Over the weekend, Amy Schumer and the writers/producers of Inside Amy Schumer sat down for a Paley Center panel all about the show, and it turns out we have them to thank for finally reaching true gender equality on Comedy Central. Prior to the second season of Schumer’s show, the network bleeped the word “pussy” but often allowed the word “dick” to air uncensored – a policy that struck the writers and executive producer Dan Powell as unfair. From Vulture’s recap:
“Dan decided that it wasn’t fair that they bleep the word ‘pussy,’” said Amy Schumer. “Because you are allowed to say the word ‘dick’ on Comedy Central,” added Klein. At the time, Comedy Central’s standards arm would okay certain anatomical references like “dick” if they weren’t used in reference to sex, but Powell cried gender inequality.”Halfway through the first season, we started to realize that a lot of the show was addressing women’s issues and gender politics,” said Powell. “I’d written a letter sort of like write I’d write to my congressman, and I guess it struck a chord.” A conference call with network higher-ups soon followed, and the network assented. “That was Dan’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” said Schumer.
Check out the season 2 sketch “Acting Off-Camera” below, in which Schumer gets the honor of saying “pussy” freely on Comedy Central for the first time in history. It’s official: Inside Amy Schumer is changing the world.
