Diane Keaton says "Fuck" On GMA, FCC Averts Its Eyes

If you haven't yet seen it, check out the clip from Tuesday's Good Morning America where Diane Keaton is complimenting Diane Sawyer's apparently plump and luscious lips, and then goes on to say how if she'd been born with lips like Sawyer's she wouldn't have had to work on her "fucking personality."

How much do I love her for that? A lot. What's the FCC going to do to her in the face of complaints like the one from Tim Winter of the Parents Television Council, who claims that unsuspecting viewers were "sucker-punched" by Keaton's "F-bomb"? Not much.

Machinist reports that:

"In June, the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on behalf of broadcasters -- led by Fox -- that an FCC policy that penalized TV stations for accidentally airing expletives was "arbitrary and capricious." The FCC adopted the policy after the 2003 Golden Globe awards, when U2's Bono remarked that winning an award for the song "The Hands that Built America" was "fucking brilliant."

And I agree. The thing is, like Janet Jackson's ridiculous and to my mind totally planned Superbowl  "wardrobe malfunction," don't some of these "whoops!" moments actually seem intentional to you?

I know from being around kids a lot that in certain situations -- babysitting, eating dinner with your mom, being interviewed on national television -- you gain a hyperawareness of the language you're using. And maybe Diane was just feeling so very comfortable with her good friend Diane that she let down her guard.  But I'm not sure I buy it. I think when we see these so-called "slips" we're watching people who spend a lot of their lives operating by their own rules flipping the bird at the enforcers of public restraint, decorum, and the infantilization of what's supposedly an adult conversation.

What do you think?

Comments

[DianaCLT]

Personally, I like Diane Keaton. I don't think she planned to say it. But then again, I don't think she gives a fuck that it was said. ;) She strikes me as someone that doesn't worry about what people think of her, someone that is straightforward, and as someone that is comfortable in her own skin (though I don't see how anyone could be comfortable in all those turtlenecks! LOL!). I talk like a truck driver, so perhaps the f-bomb just doesn't bother me as much. And though kids might be in the room when GMA is on...I suspect the majority tune it out, because it's soooo booooooring to them (at least, that's what I hope!).

Sorry if the majority of those who read this disagree. Just stating my opinion!

[amalah]

God, I wish I could gain a hyperawareness of the language I use. I'm spoiled by my speech-delayed kid, who never mimicked a syllable -- f-bombs all over the fucking place over here. I'm super-popular at playgroups.

Until last week, when I dropped a poopy diaper and exclaimed (so appropriately!) "Oh! Shit!" And ta-da! He repeated it. Awesome! We've been waiting for that "shhh" sound for ages!

But while I am queen of the slip-up, I still agree with you -- these celebs have done enough press and interviews to reign in the cursing. Not that cursing on GMA bothers me in the goddamn slightest, but clearly, we are Just That Kind Of Household.

[Mrs. Flinger]

I can't get over her dress in that picture. What the hell is that? Did someone sit on her lap and create a butt-imprint?

And ohthankgod I will not be on national TV anytime soon. Because holyfuck, I certainly don't curb my cursing enough. But you know? It's a lack of caring, really. I bet she just didn't care enough.

[Mrs. Kennedy]

You guys are probably right, she either doesn't care or she gave herself a thrill by breaking the rule.

I didn't notice the dress butt imprint until you pointed it out! Now I'm fascinated. What could it be? Did she just eat dinner with her plate on her lap?