Outrageous Firsts in TV History

YesButNoButYes lists controversial first in TV broadcast history.

1947: First Couple to Share a Bed – Mary Kay and Johnny, on…Mary Kay and Johnny
1957: First Toilet on Television. – Leave it to Beaver
1957: First Exposed Rack on Television – Jayne Mansfield, 1957 Academy Awards
1967: First Time the Word Hell was Used on Television – Star Trek
1971: First time the phrase God Damn It was used on Television – All in the Family (also one of the first gay characters: A closeted football-playng friend of Mike’s came out on the show)
1972: First Abortion on Television – Maude
1974: First Rape Scene on Television – TV movie Born Innocent (I remember hearing about this in school.)
1977: First Recurring Gay Character on Television – Soap (although “The Corner Bar” had one in 1972)

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Poor Natalie. Poor America.

Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks was forced by her record company to apologize for her remarks in London about President Bush. While on stage in London, she said, “Just so you know, we’re ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas.” They made her take it back, but no one can tell me what opinion to have… so here goes:

I’m ashamed of President Bush. I’m ashamed we have a moron for President. I’m ashamed that we’re going to bomb a country comprised of almost 50% children just so some oil baron assholes can profiteer off the oil they seize. I’m ashamed that the Democrats are so damned lame they’re doing nothing to combat this injustice. I’m ashamed that my own city voted to support the White House’s unjustified and probably illegal actions. I’m ashamed that all of our basic civil rights are being thrown out the window. I’m ashamed that the American People are so damned gullible that they roll over and play dead when the government raises the “terror alert” to try to create panic and submission. I’m ashamed of what this year, this decade will look like to folks forty, fifty, a hundred years in the future.

I’m proud to be an American. I just wish every else would remember what that really is supposed to mean.

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Young Americans

The summer season of the WB’s show “Young Americans” ended last night. This is, certainly, one of the strangest shows I’ve seen on TV It’s almost a homoerotic wet dream with dozens of gorgeous, doe-eyed, apple-cheeked, buffed young men running around at an all-boys pre-ivy league prep school. Almost homo. They try to clean it up a little to get it under the hetero radar.

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