What happened to freedom of speech on television?

Look st television shows from the 1970s and earlier.

Shows like All In The Family, The Jefferson's, Good Times

They used words like honky, colored, black, whitey, spick, beaner, wetback and so on. The audience didn't get offended, instead gave these shows awards.

But if they try to put a television show like them on today. They would be attack like a Donald Trump or Joe Biden.

We live in authoritarian times

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Bumbles · 51-55, M

If Archie Bunker were real he would have used the N word. They don’t have the character say it. Censorship?

2cool4school · 46-50, F

@Bumbles hmm I’d say that satire doesn’t need to be letter by letter accurate in order to get the point across. But that’s just my opinion and nothing more.

Bumbles · 51-55, M

@2cool4school I generally agree. I heard this argument during a reassessment of All in the Family, and thought it was rather…provocative.

ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M

@Bumbles Archie DID use the "n" word at times, as did George Jefferson, among others on the shows back then. The thing I find most interesting about Archie is that, over the years the character was on TV he slowly overcame his prejudices, more and more seeing people as people despite his upbringing.

Bumbles · 51-55, M

@ChipmunkErnie Can you tell which episode? I can’t find it/recall it.

I found this from “Lionel’s Wedding”

Listen to her, Louise,” George says of Helen, who is especially vocal. “That’s what happens when you mix black and white.

“Ten more seconds and he’s going to call her n----r!”

In one of the most memorable lines in the history of the show, Archie, who seems as genuinely surprised as viewers were at home to hear George use the word, turns to Edith. “Listen to that!” he says. “I ain’t used that woid in three years!”