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Family Guy cartoon banned in Venezuela
I think we'd all agree that there are some bad TV re-runs out there that deserve to be taken off the air. But I'm not sure that Family Guy is one of them. Venezuelan authorities have banned the cartoon from future broadcast. Any TV station that doesn't drop the show will be fined.
What prompted this reaction? The recent episode in which Brian, the talking dog, started a campaign to legalize marijuana.
Watch out future cartoons, so you don't offend the Venezuelan government! It has happened before, and it will surely happen again. The Simpsons was banned there last year because of its "messages that go against the whole education of boys, girl, and adolescents."
Televen was one station threatened with a fine for showing The Simpsons in the morning hours. What did they do to avoid the fine? They were forced to show public service films as an apology. And they replaced The Simpsons with Baywatch.
Really, now. Baywatch is better?
It seems as though the government and TV in Venezuela are closely linked. President Hugo Chavez hosts his own talk show. And if new regulations go into effect, cable stations would be forced to broadcast all of Chavez's speeches.
Filed under: Arts and Culture, South America, Venezuela, News
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 5)
gobluespartyon Sep 29th 2009 3:27PM
Your a prude that is out of touch CoreyR and there is no flith over open airways TV is no worse than what it was 10 or 20 years ago that is fact. Family Guy shouldn't be banned as you have claim and most of TV either which wrong Corey.
Harley Sep 28th 2009 3:09PM
It is a sad excuse for a cartoon I to have banned it and pray my son never watches it!! Can't we have better morals then the so called drugs countries as you guys have pointed out? If they have high enough morals to ban this crap why shouldn't the USA also? I think it should be forced to play on HBO or Showtime or premium channels cause of the nature of the issues in the show (yes i watched 2 episodes) and never will again!! so much sexual reference in just 2 shows I can't believe Fox is running it
Kyrstenfox Sep 28th 2009 3:19PM
Dont call Malisa a prude just because you dont agree with her opinion, to which she is just as entitled as you are to yours. Name calling is just childish, we are all adults here. I happen to agree with Malisa, I used to watch Family Guy but I got sick of the disrespectful jokes that they make about God, Jesus and Christianity. That was enough for me not to watch anymore. You speak of having "morals shoved down" your throats? Do you hear yourself? Of all the things being shoved down the throat of the children in America, morals are by far the best we can hope they will receive. I bet you dont complain of all of the sex and sexual content being shoved down our throats? We cant turn on a station without having someone half naked prancing around or suggestively eating a burger or driving a car in a way that implies sex appeal. Everyone wants to be belligerent when someone displays values, you like to mock them and make rude comments but its just find to have sex and violence dominate our media? And you all wonder why children are having sex and committing violent acts. They are becoming desensitized to it and it starts at home, and on the family television.
gobluespartyon Sep 29th 2009 3:39PM
Your dead wrong Kyrstenfox and your a prude like your pal Malisa. Sex isn't being shoved down are throat Kyrstenfox on TV which is no worse than what it was 10 or 20 years ago and I have no problem which your right Kyrstenfox but thats the only thing that you were right. Kids do need to know from right to wrong but that is to the parents job do it not the TV if you don't want your kids to watch Family Guy then thats your right I don't think Family Guy shouldn't be banned as it's cenorship and that isn't cool.
Travis Sep 28th 2009 3:17PM
Oh, lighten up. I'm sure this show may offend some people, but if it does, they don't have to watch it. That is freedom of choice.
bobpell Sep 28th 2009 3:16PM
You must be from the "south'. You folks have a lot of hang ups.
bobpell Sep 28th 2009 3:19PM
Well, at least they did not replace it with the 700 club. That is really obscene.
Paul Sep 29th 2009 10:45AM
TO HELL WITH HUGO, THAT SHOW IS TRASH THOUGH.
Jo Sep 28th 2009 3:21PM
This may a very funny show to some people, but it is crude in every sense of the word, the language is foul to the extreme and should definitely be for adults only shown very late at night, not for children.
lora Sep 28th 2009 3:24PM
Stupid is as stupid does! So explain why you watch stupid things? Because you're stupid too? It's not funny, amusing or entertaining. It's disrespectful, insulting, and totally in bad taste...but if you have no taste... And to the person "who's always right" the show has nothing to do with prudishness, but choosing or not to improve yourself not degrade yourself. Have some respect for yourself man!!
RealityCheck Sep 28th 2009 3:24PM
Man, I hate the religious cooks who populate so much of middle America!!! They support Chavez in banning a show that is one of the most clever, funny, and harmless shows to ever grace the television airwaves. What's next, book burning? Why can't you let people decide for themselves what to watch? If you don't like it, turn the f'ing channel!!!!! My wife and I absolutely love Family Guy!! But those who are afraid of people thinking for themselves have always chosen tyrrany over justice.
The River Rat Sep 28th 2009 10:20PM
Man, I hate those religious cooks too. They just make the worst food! Hahahaha!
Nova Sep 28th 2009 3:32PM
Lol. South Park is better than Family Guy.
Paul Sep 28th 2009 3:26PM
um im sorry but we live in a free country and they shouldnt ban anything, thats how these countries fall into communism and socialism, if someone simply doesnt want to watch or allow to watch all that needs to be done is call the cable company and cancel the channel. people all over the U.S. ARE REALLY LOOSING CONTROL OVER SUCH SIMPLE THINGS. its not fair that i am a grown man and i wont be able to watch it because people like yourself and many others have a problem with so many things, and yes there are kids in my house and no they will not be watching shows like this and no they wont be playing videos games but once they are grown up and atleast i think they are mature enough then i will introduce gaming and other stuff to them, but please, think and be fair
davon Sep 28th 2009 3:25PM
its funny how they banned the simpsons and family guy but they havent banned south park that show is pretty messed up and od racist
GW Sep 28th 2009 3:32PM
Bopell............. what you are calling "hang-ups" are in fact Morals. maybe you should try some of the strange new things. the show is at best vulgar. I cuss, swear, and drink whiskey so as not to be confused with a do-gooder, or a prude. but this show is about as low classed as one can get. I can't stand Ole Hugo but I gotta say he's not all that wrong here.
Andromeda Sep 28th 2009 5:14PM
Ok, so Family Guy isn't for everyone, but I like it. I will admit that all I can do is shake my head at some of the humor that can be a little offensive if you take it that way. All in all, it's a funny show, and meant only to make people laugh. Banning it is ridiculous. If you don't like the show, don't watch it. That doesn't mean you have the right to tell other people what they can and cannot watch.
Venezuela is not the US. It's their problem if their government is censoring what they can view. It's pretty sad when governments even have the ability to pull a show because they don't like it. It should be ratings that gets a show pulled, not anyone that feels it's ok to make decisions for other people, thereby taking away their right to make their own decisions.
And btw...the show on legalizing marijuana also demonstrates very nicely what it would be like if marijuana was legalized. It wasn't a pretty picture, but it was funny. The show did not take it as a serious issue, hence the humor in it.
Paul Sep 28th 2009 3:36PM
and yes i agree with u completely that everyone is entitled to their oppinon and yes including malisa, but like i said it isnt fair if i want to watch a show and i cant cause its been canceled by some dictator or an organization, and yes i am a christian and i respect god to the fullest, but without some humor in our lives we are machines, people need to relax and work with other people not accuse and hate everything, and yes family guy does and can go over the edge a bit, but if its to much for you to handle just dont watch it, just like i dont allow my little cousins and nephews go to R-rated movies at all, and i dont even like to follow the ratings i see a movie first and ill judge it first, is that so hard to keep on kids like parents and family should? or are we too busy working so we can buy all we want and not have any spare time to be with our kids and family
Michelle Sep 28th 2009 3:38PM
Give me a break people....its a tv show. If you don't want to watch it, don't....but to have someone ban it....thats taking away some of our personal rights.
doug Sep 28th 2009 3:43PM
You can change the channel if you don't like ANY show people.
It's not the TV's responsibility to teach kids right from wrong, it's their parents.
If every show that offended someone was taken off the air, there will be nothing on. You can't please everyone all at once. Just as people are not forced to watch the show, they should not be forced to Not watch the show. This is the idea of free will and choice that we have in life and which makes us human, and the consequences that come along with our decisions...whether it is in during or in the after life depending on individual belief systems.