When the FCC fined Fox a record one point two million dollars for the stupid reality show “Married by America” last month, it said that it logged a hundred and fifty nine complaints from Americans who were horrified that the show was so sexually suggestive.

The media dutifully reported on the FCC responding to listener complaints, and the religious right crowed about how Americans won’t stand for smut on their TV machines.

It took one lonely journalist, Jeff Jarvis from buzzmachine.com, to file a freedom of information act request asking to see copies of those hundred and fifty nine complaints.

It turns out there weren’t a hundred and fifty nine after all, there were ninety.

And it turns out that twenty three individuals sent those ninety complaints.

And it turns out that twenty one of those twenty three were just copies of the same form letter put out by the fake outrage factory known as the Parents Television Council.

So, the FCC levied its biggest fine ever, and the right wing got to crow about their power in intimidating the media for THREE LOUSY COMPLAINTS about a stupid reality show. Three people. Three letters. Millions of viewers. One point two million dollars