FCC Probes Rocker's F-Word Use

A profanity slip has gotten the attention of the Federal Communications Commission.

The agency is launching an investigation into the live broadcast of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on New Year's Eve. That's when Motley Crue rocker Vince Neil dropped the F-word while wishing bandmate Tommy Lee a Happy New Year.
"Happy ——ing New Year, Tommy!" Neil said to Tommy Lee shortly after midnight.

The FCC said it has received complaints, but NBC reports it had heard none by Monday.

"The network has not received any calls regarding the incident," an NBC official, who asked not be identified.

A spokeswoman for the band says it was an off-the-cuff remark and not done intentionally.

The remark was heard by viewers in the East but was edited out before a taped version of the show aired on the West Coast.

Leno normally tapes his show for broadcast later in the evening but does a live version for New Year's Eve. He had never a problem with profanities before, although the word has slipped out from time to time on other programs.

U2 lead singer Bono used the F-word at last year's Golden Globe Awards, which was also broadcast live by NBC. The network has said it will put this year's broadcast on a 10-second delay.

The Federal Communications Commission, in a ruling issued last March, said the word should never be used on over-the-air radio or television programs. FCC officials said at the time they had received hundreds of complaints from Golden Globes viewers.