A federal appeals court throws out FCC’s $1.4 million indecency fine again NYPD Blue. The court rules that showing Charlotte Ross’ tush in a 2003 episode gets a pass because the FCC’s enforcement of its indecency rules is “unconstitutionally vague and chilling.”  The Parents Television Council, predictably, labels the ruling to be “as devoid of common sense as it was predictable.” The anti-regulation TV Watch, on the other hand, applauds the ruling noting that “Parents already have tools such as the V-Chip and content ratings to help them
make decisions based on their own taste, values and style.”  
Comment: I actually agree with the court on this one. There is so much degrading and cruel junk on television that going after this particular scene does seem a bit arbitrary.  While I agree the nudity on NYPD Blue, though usually fleeting in actually infrequent, was a bit gratuitous and unnecessary it was, otherwise, an excellent chronicle of the redemption New York City Police Detective Andy Sipowicz (brilliantly played by Dennis Franz). Click here to view a scene that is about as pro-God and faith as anything you’ll find on television. I wonder if the PTC ever took the time to praise it.
On the other hand, TV Watch’s contention that the V-chip and content ratings are enough to help parents protect their kids (and themselves) from obscene and objectionable programming is, in my view, wrong. While I too oppose government intervention regarding television content, the feds should require that cable companies offer ala carte deals that will allow consumers to pick and choose which channels are permitted into their homes in the first place. After all, when you buy books from Barnes & Noble you’re not required to buy out their entire stock. You buy only the books you want. Why should television be different?
I believe a more fruitful path for the PTC would be pushing for greater consumer control rather than greater government control.

Why Christians should support V. Rather than always complaining about all the trash on TV (and there is plenty), Christians and conservatives should acknowledge shows that support their values and support them with as at least much vigor as they criticize those they don’t. Writing about ABC’s V for Big Hollywood, S.T. Karnick notes:

Central to the narrative is the resistance against an intrusive government
that claims to be for nothing but the good of humanity but is in fact pursuing
sinister, elitist, and exploitative hidden agendas. As such, the show makes a
strong commentary on contemporary political issues and constitutes one of the
most frankly libertarian TV series seen in many years. In addition, it suggests
strong approval of religion, specifically Christianity, in a way that makes the
resistance group a spot-on analogue to the current-day Tea Party movement…

…A member of the Christian clergy, Father Jack Landry (characterized
excellently by Joel Gretsch), remains central to the resistance effort, along
with FBI agent Erica Evans (likewise well played by Elizabeth Mitchell). Both
are determined, kindly, and fundamentally decent and unselfish. Father Jack
continually wears the traditional turned-around collar identifying him as a
clergyman...

…As noted, the religious orientation of the show is strongly Christian. The
leaders of the resistance use a church as their base of operations, and the
climactic scene of “Welcome to the War” takes place in the church’s sanctuary.
The church thus serves as a source of sound, eternal values and gives emotional
strength to the resistance. The resistance members are clearly shown to be in
the movement to protect their families, faith, freedom, and personal
integrity.

In another positive allusion to Christianity, resistance member Georgie
sacrifices his life to ensure that he won’t give away the identities of the
other resisters, an evident allusion to Christ and to subsequent Christian
martyrs. 

Click here for Karnick’s full commentary. It’s worth reading. V, BTW, airs Tuesdays at 9:00 PM (ET) on ABC.

Oprah’s OWN TV network scores. Viewers turned out in big numbers for the launch of Oprah Winfrey’s new cable network fueling predictions that it will actually turn a profit in its very first year. The Oprah brand is synonymous with positive, hopeful programming. That is, after all, what audiences want. If only the other major networks would catch on.

Bishop Fulton J. Sheen bio worth is watching. Last night I watched a video biography of the late Bishop Sheen (1895-1979), sort of the Catholic Oprah of his day. In the 1950’s his TV show Life is Worth Living was a big hit with viewers — and it’s easy to see why. The DVD, produced by Converse Marketing, chronicles Sheen’s rise from humble beginnings as an altar boy in Illinois to an archbishop and one of the greatest evangelists in the history of America. It’s a fascinating and inspirational story. The DVD, part of a drive to make the case for Sheen’s canonization, is available for group showings (i.e. schools, parishes and other gatherings) through the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation (Ph. #: 877-71SHEEN). To order a personal copy and for  more information (including a look at the trailer), you can also visit SheenFilm.org.

Note: An earlier version of this blog mistakenly said the “Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Servant of All” DVD was available via the Maximus Group. It is, in fact, as the corrected copy above says available through Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation (Ph. #: 877-71SHEEN). I apologize for the error.