530596 Thu Jun 19 08:47:23 -0700 2008 12 33 Food Media and News 0 3794152 http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/19/australian-senates-gordon-ramsay-inquiry/index.html One issue is that the Aussies don't bleep out the F-bomb because the show is on later. They counted 80 uses of the word in a 40 minute show. Thu Jun 19 08:47:25 -0700 2008 11826 Phaedrus 1 3794225 "the show is on later" - the article says after 8:30pm. The show's on at 9pm in my time zone. Isn't it more up to Aussie TV to choose to air it even later, or set rules that the "no bleep" rule goes into effect for shows up to 10pm, or whatever time they choose vs. saying Ramsay shouldn't be saying the F word? Thu Jun 19 09:05:05 -0700 2008 3794152 10532 LindaWhit 2 3794633 Yeah, I looked into this before. Turns out (to my surprise) both the UK and Australia get all of his shows unbleeped. They don't seem to censor any language at all on television in either place. I'm pretty sure Canadian television (but not certain) that they are more like the US and are big word censors. Two more things worth mentioning. First, the Aussie minister guy said in an article somewhere that he had no idea what it might sound like should Ramsay get beeped (as we know what it sounds like!) and supposed it might sound like a "truck constantly backing up". LMAO! The other thing, and this is my own supposition ... I think it would not be a bad thing if the US "grew up" and got rid of censorship too. My thinking is this. Ever see a foul mouthed comediain? Let's take Eddie Murphy in his "concert" movie Raw .... The first 10 minutes you can't believe the train of F words. And then, wham, it becomes where after a while you just don't hear them any more, or where they no longer phase you. I think by contrast the American way of having the sharp beep jumps out at you so 59 minutes in, you know what's being said and that sharp beep alerts you. In short, I think the method of censorship can often purposely be more alarming then if you just keep hearing the words over and over again. Anyhow, that's my 2 cents. :) Thu Jun 19 10:43:38 -0700 2008 3794225 183904 HarryK 3 3795636 << I'm pretty sure Canadian television (but not certain) that they are more like the US and are big word censors. >> Actually, Canadian television is extremely liberal when it comes to swearing compared to the US. Sopranos ran unbleeped when it aired here. Degrassi High back in the 80's (or maybe it was the early 90's) used the "f" word in prime time on our national public network, and a sh*tstorm did not ensue, though it caused debate and discussion for sure. (Pretty ironic how I'm censoring *myself* here, but I'm not sure what US-owned Chowhound's swearing policy is!) I'm pretty sure Gordon Ramsay (among other shows) is *not* bleeped on the Canadian Food Network. I seem to recall being startled (but in a good way) when I first started watching. After a while you just got used to it and it stopped having an impact. It drives me nuts to watch Ramsay shows on Fox here (which we get via border stations & high-def stations) - the constant bleeping sounds ridiculous and intrusive - you never get used to it. (IMO, the US tends to make too much of a big deal about swearing, nudity, and sex on TV and not enough of a big deal about violence.) Thu Jun 19 15:38:01 -0700 2008 3794633 66614 kpzoo 4 3795649 (IMO, the US tends to make too much of a big deal about swearing, nudity, and sex on TV and not enough of a big deal about violence.) ~~~~~~~~~ On that, I'd agree. Thu Jun 19 15:44:04 -0700 2008 3795636 10532 LindaWhit 1 3794611 Odd the Times is just reporting this as it's old news. (Then I discovered a link at the bottom of the article that goes to Ed Levine and it's marked April, so I guess they know it's old news but must be a slow news day.) Thu Jun 19 10:38:14 -0700 2008 3794152 183904 HarryK 2 3795557 I dont care whether he's bleeped or not .... I respect Ramsay and his way with food, and his skill in the business of restaurants. That said, I sure wish he could expand his vocabulary a bit and not rely so much on profanity. It loses its impact after a while, and makes him look juvenile. Thu Jun 19 15:07:12 -0700 2008 3794611 102895 Cheflambo 3 3795864 I just came from a Top Chef page which was a recipe. And under it was comments and questions about the recipe. Sure enough some lame brain thought that right there was a perfect place to stop and for them to give a 1000-word recitation on how they should stop cursing on TC. Really. I'm so sick of people complaining that their CENSORED words are being heard. If you hear the real thing, maybe you have a right to complain. Or maybe you dont -- change the channel. Or grow up. But complaining about bleeps .... oh what a sweet, sugar-plum fairy-land we must live in now that everything is so rosy cutsy-wutsy with the world the only thing we have to worry about is people being people. Thu Jun 19 17:21:27 -0700 2008 3795557 183904 HarryK 1 3801463 caught one of gordon's demonstrations at the sydney good food show yesterday. he made a somewhat cloaked reference to the media (particularly the nine network)'s obsession with his swearing. he was funny, charming and inspiring - and did not drop the 'f' word once. Sat Jun 21 21:10:00 -0700 2008 3794152 192640 fooftales 1 3801501 Most Aussies I've discussed this with couldn't give a flying f&^ck at a rolling doughnut about it. It's another ridiculous example of the "Nanny mentality" of our government. We don't beep after 8.30 here in OZ.. hell, we even let the C-bomb drop on that Sex and The City episode. When Janet Jackon's left (?) nip made headlines in the US, we all thought it was a screaming hoot... (the outcry, not the nip, BTW) If you don't like it.. CHANGE THE CHANNEL... Personally , I find GR a boorish oaf who uses his size and language to bully and intimidate... but I am sure that's all part of the marketing of his "persona". He was presented with a grand old Aussie tradition at one of his press meets.... he was given a Swear Jar, which he promptly dropped, the jar shattered and he dropped the F-bomb! Totally scripted and staged, but an hilarious nose-thumbing at the stupid Senate inquiry. Surely the Senate has bigger and better things to debate than this? F&(*#cking Nanny State... Bah. Oh, and edited to add: Most media reports on this are quick to point out that GR and his production are UK based, and the BBC is happy to air him, yet a few years back wouldn't let an Aussie Tourism ad air, because the catch cry was "Where the bloody hell are you?" Hypocrisy mucho?? Sat Jun 21 21:39:28 -0700 2008 3794152 86137 purple goddess 2 3801543 at last weekend's apra awards, daniel johns from silverchair dropped both the 'f' and 'c' word. I'm told it made it to air. I'm sure nobody really cared, either. Sat Jun 21 22:19:08 -0700 2008 3801501 192640 fooftales 2 3801551 Thanks purple goddess! I've longed to hear a genuine Aussie perspective on this! Sat Jun 21 22:29:20 -0700 2008 3801501 183904 HarryK 2 3801829 Great perspective, pg! Even more interesting about the Aussie ad not airing on UK airwaves. And I see your Senate/government gets involved in stuff they shouldn't be bothered with too (see: Sen. Arlen Specter from Pennsylvania insisting on a Congressional hearing regarding our football's Spygate, as it was called). Sun Jun 22 06:23:31 -0700 2008 3801501 10532 LindaWhit