Posted by chicagomedia.org on July 11, 2008 at 15:11:58:
In Reply to: No delay on WGN Morning News? posted by WOW on July 11, 2008 at 07:57:38:
The free-wheeling "WGN Morning News" today was more free than usual, as guest David Carradine, live on the air, casually dropped one of the words you're not supposed to say on TV.
Carradine, who had been introduced by co-anchor Robin Baumgarten as "legendary," repeated the adjective, inserting an F-bomb in between "legen" and "dary."
Co-anchor Larry Potash immediately scolded Carradine and apologized to viewers on his behalf. Carradine's appearance continued a few more minutes, ending before 8 a.m.
Diana Dionisio, manager of publicity and promotion at WGN-Ch. 9, which, like the Chicago Tribune, is owned by Tribune Co., issued the following statement: "Live on WGN Morning News this morning, guest David Carradine inserted a swear word into a phrase as he was being introduced. The slip was unexpected and the AM News team immediately issued an apology."
Though the Federal Communications Commission has in recent years attempted to crack down on what it has deemed indecent language and images broadcast in entertainment programming, recent FCC fines are being challenged in court by broadcasters. The FCC has hesitated to go after newscasts in this regard.
The live, often loose nature of morning news programs are given to less formal interaction with guests. And live TV makes it possible for anything to happen, which is part of their appeal but obviously also comes with risk.
Besides Carradine's unchecked remark today, Jane Fonda employed a vulgarity for female genitalia on NBC's "Today" on Valentine's Day. Diane Keaton used a variation on the same term as Carradine in January.
The Fonda and Keaton incidents were aired intact only in the eastern United States, where those shows are seen live. But video was made available to others online.
Carradine, who starred on the TV series "Kung Fu" in the 1970s, was said to be promoting a movie on WGN at the time of his remark.
(Rosenthal)