FCC Launches Probe Into MÖTLEY CRÜE Profanity Slip

According to the Associated Press, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has received complaints about MÖTLEY CRÜE's appearance on the New Year's Eve "The Tonight Show" and is beginning a preliminary probe, a spokeswoman said Tuesday. But it's likely little will come of it.

MÖTLEY CRÜE was performing on the NBC show shortly after midnight when the band's lead singer, Vince Neil, turned to drummer Tommy Lee and said, "Happy fucking New Year, Tommy!"

It was an off-the-cuff remark and not done intentionally to test broadcast rules, said a spokeswoman for the band who asked not to be identified. Neither MÖTLEY CRÜE nor NBC had any other comment Tuesday.

Jay Leno normally tapes the "Tonight" show, but did a live version for the East Coast on New Year's Eve. Neil's remark was excised when the show was seen in other time slots.

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

The FCC, in a March ruling issued after receiving hundreds of complaints about Bono, said the word should not be used on over-the-air radio or television programs when it's likely children will be listening. But the Bono ruling did not apply to the hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., generally considered a "safe harbor" for rougher language. The commission said in its ruling that it would take complaints about language in those hours on a case by case basis.

Networks have been more cautious about material they air after singer Janet Jackson's Super Bowl performance last year.

Jackson was near the end of a Feb. 1 halftime duet with Justin Timberlake when Timberlake snatched off part of her bustier on stage, revealing one of her breasts, which was covered with only a sun-shaped "nipple shield." Those involved blamed the exposure on a "wardrobe malfunction."