CURSES!
Dirty words are sneaking into TV
George Carlin's list of seven dirty words you can't say on TV? Cross off two more. On Oct. 3, the FCC ruled that U2's Bono didn't violate federal indecency standards when he blurted "f---ing brilliant" during the live NBC broadcast of January's Golden Globes because the rocker wasn't describing "sexual or excretory organs or activities." And on Oct. 13, squeaky-clean family drama Everwood featured 4th grader Delia (Vivien Cardone) saying "s---" in a fit of rage. (The WB muted the word, but it's popped up on TV before, even on such staid news broadcast as Nightline and 60 Minutes.) But, says Cuss Control Acadamy president Jim O'Connor, the show redeemed itself when Delia was grounded: "I think it's a good thing. It's just the SH-word." Bono, no phone for a week.
-Jennifer Armstrong