sexually coarse and vulgar language or conduct that merely offends OK

[papau]

vulgarity was simply part of the creative process :-) Warner Bros. acknowledged that some of the sexually explicit talk took place but said it was vital to the chemistry of the show. The justices noted that Lyle had been warned when she was hired that explicit discussions were part of developing the sexually charged comedy.



http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-friends21apr21,0,5296912.story?track=tottext

From the Los Angeles Times
High Court Dismisses `Friends' Harassment Lawsuit
An assistant on the show had sued because she found the speech of some writers offensive.
By Maura Dolan
Times Staff Writer

April 21, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO — The California Supreme Court threw out a sexual harassment lawsuit against the makers of the hit comedy "Friends" on Thursday, ruling that vulgar and coarse comments by the show's writers reflected the "creative workplace" for a comedy with sexual themes.

In ruling unanimously for Warner Bros. Television Productions, the state high court said the show's writers did not direct their lewd comments at the woman who sued them or at women particularly.

State law "does not outlaw sexually coarse and vulgar language or conduct that merely offends," Justice Marvin R. Baxter wrote for the court.

Baxter said the court based its decision "on the totality of the undisputed circumstances, particularly the fact the 'Friends' production was a creative workplace focused on generating scripts for an adult-oriented comedy show featuring sexual themes."

===============================================================================

As to Amaani Lyle’s charge that the she was the target of the vulgarity, Justice Marvin Baxter wrote, "The record discloses that most of the sexually coarse and vulgar language at issue did not involve and was not aimed at plaintiff or other women in the workplace...(it)..was a creative workplace focused on generating scripts for an adult-oriented comic show featuring sexual themes."





The decision in Lyle versus Warner Brothers Television Productions is at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/documents/S125171.PDF .

[elehhhhna]

1. writing comedy is brutal. not for the faint hearted.

[papau]

2. And then the comic has the wrong timing/expression - and we all go out

for a drink!

When I lived in Manhattan, I had many a conversation on the woes of being creative. But I still envy those that can be creative :-) (nerds like myself are not known for our communication/writing/people skills :-) )

:toast: