McCaskeys Succeed at Keeping Hard Knocks 'G-Rated'
![Hard Knocks has cleaned up this show's language at the request of the McCaskey family, according to CHGO sports. Hard Knocks has cleaned up this show's language at the request of the McCaskey family, according to CHGO sports.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3499,h_1968,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/voltaxMediaLibrary/mmsport/bear_digest/01j5xtna4fr044s7tynq.jpg)
One of the attractions about HBO in its early days was the ability to watch programming unedited for television, with cursing, sex and graphic violence included.
Over the course of time, other cable networks and programming, and streaming, some of this novelty wore off. But it's still largely true.
The Bears have apparently been able to clean it all up.
According to a report by Adam Hoge of CHGO, HBO's Hard Knocks has been cleaned up to not use profanity at the request of the McCaskey ownership family.
"I'll be honest, this team curses much less than any other team I've been around, but it is out of respect for the McCaskey family," Hard Knocks director Shannon Furman told Hoge. "It's something that they don't do and wouldn't want to see it, so it's kind of a decision that was made out of respect for them letting us in their house and wanting to be respectful to them."
Hard Knocks director Shannon Furman confirms to @CHGO_Bears that the lack of profanity this season "is out of respect for the McCaskey family."
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) August 21, 2024
More here: https://t.co/AUWbJ1UnpC
Considering how long the Bears and McCaskeys wanted to avoid the show, it's a good move by HBO and what's wrong with a little decency for a change?
"People in the Midwest are just really nice," Furman told CHGO. "Different audience than the New York audience we had last year."
BACKUP QBS COMMAND SPOTLIGHT AGAINST CHIEFS BUT WILL BEARS KEEP THREE?
BEARS AND CHIEFS: TV, RADIO AND BETTING INFORMATION
NOW IT'S MATT EBERFLUS' DEFENSIVE SCHEME GETTING THE MAKEOVER
Whether there is less cursing with the Bears than other teams is a matter of opinion, although there have certainly been teams they had in the past that definitely were more foul-mouthed.
If they have more people considerate enough to clean up the programming, maybe they won't need TV-MA in the future.
The first Bears episode was the second-most watched premere, and Forman called it "shocking," considering they went up against the Olympics and that the ratings generally are not as good since the streaming era started.
Austin Reed's rookie performance for the team 🤣(Via: Hard Knocks) #Austinreed #bears pic.twitter.com/15ChDCclSe
— Tanner Phifer (@TannerPhiferNF) August 21, 2024
Forman said it showed her how passionate Bears fans are.
"I knew they were but that really kind of hammered it home," she told CHGO.
The fourth episode of the five-episode season airs on Tuesday night after the third one might have been the best overall of the three to have been aired.
Long live Crash the ferret.
— Sports on Max (@SportsonMax) August 22, 2024
Stream the HBO Original Documentary Series #HardKnocks Training Camp with the Chicago Bears Tuesdays at 9pm ET on @streamonmax. #ChicagoBears #VelusJones #MichaelPittman #NFL pic.twitter.com/RJxOgNKQbg
The show's behind-the-scenes look at Ryan Poles' attempt to trade for Matthew Judon provided real clarity on the situation beyond some of the sketchy reports that came out earlier claiming the former Patriots edge rusher didn't want to go to Chicago and wanted to go to Atlanta. Poles made it clear he wasn't finalizing a trade if they couldn't get the extension done because he didn't want a holdout possibility.
Also of interest in the third episode was the Caleb Williams meeting with Matt Eberflus, excellent footage from the rainy practice with the Bengals and how Williams couldn't hear plays being sent in during Saturday's game with Cincinnati because the helmet mic went out ... once again.
Twitter: BearsOnSI