FCC Fines ABC Over NYPD Blue Nude Scene

Posted on January 28, 2008

Reuters reports that the FCC has fined ABC for an NYPD Blue scene that repeatedly showed a woman's nude buttocks. The actress was Charlotte Ross and the scene was from five years ago.

The Federal Communications Commission on Friday said it plans to fine the Walt Disney Co's ABC network $1.4 million for airing an episode of "NYPD Blue" in 2003 that showed a woman's nude buttocks.

The company said it opposes the fine and plans to appeal.

In a notice filed on Friday, the agency said 52 television ABC stations in the Central and Mountain time zones had aired the scene at 9 p.m. in violation of federal restrictions against broadcasting "obscene material" between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

The agency said it received "numerous complaints" about the scene, in which a young boy walks in on a nude woman about to take a shower.

Stations in the Eastern and Pacific time zones were exempt because they broadcast the February 25, 2003, episode at 10 p.m. local time.

TV Guide reports that part of the ruling include the FCC stating that "buttocks are a sexual organ."
ABC - which unsuccessfully argued against the FCC's contention that buttocks are a "sexual organ" - has responded to the ruling by noting that NYPD Blue came with parental warnings, was V-chip-enabled, and because it had been on the air for a decade at the time, "the realistic nature of its storylines was well-known to the viewing public."

"ABC feels strongly that the FCC's finding is inconsistent with prior precedent," says the network in a statement, "and we intend to oppose the proposed fine."

ABC is going to oppose the fine and we will see where this goes. Meanwhile, people are searching YouTube for the NYPD Blue scene which is from five years ago. There are several versions currently on YouTube if you search for Charlotte Ross.



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