Censored Simpsons

Irish Guitarist

A while ago I started watching The Simpsons on Sky One. They were showing some great episodes from the first few series. However it soon became apparent that these episodes were heavily censored. For instance in the episode where Homer found his half brother, the part where Bart referred to him as a 'bastard' was cut out.

In 'Bart the Daredevil' the scene where Homer jumped over Springfield Gorge originally lasted something like a minute, but when it was broadcast on Sky recently they cut it down to about ten seconds. Originally the funniest part was when the ambulance crashed into a tree and the back doors opened, sending Homer back down the gorge. However that part was completely cut from the episode that Sky broadcast. Since then I haven't watched another episode on Sky.

Meanwhile RTE Two are showing uncensored Simpsons episodes at 6.00 PM. I find that somewhat surprising but I'm not complaining. Unfortunately the episodes they're currently showing are from 2003 and for the most part incredibly unfunny.

I can't remember the last time I saw what I would consider a classic episode on television that hadn't been censored or had entire scenes cut. I think that's a shame.

Green Giant

I know what you're getting at. Take the episode where Homer became sanitation commissioner and U2 make an appearance. One of the band members is not invited to Moe's and calls his band mates "w@nkers". When I saw it lately (not sure if it was Sky or RTE) this bit was cut, as was a similar part in the closing credits where the U2 lads throw a spoon at Mr Burns and he calls then the W word

All a bit harmless IMO

lertsnim

Green Giant wrote: »

When I saw it lately (not sure if it was Sky or RTE) this bit was cut,

Sky i'd say. Don't think I've ever seen a cut on RTE for The Simpsons

catallus

Sky and channel 4 are notorious for this kind of thing for a wide range of shows: The Big Bang Theory in particular is gutted from start to finish, entire punchlines cut directly to canned laughter, which probably has a lot of people scratching their heads about that show.

lala88

Channel 4 is by far the worst. In the episode where Apu gets married the whole part with Homer as Ganesha is cut out

Green Giant

lala88 wrote: »

Channel 4 is by far the worst. In the episode where Apu gets married the whole part with Homer as Ganesha is cut out

Seriously?!?! Ah FFS :mad:

lala88

Green Giant wrote: »

Seriously?!?! Ah FFS :mad:

Ya the whole thing. Just jumps from just before it to just after it

Nerdkiller1991

Irish Guitarist wrote: »

A while ago I started watching The Simpsons on Sky One. They were showing some great episodes from the first few series. However it soon became apparent that these episodes were heavily censored. For instance in the episode where Homer found his half brother, the part where Bart referred to him as a 'bastard' was cut out.

In 'Bart the Daredevil' the scene where Homer jumped over Springfield Gorge originally lasted something like a minute, but when it was broadcast on Sky recently they cut it down to about ten seconds. Originally the funniest part was when the ambulance crashed into a tree and the back doors opened, sending Homer back down the gorge. However that part was completely cut from the episode that Sky broadcast. Since then I haven't watched another episode on Sky.

Meanwhile RTE Two are showing uncensored Simpsons episodes at 6.00 PM. I find that somewhat surprising but I'm not complaining. Unfortunately the episodes they're currently showing are from 2003 and for the most part incredibly unfunny.

I can't remember the last time I saw what I would consider a classic episode on television that hadn't been censored or had entire scenes cut. I think that's a shame.

Actually, I think the second fall was only added into that one clip show episode. I know, because Sky have shown that.

Green Giant wrote: »

I know what you're getting at. Take the episode where Homer became sanitation commissioner and U2 make an appearance. One of the band members is not invited to Moe's and calls his band mates "w@nkers". When I saw it lately (not sure if it was Sky or RTE) this bit was cut, as was a similar part in the closing credits where the U2 lads throw a spoon at Mr Burns and he calls then the W word

All a bit harmless IMO

Yeah, I would have to say it was Sky, since RTE have shown the episode with the word intact.

lala88 wrote: »

Channel 4 is by far the worst. In the episode where Apu gets married the whole part with Homer as Ganesha is cut out

I know, right? I mean, people give flack for Sky cutting episodes, but it's actually pretty infrequent. C4 just seem to cut even the most harmless of gags. Like in that one episode when Marge wanted to ban sugar, Disco Stu explains to her that he's been hooked on the stuff since the 70's. Only to cut the shot where Stu proceeds to suck up sugar in a manner similar to cocaine (just...though the mouth rather than up the nose). IT'S JUST SUGAR! And since then, I've refused to watch any episode on the channel. Regardless of quality.

They also cut bits from the New York episode when the guys in the WTC are arguing across the gap.

Nerdkiller1991

Deleted User wrote: »

They also cut bits from the New York episode when the guys in the WTC are arguing across the gap.

"Sorry about that guy. They stick all the jerks in Tower one."

I guess I can see why they wanted to avoid that one.

Green Giant

Deleted User wrote: »

They also cut bits from the New York episode when the guys in the WTC are arguing across the gap.

That was a funny scene but wouldn't be right to air it given the events of 2001

Dirty Dingus McGee

Channel 4 have probably done this because as far as I remember they received complaints for playing the Street Car Named Desire episode which has a very unflattering but fairly harmless and funny song about New Orleans just after Hurricane Katrina had occured

Also the scene in the Beer Baron episode where during the St Patricks Day parade John Bulls fish and Chip shop is blown up and everyone cheers is cut out aswell.

Nerdkiller1991

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

Channel 4 have probably done this because as far as I remember they received complaints for playing the Street Car Named Desire episode which has a very unflattering but fairly harmless and funny song about New Orleans just after Hurricane Katrina had occured

Also the scene in the Beer Baron episode where during the St Patricks Day parade John Bulls fish and Chip shop is blown up and everyone cheers is cut out aswell.

I think Sky might have cut that bit out too...along with Homer as the Prime Minister of Ireland.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

Green Giant wrote: »

That was a funny scene but wouldn't be right to air it given the events of 2001

because the WTC never existed at all now?

WeHaveToGoBack

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

Channel 4 have probably done this because as far as I remember they received complaints for playing the Street Car Named Desire episode which has a very unflattering but fairly harmless and funny song about New Orleans just after Hurricane Katrina had occured

Also the scene in the Beer Baron episode where during the St Patricks Day parade John Bulls fish and Chip shop is blown up and everyone cheers is cut out aswell.

the part with explosion and Bart saying something about the IRA was actually shown on Sky recentley; which I think was the first time I saw it. I remember Googling it because I couldn't remember seeing that part before

Green Giant

Nerdkiller1991 wrote: »

I think Sky might have cut that bit out too...along with Homer as the Prime Minister of Ireland.

Yeah I was raging that got cut

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

because the WTC never existed at all now?

The point I was trying to make was that the events of 2001 are most probably still raw with many people. I'm not asking for pre-2001 to be airbrushed from history.

Dirty Dingus McGee

On the dvd commentary for the episode with the Twin Towers the writers/showrunners (I think it was Oakley and Weinstein) were a little uncomfortable when that joke appeared.Aos if the writers were even uncomfortable with a joke they wrote you can imagine how some the public would feel.

briany

There's a few scenes that often get cut out of "Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment". There's the scene where the British fish and chip shop is blown up at the St. Patrick's Day parade and everyone cheers, there's the scene in Moe's bar with a drunk Homer wearing a small cask on his head going, "Look at me! I'm the prime minister of Ireland!" and there's the scene where Fat Tony is running hooch and is trying to pay off Rex Banner to look the other way. When Rex refuses, Tony just shrugs and goes, "OK. I'll just go back to smuggling heroin."

The first joke is a bit tasteless and close to the knuckle, certainly for viewers on this side of the Atlantic but the other two should be acceptable, in my opinion.