FX series The People v. O.J. Simpson is guilty — guilty! — of using a rather bad swear word during Tuesday night’s episode, one that had viewers wondering if this was the first time the curse had ever been said on basic cable. 
 
 At the end of the third episode of the acclaimed American Crime Story miniseries, which airs at 10 p.m., prosecutor Marcia Clark (Sarah Paulson) realizes famed attorney Johnnie Cochran (Courtney Vance) had joined Simpson’s (Cuba Gooding Jr.) defense team. “Cochran … motherf—er,” she says with exasperation. 
 
 By uttering that 12-letter word, it seemed to some viewers that a non-premium network finally said the last of late comic Geoge Carlin’s famous list of Seven Dirty Words You Can Never Say on TV. Twitter, naturally, lit up. 
 
 Well I guess you can say "mother f***er " on FX #ThePeopleVsOJSimpson #history — Tim Stack (@EWTimStack) February 17, 2016 
 
 Whoa! Just finished watching the new episode of The People vs OJ Simpson on FX and I guess they can say motherfucker on cable tv now! 😂😂 — Steve Graham (@Skankhunt42222) February 17, 2016 
 
 Did… did The People v OJ Simpson just break the basic cable "motherfucker" barrier? — blahmanda (@blahmanda) February 17, 2016 
 
 The People vs OJ Simpson has been fantastic so far & really creepy &paints a picture but most surprisingly, you can say motherfucker on FX? — John M. (@Mohn_Jichael) February 17, 2016 
 
 Unlike the Big 5 broadcast networks (NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, The CW) — which are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission and are required to follow certain decency guidelines — basic cable networks can essentially air whatever they want. In other words, networks like MTV, TNT, AMC, FX, and Discovery Channel are not actually prohibited from airing HBO-levels of sex, language, and violence, but chose to generally aim for PG to PG-13-level content. Basic cable nets have a set of internal guidelines in an effort to stay on brand, attract a broad audience and to create an advertiser-friendly environment. FX in general (and American Crime Story executive producer Ryan Murphy in particular) have pushed the basic cable envelope for years, though both declined to comment on this one. 
 
 So was this really the first time “motherf—er” has ever been said uncensored on basic cable? 
 
 No. Comedy Central has aired the word in its uncensored comedy specials — but only after 1 a.m. (muting the word when its specials run earlier). This might be, however, the first time the word has ever been used in primetime, especially in a scripted drama. FX has used the word “f–k” a few times before, but not “motherf–ker.” 
 
 Still, there’s arguably an even worse hot-button word being repeatedly uttered on People v. O.J. Simpson. And it’s a word that had Twitter users far more upset last night: “Kardashian.” 
 
 The People v. O.J. Simpson airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on FX. 

 I tweet about what I'm watching on TV & my own insecurities. Some are jokes & some are real & some are both. 

 Viewers were caught more than a little off-guard Tuesday night when the last episode of "American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson" featured the use a very dirty word -- not that the network will get into any trouble for it. 
 
 Toward the end of the miniseries' latest episode, prosecutor Marcia Clark (played by Sarah Paulson) vents her frustration with the phrase, "Cochran ... motherf***er." The utterance immediately drew reactions from fans and critics alike online. 
 
 "Did... did The People v OJ Simpson just break the basic cable 'motherf***er' barrier?" one fan tweeted, while another wrote, "The People vs OJ Simpson has been fantastic so far & really creepy &paints a picture but most surprisingly, you can say motherf***er on FX?" 
 
 Well I guess you can say "mother f***er " on FX #ThePeopleVsOJSimpson #history — Tim Stack (@EWTimStack) February 17, 2016 
 
 But here's the thing: The FX Network was not breaking any FCC regulations with the show's use of profanity. Unlike broadcast networks CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox and the CW, basic cable networks aren't required to follow FCC decency guidelines that prohibit the use of certain curse words, violence and sexual content. Instead, cable channels have generally chosen to self-regulate their content to appease advertisers and viewers. 
 
 The "American Crime Story" instance does quite possibly mark the first time the word has been used in prime-time, though other channels like Comedy Central have occasionally chosen not to bleep out or mute the F-word in broadcasts late at night.
– Is it the end of decency as we know it or just good television? "Cochran … motherfucker," Sarah Paulson's Marcia Clark said during Tuesday's episode of American Crime Story: The People v. OJ Simpson. With the utterance of those two words, FX caused hordes of viewers—those who weren't too busy clutching their pearls, anyway—to take to social media, CBS News reports. "Did … did The People v OJ Simpson just break the basic cable 'motherfucker' barrier?" one viewer tweeted. We'll come back to that question. First, yes, FX is allowed to say motherfucker. It can also show Game of Thrones-levels of violence and nudity, if it wants. That's because the FCC only regulates broadcast networks. According to Entertainment Weekly, the only thing keeping basic cable channels PG-13 is a desire to keep viewers, placate advertisers, and "stay on brand." As for whether or not FX just became a motherfucker pioneer—the Neil Armstrong of basic cable cursing, if you will—the short answer is no. Comedy Central has been known to air the word in stand-up specials, though only after 1am. However, it's entirely possible The People v. OJ Simpson was the first scripted show to use the word in primetime. It's a brave new world, TV viewers.