George Clooney, generally a classy guy, made one of the raunchier jokes on the Golden Globes broadcast this year.
The Globes, distributed by the strange but wonderfully titled Hollywood Foreign Press Association in a traditionally booze-fueled celebration filled with “bleeped” language, aren’t taken seriously by the industry, except as a promotional tool pre-Oscars. More about the winners and losers in a moment, but first, the Clooney bit and why it’s relevant.
In his acceptance speech as best actor in a motion picture drama (for “The Descendants”), Clooney teased fellow nominee Michael Fassbender (“Shame”) about his full-frontal scene.
“I would like to thank Michael Fassbender for taking over the frontal nude responsibly that I had,” launching into an off-color joke about Fassbender’s endowments. “Really Michael, honestly, you can play golf like this with your hands behind your back.”
Old gag, no big deal. But this is an example of why regulating TV is such an impossible task. And thank goodness censorship isn’t easy.
Those clamoring for the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm the Federal Communications Commission’s right to censor “fleeting expletives” must know that there was nothing in Clooney’s joke that could have warranted a crackdown. Unlike the fleeting lapses by Bono, Cher and Nicole Richie, who let loose variations on the “F word” in live award shows, and unlike Meryl Streep’s bleeped lapse on Sunday, Clooney’s unsubtle joke was subtle enough to avoid an FCC fine.
The point is, punishing a network for inadvertently broadcasting such a moment is senseless, requiring an arbitrary definition of what’s indecent and what isn’t.
The government has been trying to define indecency since at least 1972 and George Carlin’s “Seven Dirty Words” routine.
Carlin’s “seven dirty words” were at the heart of the 1978 FCC vs. Pacifica Foundation case, in which the Supreme Court justices decided narrowly (5-4) in favor of granting the government power to regulate indecent material on the public airwaves.
Whereas the attempt to define indecency once yielded a classic bit of comedy, last week it yielded a search of the walls of a Washington, D.C., courtroom for the sort of naked sculptures that upset conservative groups. (Those ever-vigilant national nannies bombarded the FCC with complaints when naked statues were shown on the Olympics Opening Ceremonies). The justices joined lawyers in spotting naked buttocks on the room’s frieze, until they dissolved in laughter.
The Obama administration has sided with those who believe Congress intended broadcast licenses to come with an obligation to meet certain decency standards. Justice Roberts finds “a safe harbor” for family viewing to be a reasonable objective. Sounds nice until you try to define it.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said it’s “the appearance of arbitrariness” in the FCC’s definition of indecency that is problematic. Is nudity in opera more acceptable than nudity in “Hair”? OK for Steven Spielberg but illegal for anyone else?
She believes the government should get out of the content- regulation business.
Trying to regulate indecency has been a losing battle for decades.
Modern technology makes it possible to see everything everywhere, all the time. It also makes it easier for concerned parents to pick and choose what their kids can see. For starters, they might skip the Golden Globes.
And the other winners
Ricky Gervais was tame to the point of dull, after raising expectations for outrageousness.
The fashions were surprisingly tasteful, as well. Sunday night’s awards themselves got several things right:
“Homeland” was deservedly acknowledged as the year’s best drama, and the amazing Claire Danes rightly won as best actress in a drama. (She noted she picked up the same award as a 15-year-old for “My So-Called Life.”)
Best-comedy winner “Modern Family,” while still fun, may be past its peak. The underappreciated comedy “Episodes” was at least represented by winner Matt LeBlanc. Supporting actors Peter Dinklage (“Game of Thrones”) and Jessica Lange (“American Horror Story”) represent the best of their respective series. And in a just world, Emily Watson (“Appropriate Adult”) would have triumphed over Kate Winslet (“Mildred Pierce”) in the miniseries category. Idris Elba deserved his win for the BBC America cop thriller “Luther.”
The surprise of the night was Kelsey Grammer’s win for “Boss,” Starz’s low-rated but critically acclaimed drama. Can’t help but wonder, what if “Mad Men” had been eligible?
Ultimately, Gervais’ truest line of the night: The Globes, he said, “are just like the Oscars but without all that esteem. The Globes are to the Oscars what Kim Kardashian is to Kate Middleton. A bit louder, a bit trashier, a bit drunker and more easily bought. Allegedly. Nothing’s been proved.”
Joanne Ostrow: 303-954-1830 or jostrow@denverpost.com
Television by Joanne Ostrow
