WB censors debut of 'Bedford Diaries'

LOS ANGELES, March 23 (UPI) -- The Federal Communications Commission's crackdown on TV content is creating tension behind the scenes of The WB's "The Bedford Diaries."

Executive Producer Barry Levinson Thursday said WB executives ordered two scenes cut from the premiere airing Wednesday night, even though they had been approved by the network's standards department, E! Online reported.

"We don't believe that the show should have been edited, but the network is very fearful of what the FCC has been doing recently," Levinson said. "They're intimidating the networks and levying these fines, so the networks are not sure of what they can or can't do."

The edited scenes were two girls kissing and a girl unbuttoning her jeans. Levinson said producers refused to make any more cuts, and the original version will be available for viewing on the network's Web site.

"The Bedford Diaries" is about college students studying human sexuality. It was created by Tom Fontana, whose credits include "St. Elsewhere," "Homicide: Life on the Street" and "Oz."