What's inappropriate for TV?

CNBC - Debates about television sex, violence and censorship have flared in recent days.

Thousands of Americans complained to the Federal Communications Commission about the decision by some ABC affiliates to broadcast ''Saving Private Ryan'' on Veteran’s Day, with most citing the 1998 film’s graphic violence and language.

ABC characterized the film as a tribute to the sacrifice and valor of Americans engaged in service to their country. The network said it was obligated to air the entire Steven Spielberg film without censorship under its licensing agreement with the film's studio.

ABC was in hot water again this week for its attempt to use "Monday Night Football" and its hit “Desperate Housewives" to hype each other in a sexy promo before Monday's game between the Eagles and the Cowboys.

The spot featured "Housewives" star Nicollette Sheridan, clad in only a towel, trying to seduce Eagles star Terrell Owens. He resists, until she drops the towel. He says, "Ah hell, the team's going to have to win this one without me" and they embrace.

In an interview with CNBC's Alan Murray this morning, FCC Chairman Michael Powell said he's not yet sure whether the MNF promo violates decency laws. Regardless of the legality, "it was sort of very disappointing," Powell said. "I wonder if Walt Disney (Disney owns ABC) would be proud."

Powell went on, "It would seem to me that, while we get a lot of broadcasting companies complaining about indecency enforcement, they seem to be willing to keep the issue at the forefront, keep it hot and steamy, in order to get financial gain from the free advertising it provides. And I think companies have to make that decision for themselves."

Hanks May Star in 'Da Vinci Code' Film

LOS ANGELES(AP) Will Tom Hanks crack "The Da Vinci Code"? Director Ron Howard and producer Brian Grazer, the team behind "A Beautiful Mind" and "Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas," said in Newsweek that they wanted the "Saving Private Ryan" star because of the cerebral nature of Dan Brown's best-selling novel.

"Tom is an exciting actor to watch thinking," Howard told the magazine. "We probably don't need his status from a box-office standpoint, but he gives Langdon instant legitimacy."

Hanks would play Robert Langdon, a Harvard symbologist who is in a life-or-death race with a secret society to uncover the secrets of the Holy Grail hidden in the works of Leonardo Da Vinci.

The actor's representatives said he is in negotiations to play the part.

Hanks previously worked with Howard and Grazer on the movies "Splash" (1984) and "Apollo 13" (1995).

Halo 2 reports record $125 million in sales on first day of launch

Don't believe me?

The 4400 fans, the USA Network has ordered a second season.

USA Network has ordered a second season of "The 4400", which holds the record for the highest-rated series debut in basic cable history.

Production on 13 episodes will begin in February in Vancouver, B.C., hopefully to be aired in the US in June. Most of the original cast is expected to return.

If you missed the first season you can get "The 4400" Season 1 on DVD.

"Six Feet Under" will end its run after its upcoming fifth season.

NEW YORK(AP) "Six Feet Under" the quirky HBO series about a Southern California family that runs a funeral parlor, will end its run after its upcoming fifth season.

Alan Ball, creator and executive producer of the ensemble drama starring Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Frances Conroy and Rachel Griffiths, says he feels the show has run its course.

"Working on `Six Feet Under' has been enormously fulfilling creatively, but if the show is about anything, it's about the fact that everything comes to an end," Ball said in a statement.

Production on the final season is set to begin next week. HBO confirmed Monday it would be the show's last season, but hasn't said when it will air.
"I will miss working with such enormously talented writers, cast, staff and crew and I'll always be grateful to HBO for allowing and encouraging us to tell the story we set out to tell in a challenging and uncompromising way," Ball said.

Got a growth removed and...

On Sept. 3rd I had surgery to get a growth removed from my back. It had been there since Jan. 2002, but the surgeon I went to told me it was nothing and if it started to get irritated, we'd get it removed. Well it got bigger and a little irritated so I had it removed finally. A few days later I get a call saying that it was a tumor and it was cancer. Well, I was pissed to say the least. Soon thereafter I went to an oncologist and he told me we would have to go in again and get the surrounding muscle removed. I had that done by the only doctor in the Midwest who specializes in this type of surgery on Oct. 12th. This being the third time I had to get this opened, being looked at or removed. Well on Oct. 26th he told me that everything went well and he got all of the remaining tissue and muscle from around the removed tumor. I went to my regular Oncologist today and he says this is great news. Now I'm just waiting for one more thing. He is going to send all of the tests and results (i.e. pathology reports, catscans, petscans, blood work-up, etc.) to the North Kansas City Cancer Conference. He said this is weekly thing where the top oncologists, pathologists, and other cancer related doctors look at my finding and see if I am going to need chemotherapy or any other type of treatments. So, knock on wood and a lot of prayer, everything looks like it's getting better. I should know where we go from here on Nov. 24th.