Last week, Fox Television executives ordered a 5-year-old episode of the popular cartoon “The Family Guy” be edited due to content, according to a CNN.com article.

The content in question: a shot of character Peter Griffin’s bare, animated backside.

Fox execs cited nervousness over the Federal Communication Commission’s recently stringent prosecution of questionable material as their reason to order the scene pixilated, although the episode aired unaltered on the station a half-decade ago.

What was once considered merely risqu‚ in the world of TV entertainment is now grounds for hundreds of dollars in fines. Dennis Franz’s naked posterior was shown numerous times on “NYPD Blue” in years past. But, that all changed after last year’s Super Bowl.

On post-Janet Jackson “Nipplegate” airwaves, network TV stations have no guidelines as to what they can and cannot show without fearing the wrath of the FCC.

While Fox execs saw Griffin’s animated buttocks as risky, they include television shows such as “The Littlest Groom” in their programming, which are of both questionable ethics and quality, as do the other network stations.

With clear-cut guides for network television, the FCC would be able to effectively regulate without making stations go to extremes as Fox did by blurring the butt.

If such clear-cut guidelines are not put into place, audiences will look elsewhere for TV entertainment. Cable channels, by providing the viewer with the choice whether to subscribe or not, are awarded ample freedom. Since most people do not deem a cartoon rear obscene, they will turn to cable for unedited entertainment.

Similarly, fans of Howard Stern are now turning to satellite radio after his show’s FCC fines proved too much for Clear Channel Radio.

The FCC is out of control with its inconsistent and unreasonable regulation of the airwaves. One accidentally exposed nipple is not grounds for the federal agency’s autocratic rule over entertainment.