Viacom Outdoes Janet Shame-Religious Sex Toys

7-14-04 | Comedy Central's "Insomniac"

[icwhatudo]

Comdey Central, a network included in our basic cable in Maryland, has a show called "Insomniac with Dave Attell" that starts at 9pm EST.

I've learned that the show is basically about a guy who goes out late at night to interview people who are working or are out and about in late night hours.

I caught a few seconds of tonights show while channel surfing. The host was apparently in a porn production company (ok, I guess we can expect this from cable) and proceeded to ask about a prop on a desk.

He held up a sex toy (a dildo) and shook it back and forth...(it was in the shape of a Crucifix with the top of the cross in the shape of a penis)and he asked "whats this for?" ..."Immaculate relief" replied a female porn star.

I am no prude, but everyone has a line at which they feel things have gone too far...this was it for me.

I called to complain to my local cable company and asked to have the "Comedy Central" station removed. I was told that I can not have an individual station removed from basic cable-either pay more for digital or cancel basic cable altogether. He suggested I file an FCC complaint since comedy central is also owned by Viacom (of Janet Jackson superbowl fame).

I know I'm only one voice, and some may even argue I'm off base- but since you took the time to read this, feel free to contact the FCC as well
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/obscene.html

[icwhatudo]

I don't know...I just felt like I should post this. To do nothing just seems wrong.

[thoughtomator]

The effective protest tactic these days seems to be advertiser boycotts. Find the advertisers and raise a stink. The cable company isn't going to drop a popular channel because of one complaint, or even a handful, about one particular program.

[keilimon]

So... did you cancel your basic cable? Believe it or not, there is life without cable, and lack of dollars is one unmistakable signal even media type understand eventually.

keilimon

[Viet-Boat-Rider]

I am in a situation where I may file a complaint with the FCC. In doing research before I decide to file the complaint or not (I will be filing on behalf of a government intity) I find that the FCC takes complaints VERY seriously, and, companies that fall under FCC regulations HATE it when someone files a complaint against them. It is too complicated to explain here, but it costs a lot more than money to a company that has complaints filed against them. Food for thought.

[IronJack]

Dave Atell is as funny as a bone graft. Stupid, ugly, and drunk is no way to go through life.

[zoyd]

I find Insomniac to be an often-funny show. Dave's not out to tick off people -- it was probably just joke fodder. I've never thought of Attell as 'controversial'.

I'd suggest changing the channel, and forgetting about it. It's a show for adults (unless you like to watch shows about bar-hopping with your kids).

[Atomic Vomit]

Disconnect. Cancel your cable service and tell them why.

It's the only action they understand.

Simple complaints or advertising boycotts are cause for laughter by these malicious people- they know you are still watching.

Turn them off and they die.

AV

[TheBigB]

Call the makers of the item and demand they stop making it? No.

Call the stores that sell the item and demand they stop selling it? No.

Call a cable provider and demand they remove a channel because of a showing of an episode (a repeat, FYI, from a few years ago) of an adult-oriented comedy show that is only shown at night and is NOT for kids? Suuure.

Grow up and get over it.

[yhwhsman]

Grow up and get over it.

Yeah, what he said.

[Indie]

I solve the problem in this way: I do not subscribe to cable, nor do I watch the TV tripe.

They can show what they want without my money to finance them.

I get my news from the net, and select only the movies I find worthwhile by renting or buying them.

[elmer fudd]

You can have the channel blocked out if you request it, but you may have to be persistent about it. As an employee of a major cable company, I occasionally trap out channels that customers find objectionable. We can easily get blocking filters, (traps), for MTV, BET or Comedy Central. Since those are the ones people find most offensive traps are almost always available to us for those channels. It takes a bit more effort to block out less controversial channels since we often don't keep traps around for them, but we have an electronics specialist who will actually make specialty traps for us if we ask him.

I would call your cable company back up and request that they trap that channel out.

[weegee]

Cancel cable. Tell them you will buy in again when digital options allow you to not subsidize Viacommie offerings, MSNBC, CNN, etc.

I dropped my cable a few years back (I had it during 9/11 and kept it a couple of months after).

I was mostly watching reruns on Fox (Simpsons etc), Seinfeld, and a little on Comedy Central and some other channels. Buying DVDs instead of paying cable permits me to pay for the programming I WANT to see (and watch repeatedly).

At $45 a month, that translates to 3-7 discs a month (priced $6-15 each online).

I can catch BREAKING NEWS as it happens on FR (literally before other channels or websites put it up).

[weegee]

BTW, the "sex toys" footage that did it for me was HBO showing glass dildos being inserted (for an extended period). Penetration was going on even though the actual "money shot" was obscured. This was a basic premium package offering near hardcore (beyond R) offering.

[weegee]

How about calling a cable provider because a "comedy" show made a mockery of religious persecution?

How about a "Jewish oven" baked pizza?

Turning a crucifix into a dildo is obscene even if you don't perceive it that way.

[weegee]

The FCC has no jurisdiction over cable at this point in time. It is not "broadcast" and thus not under their jurisdiction.

[I_dmc]

Hmm. I smell a business opportunity. Satellite/cable service that lets you build a custom package for a reasonable price, to see only the "basic channels" you select. Wonder what Neilsen would have to say/show?

[tm22721]

Grow up and get over it.

Amen.

Thank God religious fanatics haven't taken over this country yet.

BUMP

[I_dmc]

The consensus appears to be that male genitalia is "porn" while female genitalia is "art".

[weegee]

HBO had also showed 2 "women" in a tub caressing. They stood up and revealed that they were transexuals with penises (shown without obstruction).

Gay male porn is not far off from HBO/Cinemax's "Late Night Adult Entertainment" if it is not already there.

[R. Scott]

I have watched some of “Insomniac” at times - I haven’t been able to watch a complete show yet, and watch only when there is absolutely nothing else to watch except shows I’ve seen several times.
Sex sells, and controversial sex (..."Immaculate relief") sells best. There are people out there who like that sort of thing.
The show does have some redeeming value - segments where he is with night workers. We have a “9-5” society, even though a large segment of the population work nights. Dave does have a way of finding humor in otherwise humorless jobs - the people working at the landfill, garbage collectors, taxi drivers, all night diner staff, etc. Many people don’t even realize these people exist until they cease working. It brings some recognition to them. I personally am a bit tired of show featuring stockbrokers, doctors, lawyers and cops.
Most TV sets now made have lock out settings for some channels. If there is a channel - like the Comedy Channel - that a person doesn’t want in their home they can block it. I realize that some people would prefer nothing but CBN type channels, but many others would not be happy with such a system.