Fight over TV indecency is on high court's doorstep
Case tests FCC's attempt to limit expletives
By Joan Biskupic
USA TODAY

The dirty words that started the ruckus were fleeting, but their consequences for television have been long-lasting.

At the December 2002 Billboard Music Awards, Cher waved her "Lifetime Achievement" trophy and said, "People have been telling me I'm on the way out every year, right? So (expletive) 'em." At the Golden Globes the next month, U2 lead singer Bono accepted an award by saying, "This is really, really (expletive) brilliant." At another Billboard Awards in 2003, TV star Nicole Richie used expletives as she joked about removing cow manure from a purse. the rest