Earl and 'ass'

Last week on 'My Name is Earl they began with a discussion about a
newspaper article that featured the word "jackass". They hemmed over how the
word "ass" can now be used in newspapers and the media. They then proceeded
to use it superfluously through the scene.

OK I thought, a cute joke.

This week they had an accessory scene involving Crabman's "Classy Asses"
magazine where they again said "ass" repeatedly.

Is this an in joke? Was there a precedent setting ruling by censors at NBC
saying that you can now say "ass" on prime-time?

Obveeus...

Of course you can say 'ass'. You just can't say 'asshole'.

Censorship sure is useful, huh?

Obveeus...

Of course you can say 'ass'. You just can't say 'asshole'.

Censorship sure is useful, huh?

Nancy1...

I don't think there's any nefarious "in joke" going on.

It seems ever since the censors passed on the word "ass," every single
show on TV, especially NBC sitcoms, uses it until the viewer is sick of
it. They use it even when the most common word in the phrase or
sentence is "butt," and the word "ass" is totally out of place.
Doesn't matter - they use it anyway. They use "ass" because they are
"asses."

Tony Calguire...

You have been able to say "ass" on primetime television for at least ten
years now.

David...

It can't be 10 years ago since 13 years ago they could show David
Caruso's.

(A moment Ian still refers to as a turning point in his life.)

Jack Bauer's Spunky Sidekick, Ian J. Ball...

Not really - Caruso never achieved 'Man-God' status until he became my
beloved Horatio Caine.

karl...

Then what is the joke? Note I said "at NBC". I do specifically recall

David...

"Classy Asses" is a funny name for a magazine?

karl...

I thought the Simpson's 'Gigantic Asses' funnier.

David...

But it doesn't rhyme.

Still it seemed the way they played it out over two episodes that it was
some sort of in-joke.

David...

Hollywood people must assume that hicks and rednecks say "ass" a lot.

instances of Fox shows, namely the Simpson's, using "ass".

SoHillsGuy...

Not sure what the inside joke is, but NBC's "ER" has used just about
every slang word for body parts in the past few years...

wes wildcat...

On Wheel of Fortune last week, I don't remember the word they were after
but it had 'ass' in it and it stayed on the board for at least 2 more spins.

Stan Brown...

And yet Comedy Central censors it out (along with "tit") when showing
commercial movies.

Barry Margolin...

Maybe it's not CC censoring it out. They may get the same versions of
the movies as the broadcast networks, and they already have the language
bleeped.

It's a classic case of left hand/right hand, as the language in
/South Park/ is much rougher.