THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 13, 1994 TAG: 9412130042
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
I'M NOT EASILY offended by what I see on television. When Dennis Franz as Detective Andy Sipowicz on ``NYPD Blue'' bared his considerable behind in a shower scene, I was OK with that.
But what I am not OK with is Roseanne on ``Saturday Night Live'' talking about the size, or lack of size, of Tom Arnold's penis. She brought it up more than once.
I am also not OK with the producers of the NBC sitcom ``Frasier,'' who demeaned Filipino women in a show that aired not long ago.
I am also not OK with Comedy Central's making fun of Ronald Reagan's memory lapses - after he announced bravely that he is in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
David Letterman has been making jokes about white Broncos. That's after he said he'd never do humor about the O.J. Simpson case, which is to say he would not exploit the deaths of two innocent people.
TV. The cruel medium.
In Hampton Roads, members of the Philippine-American Community Action Group were outraged when they heard that in a ``Frasier'' script, Filipino women were to be exploited for a laugh. They protested to NBC affiliate WAVY, and general manager Llyle Banks took action.
As ``Frasier'' was airing, he ordered the crew in Channel 10's master control to bleep the offensive line.
``It was not an easy thing to do, but we did it,'' said a station spokesman.
That pleased Nony Abrajano and others in the action group.
``We were very much disturbed to hear that a network would allow material that was degrading to Filipino women,'' he said.
The group set up pickets outside WAVY studios in Portsmouth to make its point.
In the episode, Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) and his brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce) were discussing the price of a face lift for Niles' wife, Maris. A figure of $25,000 came up.
At that point, John Mahoney, who plays their cranky father, Martin, entered the scene.
The writers gave him the laugh line: ``For an extra five grand, you can get yourself a whole new wife from the Philippines.''
Nobody in the Filipino community here or in other parts of the United States thought it was funny. NBC in Burbank, Calif., said there where complaints from viewers.
How could such a vicious line of dialogue make it to air in this time of political correctness?
It was the November sweeps, when almost anything goes.
Under pressure from parents and lawmakers, the networks have curbed violence except for a few Chuck Norris karate kicks and the occasional serial killer on the loose during sweeps. Blatant sex is forbidden on network TV, although last Tuesday's Mike Hammer TV flick with Rob Estes exploited women as sex objects.
That leaves the networks to think up other ways to be keep viewers from switching to cable or turning on the VCR. They allow abusive dialogue.
You know what phrase I heard on a prime time magazine show the other night?
``P----d off.''
Heaven knows how many people were offended.
Like I said, I'm not easily upset by what I see on TV. I can handle Al Bundy. But I squirmed when I heard Roseanne using a national TV show to degrade and demean her ex-husband.
TV shouldn't make you squirm.
You deserve more from the networks than to be let in on the bedroom secrets of an actress who is as crude as she is rude.
Too bad the folks in WAVY master control weren't manning the bleep button when Roseanne started her bit about the 3-inch penis. by CNB