fcc – The Comedy Bureau

The FCC Will Not Fine Stephen Colbert for That Somewhat Explicit Monologue

May 23, 2017

The FCC Will Not Fine Stephen Colbert for That Somewhat Explicit Monologue

Finally, this FCC does something we’re on board for.

Despite FCC Chairman Ajit Pai initially brushing off the blowback from Colbert’s comments about Trump in one recent opening monologue, thousands of complaints made them see if there was anything that could be subject to a fine.

Since late night has a little bit more breathing room in regards to content, there was nothing objectionable that the FCC found and they have thus decided to take no action on the matter.

So, we’re going to count this as a win for Colbert, free speech, late night, and, as a whole, comedy.

Complaints Have Led FCC to Investigate Stephen Colbert Over Donald Trump (Not Really) Controversial Monologue Joke This Week

May 6, 2017

Uncategorized

ajit pai, fcc, firecolbert, late show, stephen colbert, trump

Complaints Have Led FCC to Investigate Stephen Colbert Over Donald Trump (Not Really) Controversial Monologue Joke This Week

By now, you’ve probably caught wind of #FireColbert controversy, which has a certain group of people up in arms against Colbert for this line about Trump:

“…the only thing your mouth is good for is being Vladimir Putin’s c— holster.” Watch the whole monologue here.

There have been accusations that the joke is homophobic, which we vehemently disagree with. The joke may be blue, but it hardly comes across as reflecting negatively on the sexual congress of the LGBTQ community. Even with that line taken out of context and transcribed here, the idea that Colbert should be sacked for this is ludicrous and sounds more like cries from people who already hate Colbert and we’re looking for a reason to launch a #FireColbert hashtag.

The new FCC Chairman Ajit Pai commented on the incident, “It’s a free country, and people are willing and able to say anything these days.” Yet, Pai and the FCC have somewhat changed their tune and will now be looking into the joke and whether it falls under “decency rules” in response to a number of complaints that the FCC has gotten about the joke.

We personally weren’t even going to write anything about this because we saw controversy being made where there wasn’t any controversy to be made.

However, Pai (who was promoted to FCC Chairman by Trump after Tom Wheeler stepped down) announcing that they will be officially looking into the monologue, after he was clearly aware of the “situation” and pretty much dismissed it, seems problematic and unnecessary.

Recent FCC Vote Pushes Us Closer To the Merging of Live and Internet TV

February 22, 2016

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cable tv, fcc, fcc vote, set top box, streaming service

(via The Verge)

Right now, you have to get the cable box of whatever cable company that you’re a subscriber of. Thus, it’s at the sole discretion of that cable company as to what curated, contractually-agreed-upon programming that they’ll offer.

This vote changes might just change all of that and could allow streaming services and cable TV to co-exist meaning watching Broad City and BoJack Horseman on the same box might soon be a reality.

This recent FCC vote in favor, three-to-two, of a proposal to break the stranglehold that cable TV companies have on the cable boxes that subscribers have to use might usher the future of TV a little sooner than anticipated. The proposal will allow third party companies to develop their own set top boxes with the ability to subscribe to various cable TV services.

If passed, any number of set top boxes that are meant for streaming TV that exists exclusively online could potentially be expanded to include live television and bring another drastic change to the already drastically changing landscape of television.

Still, the proposal has to go through a final vote and the decision’s effects would have to be seen, but it’s hard to see this as anything other than a good thing.

You might have the chance to press fewer buttons to switch fewer devices in order to watch the latest episodes of The Simpsons and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

Soon, You Might Just Get to Watch BoJack Horseman, Transparent, Casual, Veep, Baskets, Bob’s Burgers, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and More All Through the Same Set Top Box

January 28, 2016

Uncategorized

cable, fcc, satellite, set top box, tom wheeler

(via Deadline)

If FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s proposal goes through, you won’t have to have different set ups for your streaming services and your cable subscriptions.

Wheeler is pushing for cable and satellite TV providers to no longer have a vise grip on those cable and satellite set top boxes so independent manufacturers can make set top boxes that allow you access to the likes of Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon alongside watching live television.

This was bound to happen at some point and we’re glad to see that there’s some initiative on Wheeler’s part to make watching TV from your TV and from the Internet equally accessible.

Like the headlines suggests, you’ll be able to watch all the award winning comedy from the reaches of HBO, FX, and The CW as well as those from Netflix and Amazon.

If you thought TV has been shaken up already, this move might be the biggest shake yet.

Net Neutrality Has Been Preserved in 3-2 Vote; You Can Keep Doing/Consuming Whatever Comedy You Want Online

February 26, 2015

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fcc, net neutrality

(via NPR)

It’s been a long wait to see what the word would be on whether Net Neutrality and prevention of Internet Service Providers charging different rates for differing types of Internet traffic would stand.

Today, the FCC voted 3-2 in favor of adopting Net Neutrality and reclassifying the Internet as a public utility.

So, that means you will be able to watch and listen as well as make whatever shows, podcasts, livestreams, specials, etc. online at no extra charge. John Oliver does a pretty bang up job of explaining it as well.

The fine print has yet to be released or explained, but keeping the likes of ISPs at bay as the victory here today.

Make sure you celebrate that freedom by, probably, continuing whatever bizarre sketch you were watching or meme that you’re currently posting everywhere.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler Responds to John Oliver’s Net Neutrality Segment

June 17, 2014

Uncategorized

fcc, john oliver, last week tonight, net neutrality, tom wheeler

John Oliver is definitely affecting change as the FCC’s Tom Wheeler had to address, in an official capacity, Oliver’s jokes about him during a segment on net neutrality on Last Week Tonight. In the segment, Oliver suggested that Wheeler is like a dingo in that you shouldn’t leave a dingo with your baby just like you shouldn’t leave Wheeler as the chairman of the FCC having be a former lobbyist for cable and wireless companies.

Wheeler felt it prudent during some sort of hearing that he should address the issue of his identity as a human or a dingo. Unlike Donald Rumsfield avoiding Louis C.K.’s lizard question, Wheeler earned himself another segment on Last Week Tonight with making an official statement.

John Oliver Crashes FCC Comments System After Net Neutrality Segment

June 3, 2014

Uncategorized

fcc, john oliver, last week tonight, net neutrality

John Oliver Crashes FCC Comments System After Net Neutrality Segment

Well, John Oliver seems to not only be doing one hell of a funny show, but affecting actual change. He did a segment on net neutrality this past Sunday, which was then online on Monday, that called for Internet commenters to go to the FCC comments section to leave their thoughts on legislation against net neutrality.

While it was Peter Capaldi who said it in Armando Ianucci’s genius In The Loop, John Oliver has shown he can “summon all the media forces of darkness to hound you into an assisted suicide.”

Even at 12AM, Chris Hardwick Has To Know How To Navigate Censors

January 9, 2014

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censors, chris hardwick, comedy central, fcc, midnight, standards and practices, television

Comedy Central’s “@midnight w/Chris Hardwick” is on at midnight, which should be late enough to not censor most words/images.

Yet, those FCC rules still hold up for some reason as you’ll see Hardwick explain during a taping of “@midnight”.

Oh, you’re watching “@midnight” right? It’s back on four days a week on Comedy Central at the self-titled time.

For Some Reason, The FCC Bans an Episode of High School USA

August 27, 2013

Uncategorized

ban, fcc, fox adhd, high school usa

For Some Reason, The FCC Bans an Episode of High School USA

Sure, there was probably some objectionable material that the FCC thought shouldn’t be allowed (and that most of us probably wouldn’t get that riled up about) on network television as Fox ADHD’s High School USA is shown at a broadcast network.

But, what effect does that really have these days other than building an interest in watching that particular censored material and, with the help of the Internet and, in this case, Hulu, really easy to find and watch?