It's hard out there ... in the world of censorship, that is.
That's the message ABC Television and the heads of the Academy Awards are spreading through the world of entertainment. The broadcast network, which is airing the 78th edition of the awards program Sunday night, is allowing the word "bitches" to be aired during the painfully-long and overly star-studded event.
No, the network isn't predicting the winners or the words they will recite in their acceptance speeches. No, host Jon Stewart - yes, that Jon Stewart - isn't expected to resort to basic cable language to make a joke about "Brokeback Mountain."
The word is part of a song.
Rap trio Three 6 Mafia's "It's Hard Out There for a Pimp," (true story) was written and produced for the movie "Hustle and Flow." The lyrics depict the life of a hustler in the artists' hometown of Memphis, Tenn.
In what could be the most horrendous display of an award show since 1998 - when "Titanic" won 11 Oscars, including best picture - The Associated Press said this will become the first rap song to be performed at the Oscars. Reuters said some industry experts think the edgy rap is just a way to attract a younger audience. The tune is, believe it or not, nominated for best song in this year's Academy Awards.
"It's Hard Out There for a Pimp," censored and altered for mildly disturbing lyrics, will be performed live, according to Reuters news agency. The rap trio previously agreed to change the words of the profane tune.
Profanity and perversity from a group that put out "Ghetto Chick," "Shake Dat Jelly" and "F*ck that S**t" on previous albums? Shocking.
But it is a bit shocking - and impressive - that Disney-owned ABC is allowing the band on stage, let alone near a public address system.
Without a doubt, it's the boldest step a network has made in the current broadcast world, since "Nipplegate" - an event network and Federal Communications Commission representatives continue to unjustly treat as a national tragedy instead of what it was: a failed PR stunt.
The only tragedy in that situation: The nipple was that of a Jackson family member.
I digress, even though ABC is letting "bitch" out the door, the network has still put a few other precautions in place. The company is expected to take advantage of a five-second delay to assist network censors, Reuters reported. So during the event, if Three 6 lets loose the f-bomb or Michael Moore gets within six feet of a microphone, the "drop" button will be ready to go.
It's disappointing to see Three 6 Mafia agree to such changes. Like it or not, the network delay is understandable, but to completely alter the lyrics to a song is just outright wrong.
What viewers will see and hear Sunday is a severely altered version of a song the band's never really performed - and, at the very least, it's a song the band is not actually nominated for.
Certainly, this is not the first time a censored song has appeared on an awards show, but this situation warrants the attention. ABC is blatantly determining what's offensive and obscene - a decision typically reserved for the higher powers in our legal system.
Nonetheless, it's good to see a major broadcast network take a little bit of a chance with the American public during prime time hours. On the bright side of this entire situation is the glimmering hope that maybe networks - despite broadcast delays and overly paranoid censors - will begin to revert back to more relaxed ways of broadcasting live events.
But that will take cooperation from everyone in the industry.
Well, getting the overly-sensitive FCC to make a compromise? Let's just say it's a bitch.
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