scared of sex (and the city)?

It seems that Comcast took my statement that no one reads the blog on Saturday or Sunday a little too seriously; we were without internet service all day yesterday. It is funny though, because we actually went to the park, walked around, ran errands, and stuff like that. Usually, it would have taken us forever to get motivated, and we would have just sat there forever… maybe it was a blessing in disguise. But, the side effect was no blogging. But enough about that…

Lately, and since there really is nothing of substance on TV to watch anymore, James and I find ourselves channel surfing at night, and as of late, have ended up more than one night watching Will and Grace followed by Sex and the City on TBS or the WB. While I generally enjoy both of those shows, I must say that the eternal analytical anthropologist in me has taken notice of at least one major flaw in our new nightly programming; someone took the sex out of Sex and the City.

Now, I guess the reason why it was so noticeable to me, was because I actually did see the show when it was on HBO, and I know that, as the name suggests, it is pretty much all about, or leads to, one of the characters trying to have, engaging in, or reflecting on sex. While I think that sex is a worthwhile topic and does have a place on TV, especially in a country that seems to more afraid of sex now, than those back in the Dark Ages; I would like to know why we even put it on TV at all, if we are going to censor the hell out of it? Seriously, the network TV version of the show is so censored, that it isn’t even the same show anymore. We have taken the sex and sexuality right out of the show; and, like I said before, isn’t that what the name suggests that the show is all about (and rightfully so)?

Now, I understand that you can’t have Samantha fucking on TBS. That’s fine with me (although, why not?). But, if that is the case, then WHY show the program on TBS in the first place? If you are going to remove one of the core elements of the program (i.e., sex), then why put it on? I think that if you are going to show a program like Sex and the City, you take some responsibility in providing the viewers an adequate and acceptable version of that program to watch; otherwise, you are definitely practicing censorship. Since this country, and, let’s face it, the “religious right” (who would do just about anything to prevent children from learning how to have a healthy sexual development and future sex life) do not want to admit that people are having sex, and GOD FORBID enjoying it; why are programs like this even shown on network TV? Why not just leave it to the pay channels? If it is THAT risqué, why bother? I for one think that if you are going to hack up something as well done as Sex and the City, just for the purpose of pleasing these people that are terrified at the thought of seeing a little nipple or, gasp, witnessing a woman being sexually liberated; you are not only doing a disservice to the program, but you are also doing a disservice to the viewers… all of them. It is insulting to treat people like children; for the sake of bending at the will of groups of people like “mothers against all sex and sexuality on TV”, as an example. After all, the show comes on after 10, which is plenty of time to get the kids in the bed, if you should want to prevent them from seeing it. Also, there is the parental control feature on every TV with cable these days, where you can even block out this program if you want to. And, probably my favorite suggestion to people that don’t want to see stuff like that on TV; you see that little button on the remote and the corresponding one on the front of the TV that says “power” beneath it? Hit that, and you won’t have to see it any more.

So, after this Monday morning rant, I pose my question: If we are so afraid of seeing a little nipple, or are worried about the sexual content of network programming, why even put a show like Sex and the City on network TV? And, more importantly, if you, as a network, take on the responsibility and stance that you will air such a program, why must you hack it up and totally destroy any semblance the show had to when it originally aired? Doing so is a travesty to the program and all of the people that ever enjoyed it. Also, does anyone else think that this may have at least a little something to do with the fact that, the topic of the show focuses on sexually liberated and happy women working through the ends and outs of sex, love, and everything else (while I do know that this show is no where near perfect, I do applaud the fact that it does show women in at least some control over their sexual being; that, to me, in this country, is pretty groundbreaking)? I’m just curious… Now, the ubiquitous: what do you think?

With this all out on the table, I bet you are wondering, “why are you still watching this edited, watered down version of the show; if you hate it so much?”, the answer, is that I do really like the show, and I did see it the first time around, so I can kind of piece together the parts that are missing (which is probably why I notice so much in the first place). Also, I unfortunately have nothing else to watch. Hurry up Netflix!!! Get me my new movies, and save me from the censored, “sexually terrified” nights we spend clinging to TBS/the WB; it has to stop!