MovieChat Forums > The Partridge Family (1970) Discussion > WoW! How'd That Get By The Censor?

WoW! How'd That Get By The Censor?

posted 9 years ago by sookietex
26 replies | jump to latest

i think all fans of The Partridge Family can agree that it is a wholesome family show but i was watching 2 Eps "The Diplomat" & "Heartbreak Keith" that have dialogue that made me giggle & think 'wow! how'd that get by the censor?'.

On The Diplomat episode the kids are concerned about their mom going on a date with a diplomat who's perceived by the press [and the kids] as a playboy. Shirley reassures them that she & the diplo [played by Richard Mulligan] met once, years ago at a political rally, and she shook his hand when they were introduced---nothing more. Keith responds with the line "Mom, a guy doesn't ask a girl out just because she has a firm grip."
oh no? 

On the "Heartbreak Keith" Ep Keith is in love with his teacher, a slightly older & unbeknownst to him married woman. When Danny discovers Keith's crush he teases him about not having declared his feelings "You don't even have the nerve to ask the girl out for a taco"

i'll let you know if i stumble across any more great Partridge Family double entendres.

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[–] pd3145 9 years ago

I can see why the first one is risqué but what's wrong with the second one?

[–] hack-stone 9 years ago

You don't get out much, do you? Have you ever heard of a bearded taco?

[–] janet-conant 9 years ago

Both are very tame. I watched this lousy show when it aired and still don't see the problem with the lines. Remember it was 1973.

[–] hka-3 9 years ago

It can be hilariously uncomfortable to hear or see some things in classic TV shows and films. They had no idea those things would be perceived so differently in the future.

Speaking of tacos, a Nickelodeon teen show did a spoof of The Breakfast Club and for some crazy reason since they couldn't say the word "sex" they thought the word "taco" would be better, which IMHO was dirtier.

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[–] BigWhiskers 9 years ago

Whats wrong with those lines?.
Neither one is particularly offensive.
And taco the way the OP is referring too
Wouldn't have existed slangwise for many years.
And you wouldn't have said ask a girl out for a taco.
The girls puss is the taco , so you'd say I'd like to dine in for a taco

[–] lmcsrbfl 9 years ago

Neither lines should not be censored!

[–] sjmills1 9 years ago

Only an idiot would think either of those lines were double entendres.

[–] SnoozeAlarm 8 years ago

>>> Only an idiot would think either of those lines were double entendres.

Amen.

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[–] PrometheusTree64 7 years ago

I've been rewatching Season 2 recently and, yes, there are numerous double entedres, some of which are eyebrow raising (including the "taco" reference) -- and we're not just projecting a modern perversity onto it.

That used to go on all the time. So some lines seems dirty today -- lines which were indeed dirty, but mostly no one noticed then.

It's amazing how many films from the staid 1950s are filthy with double entendres because the censors were too dense to catch most of them, partly because those censors weren't even expecting it.

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[–] Popcorngal (4345) 3 years ago

I recall on an episode of Father Knows Best, Betty was prepping for some date her dad did not approve of, and he told his wife scorn fully " Don't be surprised if you have another mouth to feed". Hinting teenage pregnancy. That show was so squeaky clean, that line surprised me.

[–] crypticanomaly73 8 years ago

Given the era, the first one as far as double entendre's go would have gone over most people's heads and the Taco line, Taco was probably not even a slang term back then for how you are taking it.

Sometimes a movie or tv show plot is so stupid that only the stupid can understand it.

[–] rjrmemorabilia2 8 years ago

You seem to have forgotten that Keith had a taco stand that he regularly went to. That's what being referenced in the line of dialogue.

[–] gcarras 8 years ago

Maybe the censors were getting with it, noting that it was, just uh, a wholesome "family show" (still wondering how Mary Ann got those short shorts
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[–] bobtis 8 years ago

How come Keith was not drafted and sent to Vietnam?

[–] pd3145 8 years ago

On the show, he was in high school through 1974. By then, the war and the draft were over.

[–] ChrisCuda 8 years ago

Keith is in jr college during the 1973-1974 season. I'm watching season 4 ep 6 and they're making a big deal about him going all the way over to the high school just to ask one of Laurie's classmates out.