By John Eggerton, Broadcasting & Cable Online, 5-23-17
Not surprisingly, the FCC has closed its review into the indecency complaints against Stephen Colbert’s colorful criticisms of President Donald Trump. Though the speed with which it reached that conclusion was noteworthy.
“The FCC received thousands of complaints about the May 1 broadcast of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. Consistent with standard operating procedure, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau has reviewed the complaints and the material that was the subject of these complaints,” said an FCC spokesperson. “The Bureau has concluded that there was nothing actionable under the FCC’s rules.”
Colbert’s comments earlier this month, which included an oral sex reference and calling the President “BLOATUS,” “presidunce,” and “pricktator,” came after 10 p.m., so would not be considered under the indecency rules, and came in the course of stinging criticism of the very public figure of a very controversial President, so would be highly unlikely to meet the much-higher bar for obscenity, which must be utterly without redeeming social importance. » Read More