Nude Developments at PBS? You'll Have to Stay Tuned

"It's very --" she starts to respond.

"You personally," the critic interrupts.

"It's powerful. His entire performance is quite powerful," Kerger says.

* * *

Having sharpened their teeth on Kerger, the critics roam around in a pack until they come upon Lois Vossen, the series producer of "Independent Lens," talking about that franchise's upcoming broadcast of Brett Morgen's 2007 docu-flick "Chicago 10."

The film, which opened last year's Sundance Film Festival, uses animation to reenact the trial of eight leaders of the antiwar demonstrations that disrupted the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. (The "Chicago 10" is a reference to the eight protesters and their two lawyers.)

"Before you step off [the stage], Lois, one question for you. I see that the premiere of this film is at 9 p.m.," one critic asks ominously.

"Yes," Vossen says.

"How?" the critic wondered.

But Vossen, unlike Kerger, does not fold:

"Because PBS agreed that this was a really important film with a really important story to tell, extraordinarily timely. And so with the great support of PBS . . . we are putting it on at 9 p.m. We know we will have to bleep out some words that are not allowed by the FCC, but that's how," she says, fiercely.

Surprisingly, one brave critic wonders whether another, un-bleeped version would be provided for PBS stations opting to air the program one hour later when, according to the quaint laws of our land, broadcast TV stations can air programs with more adult language and nude Shakespeare without fear of being smashed financially by the wrath of the Federal Communications Commission.

"We haven't worked that out because, usually, PBS just offers one version," Vossen replies. "Right now, our plan is to have a version that stations can use anytime, specifically at 9 p.m. for the premiere."

Too bad.