MovieChat Forums > Barnaby Jones (1973) Discussion > 'The Murdering Class'

'The Murdering Class'

posted 15 years ago by mastbradped
7 replies | jump to latest

So, I bought Season 1 (I'm loving it by the way)-it takes me back and I am making my way through the episodes.

On Disc 2, "The Murdering Class", this white kid said the N word and they bleeped it out. So, I'm wondering if they had him say it for authenticity's sake, since his character would have said that, but, I can't imagine the network censors letting them say that on National TV in 1973. Or did they and they bleeped it here on the DVD because now we are "supposed" to be more politically correct.

I was 4 in 1973 so I don't remember it but does anyone else know whether or not they allowed it back then or bleeped it back then as well?

Match Game 73 sure let Dick Gautier say "fag" on air in 1973 but that episode has been pulled from syndication because of protests from GL groups.

Interesting.

[–] GMJames 15 years ago

The dubbing of curse words from late 60s and early 70s television series is not unusual. I noticed some lines were re-dubbed on early "All in the Family" episodes and "The Bold Ones" segments when the words "G__d Damn It!" was uttered by characters.

In the case of "Barnaby Jones," I suspect that there were more than a few complaints by viewers after the show's initial broadcast. It would not surprise me if the the 'N' word was bleeped out before the episode's repeat broadcast in late spring or early summer of 1973.

[–] isisdawonder 15 years ago

I'm thinking it was bleeped out because the guy was white. Had it been a black kid that said it it MIGHT have been left in. I know when I watch old eps of the Jeffersons and Sanford and Son,both George Jefferson and Fred Sanford were known to say the N word. But as the years went on, neither character said the word so I guess that's when the networks became more PC about it.

ISIS

“Success is nothing without someone you love to share it with” –Brian to Tracy in Mahogany

[–] vestdennis 11 years ago

Yes Red Foxx as Fred Sanford say it a few times. Aunt Esther used it too. Back before TV became so freaking PC.

[–] KirkkitschBlog 15 years ago

I'm betting that it was bleeped POST DVD release, which is ridiculous. If Saturday Night Live was saying it in 1975, I'm sure other television shows had been too. Sad how incredibly fragile people's psyches have become these days.

[–] shlubby_has_taste 13 years ago

It certainly was bleeped after the original airing, possibly for the DVD release. I'm watching it as I type. Very odd that something would be bleeped on a DVD. That's a first. When I heard it, I had to play it back just to see if I was nuts.

Also odd that the original would use such an offensive term, even in the 70's.

I watch alotta TV...but that doesn't mean I don't have a job.

[–] elvimark01 9 years ago

In a 1978 episode of Hawaii Five-O where Danno had to pose as a racist to join a white supremacist group, he called s black guy the N word. It's in the syndicated version of this episode, which was one of many Five-O episodes withheld from syndication for some time.

[–] sage2112 9 years ago

It was not bleeped in the original airing. I find it strange that they bleep it, and not do something a little less obvious, like overdub the dialog with a different phrase.