Why TNT Can Air The Pitt Without Censoring The Show's Nudity, Swearing, And Graphic Content

"The Pitt" is bringing blood, nudity and bad language to basic cable — but how can they get away with that?

Season 1 of the Emmy-winning HBO Max medical drama starring Noah Wyle is getting a second airing on TNT, beginning Monday, Dec. 1 at 9/8c with the first three episodes. (Three episodes will then air each Monday through Dec. 29.) And if you didn't catch it the first time on streaming, you won't miss a thing: TNT will air "The Pitt" exactly as it aired on HBO Max, uncut and uncensored, with all of the "graphic medical imagery, including nudity" intact. 

TNT says that the graphic content is "integral to the show's portrayal of the raw emotional toll that such work has on those who commit their lives to the medical profession." The network also plans to add content advisories at the beginning of each episode and coming out of commercial breaks. 

But nudity and F-bombs are still typically the domain of pay cable and streaming on TV. So how, exactly, does a basic cable network like TNT avoid the wrath of the FCC while airing "The Pitt" without any edits?  

We know that the FCC can ding broadcast networks for violating community standards surrounding bad language, violence and nudity. But cable networks like TNT are technically not subject to the same restrictions since they are subscription services, according to the FCC's own website. Cable networks are free to air what's considered "indecent" and "profane" content, meaning sexual content or language, since they aren't broadcast over publicly accessible airwaves like broadcast TV is. ("Obscene" content, though, referring to egregiously offensive imagery like pornography, is still prohibited.)   

So TNT can air "The Pitt" as is without fear of punishment from the federal government. And in fact, cable networks like FX and AMC have dipped their toes into airing nudity and the F-word in recent years without any pushback. "The Pitt," though, might be the most bloody show ever to air on basic cable; its unsparing portrayal of life in a hospital emergency room includes many scenes not for the squeamish, including a gruesome eye surgery that ended up on our list of the year's most shocking TV scenes. (As for nudity, several bare breasts and buttocks are glimpsed during medical procedures.)

We're glad that TNT is airing "The Pitt" uncut, actually, because it's hands down one of the best TV shows of the year. "ER" veteran Noah Wyle stars as Michael Robinavitch (aka Dr. Robby), the head of the emergency department at a Pittsburgh hospital. The 15-episode first season takes place in real time (à la "24"), with each episode covering one hour of an all-day shift.

Emmy voters voiced their approval earlier this year, handing "The Pitt" a total of five awards, including best drama series, best lead actor in a drama for Wyle and best supporting actress in a drama for Katherine LaNasa as charge nurse Dana Evans. The cast also includes Tracy Ifeachor as Dr. Heather Collins, Patrick Ball as Dr. Frank Langdon, Supriya Ganesh as Dr. Samira Mohan, Fiona Dourif as Dr. Cassie McKay, Taylor Dearden as Dr. Melissa "Mel" King, Isa Briones as Dr. Trinity Santos, Gerran Howell as med student Dennis Whitaker and Shabana Azeez as fellow med student Victoria Javadi.

The TNT re-airing will help get fans ready for Season 2 as well: "The Pitt" returns for its sophomore run on HBO Max in January.