Despite that, the “Sponge” had also recently brought disdain upon his employer through Federal Communications Commission scrutiny over some sexually explicit conversation and content that previously aired on his former program and the several stations that carried it.
Over the past year-and-a-half, beginning with the now infamous “Opie And Anthony” sex in St. Patrick’s cathedral stunt that got them taken off-the-air, the mood of the F.C.C., legislators, and some of the public has been moving into the conservative corner.
Other exterior incidents like Bono saying the “F” word on TV, (which only got a hand slap from the F.C.C. causing wrath from some lawmakers) and the recent Janet Jackson Superbowl breast display have only worked to exacerbate the debate about indecency on both Radio and TV.
Recently, Infinity Broadcasting’s Mel Karmazin found himself on Capitol Hill getting pummeled by legislators over the indecency/obscenity issue. Soon afterwards, he issued an edict to performers at 185 Infinity radio stations including Howard Stern’s flagship station in New York. In short he said, "If in doubt, bleep it out."
You can be sure, plenty of similar memos have no doubt been circulating through every broadcast company in the country.
