PTC Reacts to “Gossip Girl” Threesome Episode

Though there was no explicit sex scene on last night’s episode, the CW Network’s behavior was grossly irresponsible by adding a story line where a sexual threesome was to be celebrated as some sort of ‘rite of passage’ for teenagers.  The network inserted this story line into a program that they themselves deem to be appropriate for 14-year-old children based on its content rating. ► more

Women in Peril: PTC Report Finds Increase in Violence Against Females on Television

The PTC’s report, Women in Peril: A Look at TV’s Disturbing New Storyline Trend, examined fatal and nonfatal female victimizations on prime time broadcast television and found that there was a significant increase in all forms of female victimization storylines; an increase in the depiction of teen girls as victims; an increase in the use of female victimization as a punch line in comedy series; and an increase in the depiction of intimate partner violence. ► more

PTC: Kudos to Microsoft for Ditching Seth MacFarlane Special
The Parents Television Council® praised Microsoft for pulling its sponsorship of an upcoming Fox special featuring Seth MacFarlane, creator of “Family Guy” and source of some the most offensive content on the broadcast airwaves. Variety reported that Microsoft decided against supporting the show due to content concerns after viewing a taping that included jokes about topics such as the Holocaust and incest. The “Almost Live Comedy Show” was slated to air commercial-free on November 8 with Windows 7 marketing throughout to help promote the new operating system. ► more

No Apologies: NBC Allows Another “F-word” to Air Unbleeped

The "f-word" on Saturday Night Live is just the latest example of NBC telling its audience, its affiliates and its advertisers that it really doesn’t care if harsh profanity like this makes it to air.  Remember that NBC still has not come clean about other instances, such as during the Beijing Olympics when a male commentator referred to a female commentator using the "c-word"; and during recent broadcasts of the Today show when the "c-word" and "s-word" were aired. ► more

PTC Applauds Companies That Stopped Sponsoring Graphic Content on Two and a Half Men

Astoundingly, 32% of the 2009 sponsors of Two and a Half Men have stopped advertising on the show.  We applaud these companies for exercising responsibility for their sponsorships. Several of the companies that pulled their ads let us know that they shared PTC’s concerns and that the content of the show does not match up with their corporate image. ► more

PTC: FCC Report on TV Blocking Technology Comes Up Short

The Parents Television Council™ criticized the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for failing to provide meaningful answers regarding the shortcomings of the current television ratings system.  PTC’s critique follows the release of the FCC’s report on parental controls and blocking technology that was mandated by the Child Safe Viewing Act. ► more