There is a marvelous article on CNN about the origins of the word "Frak", the replacement curse word used heavily in the series Battlestar Galactica. It seems that the word was invented in the original 70's version of the show by creator Glen A. Larson but it was seldom used.It got me thinking about other replacement profanities used by scripted television to replace the normal curse words that the FCC bans from televised broadcasts. We have previously posted about made-up words on television (including the profanities "Smeg" from Red Dwarf and "Frell" from Farscape), but I have a few to add to that list:
- "Frak" from Battlestar Galactica. This expletive is the hot one at the moment. It was even referenced in the comments of the previous posts. It currently appears so many t-shirts and BSG paraphernalia that Larson should demand an extra cut.
- "Shazbot" - Mork and Mindy. I admit I was young and naive. I didn't actually realize until much later the four-letter expletive that "Shazbot" was supposed to replace.
- "Assmaster" - South Park. Trying to name a single or favorite profanity in South Park is like trying to draw a picture of your favorite snowflake. They make up so many of their own profane variations that the show could have a dictionary all its own. I just picked one at random.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
9-02-2008 @ 7:13PM
Scott K said...
I really can't stand frak. I cringe every time someone on the show says it. It has deflated the intensity and drama of countless otherwise great scenes on the show.
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9-02-2008 @ 7:29PM
Cyantre said...
How about "gorram" from Firefly?
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9-03-2008 @ 10:29AM
TVGenius said...
That was the first thing that came to my mind, not to mention all the other Chinese/Chineseqsue things they use.
9-02-2008 @ 7:39PM
Adam said...
First one that springs to my mind is "gorram" from Firefly.
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9-02-2008 @ 7:49PM
jackhandy said...
Blerg!
(need I say more?)
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9-02-2008 @ 8:14PM
pumpkinhead said...
I know it's a fargin movie and not a TV show, but I don't want any guff from you cork-soaking iceholes if I mention the many great contributions made to our language by that somanumbatching bastage, Roman Moroni.
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9-02-2008 @ 8:38PM
LC said...
I hate just about every made up swear words with the exception of Johnny Dangerously. That was the only acceptable instance.
9-03-2008 @ 2:49PM
CCKIDD said...
Can you believe fargin cork-soaking iceholes gets censored when Johnny Dangerously is on TV! One time I watched it they censored everything Maronni said, but when Johnny's brother said tits it wasn't censored. That really cracked me up and made me think "they must have let that one slip by!".
9-02-2008 @ 8:15PM
ac said...
How about Liz Lemon's use of the word "Blurg!" in use of profanity on 30 Rock?
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9-02-2008 @ 8:18PM
Steve the First said...
"Smeg" from "Red Dwarf".
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9-02-2008 @ 9:15PM
Jen said...
You know, I always thought smeg was short for smegma.
9-02-2008 @ 8:26PM
bsgfan2003 said...
This is from a commercial, but I laugh every time I hear it.
"What the french, toast!"
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9-02-2008 @ 8:29PM
Vincent J. Murphy said...
In the case of smeg, the word at least feels original and not as a complete replacement for "sh*t." The problem with "frak" is that they began using it as a literal replacement for "f*ck" and it just doesn't work when Starbuck is saying how she wants to "frak."
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9-02-2008 @ 8:33PM
Kien said...
Frell!
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9-02-2008 @ 8:38PM
Bill said...
Krunk, Noi Jitat, and Jungolungo, or however that's spelled, are the three I thought of. Strangely, that list had Noi Jitat but not Jungo Lungo, which were both from Pirates of Dark Water.
There's a nice list here:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/UnusualEuphemism
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9-02-2008 @ 8:38PM
Rocketboy said...
I've always been a fan of Conan O'Brian's use of Krunk way back when...
"The Giants win the Krunkin Pennant! The Giants win the Krunkin Pennant!"
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9-02-2008 @ 8:40PM
jaerisk said...
what the frell??!! no Farscape??!! for shame tvsquad
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9-02-2008 @ 9:13PM
Jack said...
Shame on you for not reading the article,
"We have previously posted about made-up words on television (including the profanities "Smeg" from Red Dwarf and "Frell" from Farscape), but I have a few to add to that list:"
9-02-2008 @ 8:52PM
John Howard said...
What about smurf? You know they were cussing some of those times.
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9-02-2008 @ 9:17PM
Meghan said...
It may not be television related, but my favorite made up curse word is "Belgium" from the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
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