Christ, it's got to end.

[elmono311]

The best one is Die Hard 2

Original: "Yippee Kay Yay, Mother Fucker"
Edited For TV: "Yippee Kay Yay, Melon Farmer"

[Catfish]

Here's the original situation I was talking about that the ubercrazy South Park was satirizing:

"For example, CBS allowed “shit” to be used during a live presentation of "On Golden Pond,"

And regarding the Network/Cable regulation (dis had it right):

"Since Comedy Central is a basic cable network, FCC laws do not apply. They do have an internal standards and practices department that let this particular episode slide."



http://beaweb.org/bea2002/papers/yates.pdf
(Talk dirty to me: Broadcast and cable TV push the envelope on indecency)

[elmono311]

"Shit" was also used in NYPD Blue

[disnut8]

"Shit" was also used in NYPD Blue

Oh god - flashbacks to Sipowitcz's bare butt.

[Catfish]

Oh god - flashbacks to Sipowitcz's bare butt.

brb, clawing out my eyes