APPENDIX CBSC Decision 10/11-2201 Global re Family Guy (“Stewie B. Goode”) The Complaint The CBSC received the following complaint on July 23, 2011: Hello, I am complaining about a program Family Guy on your cable 211 HD Global TV using extremely adult language definitely not suitable for children. Words such as “porno”, “bitch”, “bastard”, “shaving privates” were used and much more. It was on at 5:00 pm Saturday channel 211 HD on Global TV. I would request that you review this episode called "Peter's Two Dads" [sic, the episode was in fact entitled “Stewie B. Goode”]. I would ask for a prompt reply as this is totally unacceptable. Broadcaster Response Global replied to the complainant with a letter dated August 16: We are in receipt of your letter via the CBSC regarding Global Television's broadcast of Family Guy on Global CHAN-TV on July 23, 2011. In your letter, you expressed concerns about “extremely adult language” used in the program [and] felt the content was inappropriate for the time of day it was broadcast. Let me begin by saying that, as responsible broadcasters, we are sensitive to the members of our viewing audience and we apologize if this program has offended you. I assure you that it is neither Global's nor the producer's intention to do so. Under the Broadcasting Act, broadcasters are required to provide a broad spectrum of entertainment and information programming for “men, women and children of all ages, interests and tastes.” Television programming is required to be diverse and appealing to a wide range of audiences. Global determines the suitability of programs by ensuring that the broadcast would not contravene applicable broadcast laws and industry codes including, but not limited to, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' (CAB) Code of Ethics, Equitable Portrayal Code for Television and Radio Programming, and CAB Violence Code. As a result, what one viewer might consider an interesting or informative program might lead another to turn the channel. Global Television adheres to the television rating system created by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) and the Action Group on Violence on Television (AGVOT). This six-level rating system is used to classify any levels of violence, language or 1 2 sex/nudity in all drama, feature film and children's programming broadcast in Canada. These classifications allow viewers to use V-chip technology, which is built into almost all television sets, to screen out programs with mature subject matter that they do not wish to watch. This public rating system is intended to advise viewers of a program's content in order to allow you, the viewer, to determine a program's suitability for your own viewing needs and desires. As required, an on-screen key airs for the first fifteen seconds of the program and matching V-Chip data is encoded into our transmission for the entire duration of the program. This episode of Family Guy which aired on July 23, 2011 had the V-chip technology in place. Family Guy has been rated "14+" and is not meant for viewing by children. Programming with this classification contains themes which might not be suitable for viewers under the age of 14 and parents are strongly cautioned to exercise discretion in permitting viewing by pre- teens and early teens without parent/guardian supervision, as programming with this classification could deal with mature themes and societal issues in a realistic fashion. A 14+ rating is given to programming that could include "intense scenes of violence ..., could possibly include strong or frequent use of profanity, ... might include scenes of nudity and/or sexual activity within the context of narrative or theme." This rating does not restrict the broadcaster from airing the program prior to the "watershed hour" which is 9:00 pm to 6:00 am and usually reserved for adult content. We also air the following viewer advisory before the show and coming out of each commercial break so that viewers can make an informed decision whether they wish to watch the program or not: "This program contains language and content some viewers may find offensive. Viewer discretion is advised." Family Guy is an animated series, exploring domestic life in a comedic manner. Given that humour itself is very subjective and can be irreverent at times, we realize not all viewers will find it amusing. We agree that this program tends to push the envelope at times in an attempt at humour; however, we do not feel that we have contravened any broadcast codes or guidelines. We thank you for your comments and hope we have responded to your concerns. It is only by communicating with our viewing audience that we can better reflect our viewer's needs and interests in our programming. Additional Correspondence The complainant wrote back to Global on August 16: Thank you for your reply. I must restate that I believe that any broadcaster that allows this type of program to air at a time that children would naturally be watching TV is not acceptable. I feel that if this still falls within the parameters of broadcast acceptability then we should definitely be doing something to adjust the standards to remove this type of program. I would appreciate a reply from CBSC as to their opinion of this. I look forward to receiving this in a timely fashion. 3 The complainant then filed his Ruling Request on August 18 with the following note: I must state that in my opinion it is entirely unacceptable for a cartoon format program to be played at this hour of the day when a child could naturally be led into watching it. There are large numbers of children who are possibly not supervised to the extent they possibly should be and would fall into this very explicit and degrading program without initially understanding what they are watching. Any type of program such as this should be shown only after 9 pm. As it customarily does, the CBSC sent an e-mail to the complainant acknowledging receipt of his Ruling Request and informing him that it can take 6 months or more for the CBSC to issue a decision. The complainant wrote again to the CBSC on August 19 expressing his concerns about the length of time it takes for the CBSC to make a decision: Thank you for your prompt reply. The response time is concerning. I am very worried about the effect this program has on children and do feel this is a very important issue. The CBSC wrote back to him to address his concerns. It informed him that it reviews files in roughly chronological order based on date of receipt of Ruling Request. The CBSC does not usually allow files to “move ahead in the queue” based on “importance” because every complainant views his/her complaint as important. The complainant wrote again on August 24: Thank you very much. I have, since filing this complaint, heard from a number of mothers who have said that they know a large number of 8-, 9- and 10-year olds watch Family Guy. They think it is a standard cartoon. The complainant wrote again on November 17: I am deeply concerned that the public and that children, including my grandchildren, are able to watch this type of program on daytime television. I wonder if the Prime Minister would support his grandchildren being able to watch this type of questionable program on general daytime television. I would appreciate this review being brought to a prompt conclusion as soon as possible. The complainant wrote again on December 18: I would like to add to my file an article in The Globe and Mail Dec. 17th, 2011, Page R5 titled "Dancing across the Family Guy's minefields". This article finishes "Newcomers [to this show], you have been warned". This comment is not referring to children. I await your response. 4 The full text of that newspaper article was as follows: Family Guy is more than a love-it-or-hate-it show. It’s a love-it-AND-hate-it show. There is talent to burn. Seth MacFarlane, who oversees the animated half-hour comedy and provides the voices of family man Peter Griffin, mother-hating baby Stewie and Brian the intellectual dog, is a brilliant performer, gifted writer and impressive singer. Supplying other recurring voices are name actors Mila Kunis (daughter Meg), Seth Green (son Chris), Patrick Warburton (neighbour Joe) and Adam West, TV’s Batman, as a mayor called Adam West. All that goes in one end. What comes out the other is a mishmash of pop-cultural references, toilet humour and creepy storylines that can handily offend even those who aren’t easily offended. Peter is casually racist, chauvinist, blasphemous and irredeemably self-centred, unmoved by others’ pain. A major character, neighbour Quagmire, is a necrophilic rapist, played for laughs. A supporting character is a pedophile, played for laughs. The violence the characters inflict on each other makes slasher flicks seem tentative. In this company, the ubiquitous fart jokes could pass as tame. In other words, watching this show to enjoy the wit and savour the talented performances is like dancing across a minefield. You never know when the crude, frequently ugly side of the show will explode beneath your feet. Little has changed in this week’s DVD collection, Family Guy Volume Nine, which contains 14 episodes from the show’s eighth and ninth seasons. There is, however, one novelty. Starting with the episode And Then There Were Fewer, the image changes from boxy to widescreen.